It was Declan Rice who assisted William Saliba in Arsenal’s opening goal against West Ham. But it’s also Ben White who deserves a lot of praise.
The right-back stood near the Hammers goalie, stopping him from moving to claim Rice’s cross, thus allowing Saliba to win a header.
The first person said: “The work in the box from White is a well executed dark arts move, we’ve missed players like that in our team for so long,”
The second fans continue: “Ben White shithousery again”
Another one express: “Haha cheeky White blocking the GK”
The fourth comments: “White with the no touch assist, that little bump on the keeper was perfect”
Arsenal’s two set-piece goals at the London Stadium took them to 16 in the Premier League this season. No other team has scored more than 13, and only Everton have scored more than 11. It has become a useful weapon in Arteta’s arsenal, and this was another game that demonstrated the physical and aerial power of his players.
That first goal, nodded in by William Saliba at the back post, looked remarkably simple on first viewing. But a closer look shows how West Ham’s defenders were flummoxed by the movement and craftiness on show from the opposition
At the moment of Declan Rice’s inswinging delivery, a number of different things happened at once. First, Ben White shuffled into the path of Alphonse Areola, the West Ham goalkeeper. White proceeded to back into Areola, bumping the goalkeeper at the exact moment he would have hoped to jump for the ball. Areola, one the league’s most athletic goalkeepers, was immediately neutralised.
A few yards behind them, Jakub Kiwior played his own role. Arsenal’s left-back did not even attempt to challenge for the ball, even though it swirled close to his head. Instead, he held tightly on to West Ham’s commanding centre-back, Nayef Aguerd. Much like Areola, Aguerd was removed from the situation.
Into the space behind Aguerd moved Saliba, who towered over everyone else as Rice’s delivery flew in his direction. At the point of contact, Saliba was only two yards away from goal. Such was Arsenal’s dominance of the situation, Kai Havertz was also free behind Saliba. If the Frenchman did not score, Havertz surely would have.