Arteta: Gunners building momentum in Premier League title battle

Andy Sims
Press Association
Mikel Arteta was thrilled with Arsenal's performance at West Ham
Mikel Arteta was thrilled with Arsenal's performance at West Ham

Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal are gaining momentum in the title race after they roared to a 6-0 win at West Ham.

The Gunners backed up last week's triumph over Liverpool with another statement victory, their biggest away win in the Premier League.

Their title bid hit the buffers in this fixture last season when they blew a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 but there was no chance of a repeat after William Saliba headed them in front and West Ham promptly collapsed.

Declan Rice grabbed a pair of assists against his former club while Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Magalhaes and Leandro Trossard were also on target, all before half-time.

Saka scored his second midway through the second half and Rice rubbed salt in the wounds with a long-range sixth.

Gunners boss Arteta said: "We are maintaining and building some momentum now.

"Performances have been strong as well as results in recent weeks. We need to maintain that because other teams are doing that as well. We are not the only ones."

It was a chastening afternoon for West Ham and manager David Moyes pulled no punches after his heaviest defeat in charge.

He said: "It was a really poor day for us, very difficult to explain really.

David Moyes was left stunned after West Ham's dismal collapse against Arsenal
David Moyes was left stunned after West Ham's dismal collapse against Arsenal

"Arsenal played extremely well, give them credit but it's difficult to explain how we played so poorly.

"We're normally a lot stronger, we didn't show that today. I'm disappointed with the way we fell apart when the game hadn't looked as if it was going to be as big as that.

"I don't think since I've come back to the club my team's defended that way, ever. We were weak today, we didn't do our jobs well enough, we didn't fight to contain it harder.

"I've had teams here which maybe haven't had the same quality that we have now but we would have made sure we didn't put in a performance like that, that's for sure."

Tags

ArsenalPremier League