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Declan Rice’s nightmare West Ham return a result of Arsenal’s complacency
Declan Rice’s nightmare West Ham return a result of Arsenal’s complacency
By the time Declan Rice eventually took to the pitch on his return to West Ham, his rescue mission had begun to look like an impossible task. The smattering of boos that greeted the return of only the third West Ham captain in history to lift a major honour were quickly drowned out by a rapturous roar. Rice had only been on for a matter of moments when Jarrod Bowen’s deflected strike cannoned in off Aaron Ramsdale and with it, Rice’s old club led his new club by three goals. By the end, Arsenal crashed out of the Carabao Cup with barely a whimper. This was not a happy homecoming for Rice – it was a terrible night for Arsenal, a difficult evening for Ramsdale, and a regretful one for Mikel Arteta, whose side were second-best throughout. Rice’s introduction off the bench came too late, as did the arrivals of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard, who fired a consolation goal that was barely even acknowledged in the 95th minute. Arsenal took this fourth-round tie lightly and were punished: West Ham and David Moyes pulled off their plan and played the occasion well. They thoroughly deserved their place in the quarter-finals. After Rice helped inspire West Ham to the Europa Conference League last season, delivering a fitting send-off on his final appearance for the club, it could be that the Hammers win another trophy before he does. Rice, of course, has bigger goals than the Carabao Cup, but it could be that the competition serves as the perfect way for West Ham to build on last season’s success. Bowen and Lucas Paqueta were excellent, but the game’s outstanding moment came with Mohammed Kudus’s stunning second for the hosts. West Ham have invested the Rice money wisely. Arsenal, though, had their lack of depth exposed. Arteta’s side looked flat from the start and the concession of a cheap corner invited West Ham to roll numbers forward and into the box. While Tomas Soucek grappled with Ramsdale on the goalline, Bowen aimed towards the front post with plenty of pace and whip. There was no West Ham player in sight but Arsenal got themselves into a mess: with Ramsdale pushing past Soucek and crashing the back of Gabriel, Ben White, caught behind Kai Havertz, positioned in the wrong place, bundled into the net with his newly bleached blonde head. The blame from an Arsenal perspective deserved to be shared around, yet the focus naturally fell on Ramsdale. The England international had his shirt pulled and felt he was fouled, if VAR was used in the Carabao Cup fourth round then it may have been overturned. Yet his appeals towards referee Anthony Taylor were in vain and an important night for the goalkeeper was off to a difficult start. Perhaps Ramsdale, clearly Arsenal’s No 2 now despite Arteta’s curious claim that he would be rotated with David Raya, felt under more pressure than he usually would have been before he was dropped. There was certainly a sense of unease and panic in Arsenal’s defence. Ramsdale and Gabriel invited pressure as Arsenal struggled to play out, which played into West Ham’s hands. The hosts were up for it, Bowen raising the crowd with a challenge deep in Arsenal’s half, West Ham then forcing another corner with their subsequent press. Ramsdale was again targeted by Soucek and although West Ham finished the half without having a shot on target, registering just over 32 per cent of the possession, it felt as if Moyes’s side carried the greater threat on the counter-attack. Arsenal were slow and ponderous, and it was no surprise to see Rice was summoned to begin his warm-up midway through the first half, greeted by a warm, rippling standing ovation from much of the London Stadium. After making changes, Arteta left himself with the security of a high-quality bench and it quickly became clear that Rice, Saka, Odegaard and Martinelli would be needed. Despite their possession, Havertz’s flicked header that forced an instinctive save from Lukasz Fabianski was the closest the visitors came. But half-time came and went without any changes and Arsenal were almost punished within seconds of the restart. Paqueta slipped in Bowen with a reverse pass and Ramsdale was required to stretch his arms to deny the forward’s clever chip. White, this time, cleared the danger as he beat Kudus to the rebound. Still Rice warmed up, the intensity of his sprints on the touchline quickening, and it was just at the moment of the West Ham supporters bantering with their former captain that he “should have signed for a big club” that the Hammers doubled their lead. Although not on the pitch, perhaps Rice could have been credited with the assist: it was with some of the record £105m that West Ham received for Rice this summer that led to the Hammers signing a player of the calibre of Kudus from Ajax. If Kudus has sparkled so far for West Ham with a couple of eye-catching goals and contributions, this was the 23-year-old’s most impressive yet. Controlling a high, diagonal pass, Kudus skilfully directed his touch to cut inside Zinchenko. Then, with the yard of space he had created, Kudus fired a zipping strike through the legs of Gabriel. Arteta could not wait any longer: on came Rice to more than a few boos, soon followed by Saka and Martinelli, and then Odegaard. But by then it was too late: another White header caused chaos for Arsenal, only this time it set up Bowen on the edge of the box. Bowen’s strike took a slight deflection off Jakub Kiwior, which left a rather awkward-looking Ramsdale only able to parry the volley into his own net. Rice seemed to struggle on his return, with passes overhit to cheers from the home fans. It was only with the introduction of Odegaard that Arsenal began to look more like themselves, but when the captain fired a low finish past Fabianski in the 95th minute, there was barely anyone left in the away end to applaud it. Read More Declan Rice booed by West Ham fans on return to London Stadium Carabao Cup draw: Liverpool, Newcastle and more discover fate Why Declan Rice returns to West Ham as Arsenal’s ‘Van Dijk’ signing West Ham vs Arsenal LIVE: Carabao Cup result, final score and reaction Everton end emotional week with win at West Ham thanks to Calvert-Lewin goal West Ham vs Everton LIVE: Latest Premier League updates
