West Ham v Arsenal: A First-Half Goal Fest for the History Books
The Premier League never ceases to amaze, and the clash between West Ham and Arsenal delivered a spectacle for the ages. Opta revealed that this match joined an elite group of only four Premier League games in history to witness seven goals scored in the first half.
Arsenal delivered a dominant performance in the first half of their North London derby against West Ham, leaving fans at the London Stadium stunned. The Gunners started aggressively, and by the 10th minute, Gabriel had opened the scoring, setting the tone for a one-sided opening 45 minutes.
West Ham, struggling to find their rhythm, faced mounting criticism from both fans and pundits. Matters only worsened for the hosts as Leandro Trossard, Martin Ødegaard (from the penalty spot), and Kai Havertz added to Arsenal's tally by the 36th minute, putting the Hammers on the brink of a humiliating home defeat.
However, West Ham showed signs of resilience. Goals from Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson Palmieri brought a glimmer of hope as they reduced the deficit to 2-4. But just before the halftime whistle, Arsenal struck again. A second penalty was awarded, and Bukayo Saka made no mistake from the spot, restoring Arsenal's commanding lead at 5-2.
The match now sits alongside legendary first-half goal frenzies, including:
- Blackburn v Leeds in September 1997 - 3:4
- Bradford v Derby in April 2000 - 4:4
- Reading v Manchester United in December 2012 - 3:4
All of these games featured seven goals in the first half, cementing their place in Premier League history.
