West Ham’s Andy Carroll celebrates his second goal in their English Premier League match against Arsenal at Upton Park Stadium in London on Saturday. Carroll hit a hat-trick as the Hammers held the Gunners 3-3. (Photo: AP)
West Ham’s Andy Carroll celebrates his second goal in their English Premier League match against Arsenal at Upton Park Stadium in London on Saturday. Carroll hit a hat-trick as the Hammers held the Gunners 3-3. (Photo: AP)
West Ham United striker Andy Carroll scored an eight-minute hat-trick, but Laurent Koscielny snatched a point for Arsenal in a memorable 3-3 Premier League draw on Saturday.
Goals from Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez had Arsenal cruising, but Carroll scored twice late in the first half and his third seven minutes after the break looked like giving the hosts victory until Koscielny intervened.
For all the excitement, a point apiece did neither side much good, with West Ham still outside the top five and Arsenal now 10 points behind league leaders Leicester City with six games of the season remaining.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger opted to play David Ospina in goal even though Petr Cech was back on the bench and fit after injury.
Carroll was handed a start up front by West Ham manager Slaven Bilic, who was also able to select midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate after his red card against Crystal Palace was overturned.
The East Londoners have seen a number of decisions go against them this season, but Carroll could consider himself fortunate not to have been dismissed after a late tackle on Koscielny resulted in only a yellow card.
Arsenal opened the scored 18 minutes in, with Ozil right on the offside line as he gathered a pass from Alex Iwobi before neatly beating West Ham goalkeeper Adrian.
The visitors looked in control after that, Ozil shooting straight at Adrian, and a second goal arrived in the 35th minute.
Nigerian teenager Iwobi was once again the provider with a superb lofted pass to Sanchez, who comfortably steered a shot past Adrian.
At that stage it looked a question of how many goals Arsenal would win by, but West Ham turned the game on its head with a thrilling finale to the first half led by Carroll.
The former Newcastle United striker planted a fine header past Ospina from Aaron Cresswell’s left-wing cross on 44 minutes to get his side back in it. And then in first-half injury time, just 160 seconds later, Carroll levelled the match.
