Aubameyang launches hat-trick in Arsenal’s defeat of West Brom | Carabao Cup

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If Arsenal’s entry into the Carabao Cup at this early stage was humiliating due to their absence from European competition, they booked their move to the next round by showing a real level. Against the reserve club team, admittedly, but this was a show that Mikel Arteta and his team could cheer for.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored a hat-trick on his first start to the season, and Nicolas Pepe, Bucayo Saka and Alexandre Lacazette also scored in a match where the visitors threatened to score almost every time they attacked. Now all they have to do is play this way regularly against stronger opponents. Then confidence will grow in the Arsenal players and the Arteta process.

Aubameyang’s performance was one of Arteta’s many positives. The club captain has only scored once for Arsenal since being sidelined from the north London derby in March and his preparation for this season has been hampered by illness, but here he has been sharp and dynamic. “The goals will be great for his confidence,” said Arteta, who praised the striker’s overall impact. “I said the leadership has to come from the great players, along with the solutions, and for the rest to complement that with the energy and passion they bring – tonight was a good example.”

Other big bonus points for Arsenal were Saka’s brilliance and some delicious touches from Martin Odegaard on his first appearance since his permanent move from Real Madrid. Aaron Ramsdale wasn’t particularly busy on his debut but he did what he had to do well.

Valérien Ismael’s squad ensured Arteta would have no excuses, as the West Brom boss involved the shadow team, omitting all players who started their last game in the tournament as he made his debut for the youth nine. “Obviously our priority is the championship,” explained the Frenchman, who has yet to apologize after West Brom’s record defeat in this competition.

Arsenal soon discovered that West Brom’s second series were bent on executing the superior attacking style that Ismail preached, with more pressure and direct moves than anything we saw here under Sam Allardyce last season. Quevin Castro, cute but very eager, was booked in the second minute to catch Ødegaard, and Ramsdale rushed into a pair of uncomfortable early breaks. