Arsenal’s strength in depth – or lack of

With a teamsheet absent of names reading Petr Cech and Laurent Koscielny, Arsenal’s defence looked like a shell, with Shkodran Mustafi looking a little lost without his centre-back partner. Gabriel does not reassure even the most positive of Gooners and Mohamed Elneny and Granit Xhaka shielding him is like using a sieve to protect yourself from the rain, at times. The all-important spine of the team really is where Arsene Wenger, should he sign that two-year deal, needs to strengthen most desperately.

Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings Show all 22 1 /22 Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings martinez.jpg Getty Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings bellerin.jpg Getty Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings mustafi.jpg Getty Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings gabriel.jpg Getty Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings monreal.jpg Getty Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings elneny.jpg Getty Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings xhaka.jpg Getty Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings walcott.jpg Getty Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings sanchez.jpg Getty Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings ozil.jpg Getty Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings welbeck.jpg Getty Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings randolph.jpg Getty Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings byram.jpg Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings collins.jpg Getty Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings fonte.jpg Getty Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings masuaku.jpg Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings kouyate.jpg Getty Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings noble.jpg Getty Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings lanzini.jpg Getty Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings antonio.jpg Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings ayew.jpg Getty Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 player ratings carroll.jpg Getty

Bellerin has lost his way

Hector Bellerin was considered, by some distance, the best right back in the Premier League. But it seems that as his locks have grown, his ability has wavered and his is not the defender he was last season. The foul he gave away led to Manuel Lanzini’s dangerous free kick after seven minutes could easily have dropped under the bar and his poor positioning handed him a yellow card after trying to stop a counter attack.

Bellerin's form has dropped off this season (Getty)

West Ham lack direction

With a player like Andy Carroll in your ranks and facing a team devoid of their two defensive leaders, you would think there was only one way to play for West Ham, but they didn’t do it. Carroll was dropping far too deep and sitting on Bellerin and looking to flick balls on for midfield runners, rather than putting third-choice goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. It’s a one-dimensional and unfashionable way to play, but it surely would have had more potency, especially in the first half.

Carroll barely had an effect on the game (Getty)

Ozil finds some urgency

After a lacklustre first half, Mesut Ozil shot into life at the start of the second period and finally looked like he was shouldering some of the responsibility he has so routinely neglected this season. He hit the post at the end of the first 45 minutes, albeit from an offside position, and got himself into another good area only to see the linesman’s flag raised. However, his goal was well taken from distance and acted as the catalyst to give Arsenal control before pulling a lovely cross back to allow Theo Walcott to double the lead.

Ozil sparked Arsenal's win (Getty)

Relegation not a threat for Arsenal, but West Ham…