West Ham taken to the cleaners by Arsenal. What now for Julen Lopetegui?

By Alessandro Schiavone at London Stadium

West Ham 2-5 Arsenal

Goals: Gabriel, Trossard, Odegaard (penalty), Havertz, Saka (penalty) (A), Wan-Bissaka, Emerson (WH)

West Ham were taken to the cleaners in a damaging 5-2 trashing by London rivals Arsenal at London Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The shock 2-0 win at Newcastle United on Monday night wasn’t the promise of a brighter future the Hammers faithful hoped for as suspended Julen Lopetegui's future in east London is increasingly in limbo.

Brazil defender headed Gabriel Magalhaes headed the Gunners in front after a well-studied move (off the training ground?) in which Arteta’s men congregated at the far-post before jointly attacking the inswinging corner. Of all people it fell invitingly for the ex-Lille centre-back who made his aerial presence count again from a set-piece.

And after Summerville’s chipped finish was ruled out for offside, Leandro Trossard doubled the lead after a well-crafted move.

Martin Odegaard picked out Bukayo Saka with a lob and the Englishman squared for the Belgian to tap into an empty net. The goals were flowing yet again for Arsenal following their 5-1 battering of Sporting in midweek.

And after the two-time European Championship runner-up was brought down in the box a penalty was awarded which Odegaard converted to kill off the game. A joy to watch, Mikel Arteta's men then extended the lead to 4-0 when Kai Havertz raced onto Trossard’s ball in behind before coolly sweeping past ex-Emirates glovesman Fabianski.

Yet West Ham decided to start cleaning up their mess and had a foot in the door in their bid for a stunning comeback as they scored twice in two minutes.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka scored his second goal in as many games when he made the most of Carlos Soler’s through pass on 38 minutes. And when Italian left-back Emerson Palmieri’s curling free-kick outside the area clipped off the bar and in it was game on. Neutral fans began licking their lips ahead of what promised to be a gripping second 45 minutes.

But any hopes West Ham may have had to pinch a miraculous draw were dashed as soon as Fabianski punched Gabriel Magalhes instead of the ball. The referee awarded a second spot-kick.

Up stepped Saka to kill the game stone dead with five minutes of injury-time played.

Arsenal and West Ham don’t shop in the same supermarket and how it showed as the hosts were taken to school in a largely one-sided opening period.

The away game at Leicester is now a must-win for Lopetegui to save his job. And it doesn't bode well as new Foxes chief Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge of his first game at the King Power against the Hammers on Tuesday. And we all know what the Dutchman is capable of on his debut.