Pearson plans an escape
Ljungberg off mark as Hammers nailed
while Hector Bellerin was injured in the warm-up. Ainsley Maitland-Niles stepped in, while Kieran Tierney went off injured before the half hour.
West Ham took a 38th-minute lead. Robert Snodgrass’s corner was not cleared, Pablo Fornals put the ball back into the box and Angelo Ogbonna’s header deflected in off Maitland-Niles.
The goal survived a lengthy VAR check, even though it was clear it hit Ogbonna’s shoulder.
The travelling fans booed Arsenal off at half-time. Their team was woeful.
It did not get much better after the break as Arsenal keeper Bernd Leno, who has been good of late, saved well from Declan Rice and then Snodgrass had a shot deflected wide after Granit Xhaka’s clumsy pass. But from nowhere came three Arsenal goals in nine minutes.
Lucas Torreira started a 60th-minute move, spread the ball wide to Sead Kolasinac, Rice went to sleep and Martinelli swept home the cross with a brilliant finish.
Suddenly Arsenal believed. Six minutes later, they were ahead with a brilliant goal from Pepe who played well all night, showing hunger and determination to run at defenders.
The £72m record signing stormed forward, cut inside and then unleashed a brilliant curling shot to beat West Ham keeper Dave Martin.
Three minutes later, it was job done. Ozil had gone from being anonymous to running the show. Ozil found
Aubameyang, his backheel found Pepe and then he provided the assist for Aubameyang to fire home a third.
Arsenal fans were jubilant, while the familiar moans and groans crept in among the home supporters who suddenly find themselves nervously looking over their shoulders while Ljungberg has the luxury of mid-table.
NIGEL PEARSON rallied rock-bottom Watford with a rousing battle cry after calling all the staff together in the training ground canteen.
The former Leicester manager will be reunited with Craig Shakespeare, his trusted No.2 at the King Power, as his assistant.
Watford may also try to bring ex-club captain John Eustace, currently Mark Warburton’s assistant at QPR, back to Vicarage Road as a first-team coach.
Pearson’s first game in charge will be against Liverpool on Saturday after a 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace left Watford six points adrift of safety.
But the great escape specialist, who saved Carlisle, West Brom, Southampton and the Foxes from relegation, says the Hornets have enough quality to climb clear.
Pearson, out of work since leaving Belgian club Leuven 10 months ago, said: “The important thing for me is how unique this opportunity is. This is a great chance for me to get back in and re-establish myself.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that our players have the capability to produce results which are better than we’ve got so far.
“People talk about sides being too good to be in a relegation dogfight, but we are where we are because we have not been able to produce the types of performances that have earned us enough points so far.
“My job is to try and rectify that or help the players to get a level of organisation and belief that we are capable of competing. It’s crucial everyone is together.
“Not everyone’s role is visible, but to create a reality of togetherness, you can’t force it.
“It’s got to have a bit of substance to it. I can’t do it by myself. I’m as reliant on the people I work with as anyone else.”
The 56-year-old has signed a contract until the end of the season.