2023-11-02 06:42
BuzzFeed Says Its Readers Spend 40% More Time With AI Quizzes Than Traditional Ones
BuzzFeed Says Its Readers Spend 40% More Time With AI Quizzes Than Traditional Ones
BuzzFeed Inc., the online media company reinventing itself after shutting down its news operation last month, said its
1970-01-01 08:00
Reggie Gray, the man with the folding chair from Alabama brawl, pictured after handing himself in
Reggie Gray, the man with the folding chair from Alabama brawl, pictured after handing himself in
Since footage of the wild Alabama brawl swept social media, the 'folded chair' has become the centre of attention. And now, the man who handled the famed chair Reggie Gray has handed himself in after police urged him to “contact local law enforcement,” as “there’s more interviews to conduct with him.” Gray is now being held in Municipal Jail with local police chief describing the 42-year-old as the man "wielding that folding chair." For those unaware, a fight broke out on August 5 near Montgomery Riverfront Park, after two white men started arguing with a Black dock worker. Things soon escalated before more people jumped in to seemingly defend the man. Four people have since been arrested, and "there’s a possibility more will follow after the review of additional video," the police told The Independent. People were thrown into the water and a folded chair was hit over someone's head. The footage prompted X users (formerly known as Twitter) to do what they do best: Memeify it, with the 'inventor' of the folding chair being the centre of memes across social media. Sign up for our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Reggie Gray, hailed The Chair Warrior online by many, was been asked to contact the police department for questioning after 21-year-old Mary Todd, Richard Roberts, 48, Zachery Shipman, 25, and Allen Todd all handing themselves in following the mass brawl. After police asked Gray to come forward the responses soon came rolling in, with one writing: "Reggie Gray needs our support & hopefully a GoFundMe gets started for good representation." Another urged people to "leave the chair man alone." The Montgomery Police Department said they "acted swiftly to detain several reckless individuals for attacking a man who was doing his job," and that "Warrants have been signed and justice will be served." Reed continued: "This was an unfortunate incident which never should have occurred. As our police department investigates these intolerable actions, we should not become desensitized to violence of any kind in our community. Those who choose violent actions will be held accountable by our criminal justice system." Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-08-12 22:51
Save over £70 on Beats Solo3 headphones this Prime Day
Save over £70 on Beats Solo3 headphones this Prime Day
TL;DR: The Beats Solo3 headphones are renowned for having excellent sound and Apple-powered tech. Save
2023-07-11 18:37
Donald Trump still headline act for Republicans, despite charges
Donald Trump still headline act for Republicans, despite charges
The former US president appeared unfazed by his indictment at a party convention in North Carolina.
2023-06-11 15:17
Major Skill Based Matchmaking Changes are Coming, According to MW2 Leaker
Major Skill Based Matchmaking Changes are Coming, According to MW2 Leaker
In the latest wave of leaks, a Call of Duty leaker has claimed Modern Warfare 2 will arrive with major Skill-Based Matchmaking changes as well.
1970-01-01 08:00
US requests probe of alleged labor abuses at Grupo Mexico mine
US requests probe of alleged labor abuses at Grupo Mexico mine
By Daina Beth Solomon MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -U.S. labor officials on Friday asked Mexico to investigate alleged worker rights abuses
2023-06-17 02:38
Skipper Kerr to start for Australia in World Cup semi-final
Skipper Kerr to start for Australia in World Cup semi-final
Talismanic striker Sam Kerr was named in Australia's starting line-up for the first time at the Women's World Cup for Wednesday's...
2023-08-16 16:53
U.S. Supreme Court gives boost to whistleblowers in drug pricing case
U.S. Supreme Court gives boost to whistleblowers in drug pricing case
By John Kruzel WASHINGTON The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday gave a boost to whistleblowers in their bid
2023-06-01 22:29
Ukraine says Russia Black Sea Fleet commander killed; no comment by Moscow
Ukraine says Russia Black Sea Fleet commander killed; no comment by Moscow
By Olena Harmash and Oleksandr Kozhukhar KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine's special forces said on Monday they had killed Moscow's top admiral
2023-09-26 09:22
Tristan Tate disappointed over changing Christmas celebrations since the '90s, Internet says 'We got f**ked by the elite'
Tristan Tate disappointed over changing Christmas celebrations since the '90s, Internet says 'We got f**ked by the elite'
Tristan Tate asserts that society has become 'corrupt' as he wishes for old-school Chirstmas celebrations to return
2023-11-02 16:45
Marquette's Tyler Kolek, reigning Big East Player of the Year, suffers ankle injury
Marquette's Tyler Kolek, reigning Big East Player of the Year, suffers ankle injury
Reigning Big East Player of the Year Tyler Kolek of Marquette suffered an ankle injury and left the court with just under 8 minutes left in a 95-65 win over Rider
2023-11-11 12:58