Match report and free highlights as Declan Rice makes an unsuccessful return to the London Stadium; former Hammers captain given standing ovation but Kudus and Bowen capitalise after controversial opener; David Moyes' side into last eight away to Liverpool
Thursday 2 November 2023 06:12, UK
It was an unhappy return to the London Stadium for Declan Rice as West Ham produced an excellent performance to stun Arsenal 3-1 and book a trip to Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
Rice, who captained West Ham to Europa Conference League glory last season and made a club-record £105m switch to Arsenal in the summer, was watching from the subs' bench as Ben White headed into his own net and Mohammed Kudus added a super second for the home side.
He was finally introduced just before the hour mark to a standing ovation from many West Ham supporters - but could do nothing to prevent Jarrod Bowen lashing in a deflected third to put the Hammers into dreamland. Their trip to Liverpool will take place in the week of December 18.
Aaron Ramsdale had been hoping to impress on a rare start but he was left fuming at a pull on his shirt from Tomas Soucek for West Ham's first goal. "He was fouled," said Sky Sports pundit Alan Smith but it was missed by the officials and there was no VAR to intervene.
The England international did make a good stop to keep out Bowen at the start of the second half but couldn't react in time to the flick off Jakub Kiwior for the third. He will leave east London frustrated, like his below-par team-mates. Martin Odegaard's late consolation was a mere footnote, a flash of how much better this Arsenal side can be.
But this night was all about the rejuvenated Hammers, who proved they can still hit high levels even without their former talisman Rice. Three defeats on the spin had drawn criticism but this was David Moyes' men at their best.
They didn't have a shot in the first half and saw little of the ball but they gave Arsenal problems throughout with their physicality and determination. Kudus' touch and finish from Nayef Aguerd's long pass showed they have quality in this team, too.
Another exciting cup run beckons, this time without Rice.
Chances were at a premium during the first half and West Ham would finish the opening 45 minutes without a shot to their name - but they had the lead at the break. White found himself on the wrong side of the ball from Bowen's whipped corner and while the visitors will rightly have complaints about the pull on Ramsdale, it was poor defending from the right-back.
White attempted to make amends with a header which was tipped over by Lukasz Fabianski at the other end, with the goalkeeper making a similar stop to an early Kai Havertz flick-on. Eddie Nketiah then went closer from the follow-up corner, but saw his header loop onto the roof of the net.
The striker hooked a shot from close-range over later in the half but his side were struggling for fluidity against a motivated home defence, who were snapping into tackles and pressing hard whenever Arsenal tried to build-up from the back. Another rough Soucek challenge on Ramsdale from another corner was punished but underlined the Hammers' physical approach, which was unsettling their visitors.
Ramsdale showed his shot-saving prowess at the start of the second half, with a brilliant block on Bowen's shot after Lucas Paqueta had played him in. But he could do nothing about Kudus' special second. Aguerd was mobbed by half the West Ham team for his long-range assist. Kudus was congratulated by the rest for his wonderful control and finish into the far corner.
Rice was given a warm reception from the West Ham supporters - although a few boos followed when he was in possession. However, he almost immediately saw Bowen add another. White had cleared the initial threat but only as far as Bowen whose fierce shot flew through Ramsdale's defences with the help of a deflection.
Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka were belatedly sent on by Mikel Arteta but the cavalry had come too late, with fellow sub Odegaard combining with Fabio Vieira for a nice goal with little value. It was only seen by a fraction of the travelling support, with many Arsenal fans making an early exit following a performance from their side which was far from their best.
But the West Ham fans were happy to stay on beyond the final whistle to celebrate a surprisingly convincing London derby win.
West Ham boss David Moyes: "A solid team performance. I thought the forward players did a really good job. Then good defensive organisation and shape. I thought for the most of it we coped well. Maybe we're becoming quite a good cup team. I want to be a good league team. You don't get any trophies for [this win tonight] but you can only take the game and see what's going to come next. The draws are hugely important."
On ending three-game losing streak: "It was a week. We had a bad week. Before that, it had been a good start to the season, top of the group in Europe. It's difficult to do more than that. We didn't play well at Villa who have won 14 in a row at home, then Olympiakos away. The hard one was Everton but Thursday-Sunday is a problem and we found that at the weekend."
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta: "I'm very disappointed. I am responsible for that, we're out of the cup and we wanted to play a very different game. We wanted to compete in a game like this, which we discussed for 48 hours, in a very different way. The game took a direction because of the first goal and we can discuss that but we have to see much more from the team to earn a result at a place like here.
"If there is VAR there's no [first] goal, that's for sure. I understand it's difficult for the referees because of the angle and the amount of people there. I don't want to use that as an excuse but that takes something in the game that is very important which is momentum."
West Ham head to Brentford on Saturday as they return to Premier League action; kick-off 3pm.
Arsenal, meanwhile, play Newcastle in the league at St James' Park on Saturday, live on Sky Sports from 5pm; kick-off 5.30pm.
