EPL: Arsenal 4-1 West Ham

Nacho Monreal scores Arsenal's first goal of the game against West Ham

The countdown to Arsene Wenger's Arsenal exit started with an emphatic victory as West Ham were beaten 4-1 on Sunday.

Emotions were running high at the Emirates Stadium following Friday's shock announcement that the Arsenal boss was to end his 22-year reign, but goals from Nacho Monreal (51), Aaron Ramsey (82) and an Alexandre Lacazette double (85, 89) ensured victory, despite a 64th-minute equaliser from Marko Arnautovic.

The late surge of goals ensured Arsenal moved four points clear of seventh-place Burnley as they warmed up for Thursday's Europa League semi-final against Atletico Madrid in style.

 

The result leaves West Ham in 15th, six points above the relegation with four games to play and still with work to do to avoid the drop this season.

Wenger spoke before the game of his hope that the week's events would stir positive emotions in his players, but the first half was subdued with the Emirates Stadium once again below full capacity.

Perhaps inspired by Wenger's half-time words, Monreal broke the deadlock six minutes into the second period, running onto a Granit Xhaka corner and volleying left-footed past Joe Hart from near the penalty spot.

 

West Ham struck back 13 minutes later when David Ospina punched away Arthur Masuaku's cross and the ball was eventually worked to substitute Manuel Lanzini to slip in Arnautovic and he rifled a brilliant shot across the goalkeeper and into the far corner.

West Ham goalkeeper Hart made superb saves to deny Xhaka and Danny Welbeck, but was cruelly beaten by Ramsey eight minutes from time when Declan Rice inexplicably ducked out of the way of the Welshman's cross and the ball drifted into the net.

Three minutes later, Lacazette scored Arsenal's third when he finished off a flowing Arsenal move with a fierce drive, which deflected off Aaron Cresswell and across Hart.

Lacazette added gloss to the result in the final minute when he received a pass from Ramsey and powered home his second of the game to spark raucous chants of 'one Arsene Wenger' from the victorious home supporters.