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West Ham vs Arsenal: Andy Carroll hat-trick sees fans demand England Euro 2016 call-up

The former Newcastle United and Liverpool striker lead a brilliant comeback against Arsenal

Saturday 09 April 2016 14:04 BST

West Ham striker Andy Carroll turns away after scoring his second (Getty)

Arsenal looked all but home and hosed as the first-half drew to a close at Upton Park in the lunchtime Premier League kick-off.

Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez’s goals had put Arsene Wenger’s men into a comfortable 2-0 lead, with little resistance being offered by West Ham United.

Little, that is, until Andy Carroll got going. The 6ft 4in target man, who was somewhat lucky to be on the pitch after a late challenge on Laurent Koscielny in the opening stages, struck twice just before the break to pull his side back on terms.

West Ham vs Arsenal - player ratings

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1/23West Ham vs Arsenal - player ratings

West Ham vs Arsenal - player ratings

WEST HAM UNITED: Adrian - 5 out of 10

Though he could do little about Arsenal’s goals he never seemed to be entirely confident when Welbeck pressed him in possession and was lucky to avoid a disastrous error in the first half.

2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

West Ham vs Arsenal - player ratings

James Tomkins - 5 out of 10

It was perhaps no surprise that the converted centre-back was hooked off at half-time after a poor 45 minutes when he dropped too close to the defenders, giving Monreal too much space to cross.

2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

West Ham vs Arsenal - player ratings

WInston Reid - 5 out of 10

All too often looked nervy on the ball, with Arsenal smartly targeting and pressing him. He was lucky his mistakes did not cost him all that often.

2016 Getty Images

West Ham vs Arsenal - player ratings

Angelo Ogbonna - 7 out of 10

Calm and composed for most of the game, he seemed to have his head in the right place whenever Arsenal put a cross into the area.

2016 Getty Images

West Ham vs Arsenal - player ratings

Michail Antonio - 7 out of 10

Time and time again left Monreal sprawled on the floor with direct running whilst he gave the Arsenal left-back plenty of difficulties coming forward. Adapted swiftly and effectively when deployed at right back.

2016 Getty Images

West Ham vs Arsenal - player ratings

Aaron Cresswell - 7 out of 10

Provided a gorgeous cross for Carroll’s first and you certainly wished to see more of his attacking game. Whenever he got forward he was dangerous.

2016 Getty Images

West Ham vs Arsenal - player ratings

Mark Noble - 7 out of 10

The calmest man on the pitch in this tempestuous clash, he was not always at the centre of proceedings but when he was, as in a crucial tackle on Sanchez at 3-2, he never let anyone down.

2016 Getty Images

West Ham vs Arsenal - player ratings

Cheikhou Kouyate - 7 out of 10

In the game’s early stages he was overpowered too often but he soon came roaring back, winning the ball in deep areas and bursting forward to spring another West Ham attack.

2016 Getty Images

West Ham vs Arsenal - player ratings

Dmitri Payet - 7 out of 10

A strange display from the Hammers star man, who at times was guilty of overcomplicating matters when the best tactic might have been just to cross it to the big guy. Still he oozed confidence whenever he had the ball and that transferred to West Ham.

West Ham vs Arsenal - player ratings

Manuel Lanzini - 7 out of 10

Neat and tidy in possession whilst contributing to the attack with late surges into the box, his display deserved the early goal incorrectly ruled out.

West Ham vs Arsenal - player ratings

Andy Carroll - 9 out of 10

For 43 minutes he was a liability at best and could have seen red for a foul on Koscielny but then he exploded into life with a display even the best defenders would struggle to deal with.

2016 Getty Images

West Ham vs Arsenal - player ratings

FROM THE BENCH: Emmanuel Emenike - 6 out of 10

Did not quite offer the support that Carroll needed from the second half substitute, Bilic would have wanted to see more from him after West Ham claimed the lead.

West Ham vs Arsenal - player ratings

ARSENAL: David Ospina - 7 out of 10

For all the pre-match nerves about the undersized Ospina against Carroll he could have done little with any of the goals and made a string of solid saves either side of half-time.

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West Ham vs Arsenal - player ratings

Hector Bellerin - 5 out of 10

Fell asleep from an early cross and played Lanzini on – he was fortuitous the goal was ruled offside. That was typical of a day when Bellerin was not really at his best, often left looking leaden footed by Payet.

West Ham vs Arsenal - player ratings

Gabriel Paulista - 4 out of 10

A cataclysmic display from the Brazilian – for 45 minutes he was perfectly adequate but switched off for Carroll’s first two goals. That was better than the second half, where he seemed to go into hiding.

West Ham vs Arsenal - player ratings

Laurent Koscielny - 5 out of 10

Meek and tame are not the sort of words usually associated with an Arsenal captain but they are only right today as the Frenchman allowed himself to be constantly outmuscled by Carroll.

2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

West Ham vs Arsenal - player ratings

Nacho Monreal - 5 out of 10

Really struggled with the direct nature of Antonio in defence though the Spaniard was perhaps more attacking than he has been in recent months, allowing Iwobi to drift infield to great effect.

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West Ham vs Arsenal - player ratings

Mohamed Elneny - 7 out of 10

No matter the pressure Elneny always wants the ball and in a match like today that was crucial for Arsenal when they were playing well. He could do nothing when they were struggling.

2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

West Ham vs Arsenal - player ratings

Francis Coquelin - 7 out of 10

Sacrificed as Arsenal chased the win but he had brought crucial balance to their midfield and relished the physical encounters of the London derby.

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West Ham vs Arsenal - player ratings

Alex Iwobi - 7 out of 10

With the likes of Payet and Ozil on the pitch the 19-year-old Nigerian looked at least the equal, with his assist for Sanchez worthy of either of that pair.

2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

West Ham vs Arsenal - player ratings

Mesut Ozil - 6 out of 10

When Arsenal were playing well he thrived, scoring a quite excellent opener, but did he ever take the game by the scruff of its neck and look to change the momentum? If he did it didn’t work.

2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

West Ham vs Arsenal - player ratings

Alexis Sanchez - 6 out of 10

Still not at his very best but he took his goal superbly and might have had a penalty when he burst into the area late on. He still looks tired .

2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

West Ham vs Arsenal - player ratings

Danny Welbeck - 7 out of 10

Exactly what Arsenal need in a striker, more than just a Giroud-Walcott hybrid he is a pacey, direct runner who never let West Ham’s backline settle for a second. Needs to get into goalscoring positions more though.

2016 The Arsenal Football Club Plc

Carroll’s first saw him latch onto a wonderful cross from Aaron Cresswell and power a header past goalkeeper David Ospina, into the bottom right-hand corner. Then, with seconds remaining of the first half, Carroll pulled off a spectacular scissor-kick to equalise after Gabriel had blocked his initial shot.

It got better for the former Liverpool and Newcastle United striker after the break, when Carroll scored his hat-trick with another powerful header to give Slaven Bilic's team the lead.

However, it wasn't to last as Laurent Koscielny earned Arsenal a point with an equaliser that does neither side much good.

That was enough to get social media purring but it didn’t stop there. Just seven minutes into the second half, he was at it again, heading home Michail Antonio’s cross at the back post to complete a brilliant hat-trick.

Inevitably, many watching along on television enjoyed the Carroll-inspired comeback and subsequently put two and two together.

With Roy Hodgson’s England squad for this summer’s European Championships in France set to be announced next month, could the former Newcastle United and Liverpool striker make a late bid for inclusion?

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