Slaven Bilic pulled no punches when asked to assess his team's abject performance in today's London derby against Arsenal.
It was "a humiliation", replied a particularly cross-looking manager, as he faced a barrage of questions about his team's ability to stave off the looming spectre of relegation after the Hammers were thrashed 5-1 in front of their own fans.Three conceded at Tottenham, four at Manchester United and now five at home to Arsenal; if Bilic was hoping to assure supporters that he possesses the necessary acumen to avert a crisis, there are probably better ways to go about it.
Yet Bilic can only advise once the match begins when the onus falls upon his players to perform - which, once again, they failed to as they were overrun by a much more cohesive and far fitter team.
Mesuit Ozil opened the scoring after 24 minutes when he had a tap-in to give Arsenal a deserved lead. However they had to wait until the 72nd minute before doubling their lead and effectively securing all three points when the in-form Alexis Sanchez grabbed his first of the afternoon.
With the Olympic Stadium already beginning to empty Sanchez added a third for the visitors with ten minutes left to play, before the returning Andy Carroll grabbed a morale-boosting first goal of the campaign (that he perhaps celebrated a little too enthusiastically given the situation) by way of consolation for the hapless Hammers.
However there was still time for the Gunners to grab a couple more through Oxlade-Chamberlain and Sanchez, completing his hat-trick with four minutes of normal time remaining - meaning Arsenal's final four goals had arrived in the space of just 14 minutes.
West Ham Utd: Randolph; Collins (Arbeloa 7), Reid, Ogbonna; Fernandes (Ayew 63), Noble (Carroll 72), Obiang, Masuaku; Lanzini, Payet, Fletcher.
Subs not used: Adrian, Nordtveit, Feghouli, Zaza.
Goals: Carroll (83).
Bookings: Fletcher, Reid, Arbeloa.
Arsenal: Cech; Gabriel, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Xhaka; Walcott (Ramsey 660, Özil (Iwobi 87), Oxlade-Chamberlain; Sánchez.
Subs not used: Gibbs, Pérez, Ospina, Holding, Elneny.
Goals: Ozil (24), Sanchez (72, 80, 86), Oxlade-Chamberlain (84).
Bookings: Coquelin, Koscielny, Mustafi.
Referee: Craig Pawson.
* Something to say about this story? Please visit the KUMB Forum to leave a comment.
