Resolute West Ham dump Arsenal out of Carabao Cup

2nd November 2023 - by Stephen Ochieng

The Hammers now progress to the quarterfinals as Arsenal's 30-year wait to win the League Cup goes on.

SUMMARY

A Ben White own goal opened the scoring for West Ham before Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen added two goals.
Martin Odegaard pulled one back for Arsenal but it was mere consolation.
The Hammers now progress to the quarterfinals as Arsenal crash out.

Declan Rice had a chastening return to his old stomping grounds at the London Stadium as his former West Ham side knocked Arsenal out the of the 2023/24 Carabao Cup following an impressive 3-1 victory over the Gunners in the fourth-round tie on Wednesday night.

A first half own goal from Ben White got Arsenal off to a wrong footing in the 16th minute but West Ham’s bright start to the second half ensured their progression to the quarterfinals courtesy of two well taken goals from Ghanaian international Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen.

Martin Odegaard pulled one back for Arsenal deep into stoppage time but the effort proved too little too late as it served as a mere consolation to the Gunners who crashed in their Carabao Cup quest.

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Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta left out Rice on his return to the London Stadium, with the England international lining up alongside Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and William Saliba on a star-studded bench.

Aaron Ramsdale was handed a rare start since he was dropped in favour of David Raya, but it was a night to forget for the Arsenal goalkeeper.

White beat the England keeper to Bowen's dangerous in-swinging corner but could only head into his own net after 16 minutes.

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Eddie Nketiah did start for the visitors, fresh from his first Premier League hat-trick in a 5-0 demolition of Sheffield United on Saturday. But he missed Arsenal's best chance to get back on level terms when he blazed over just before half-time.

Instead, Kudus made it 2-0 on 50 minutes with a brilliant touch and low finish from Nayef Aguerd's long ball forward.

Rice was then introduced to a mixed response from the West Ham faithful.

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But any hope of an Arsenal fightback was quashed by Bowen's strike from the edge of the box on the hour mark. Ramsdale should have done better to keep out it out despite a slight deflection off Jakub Kiwior.

Arteta threw on Saka, Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli in the closing stages and it was Odegaard who grabbed a consolation deep into stoppage time.

However, it was too little, too late as Arsenal's 30-year wait to win the League Cup goes on.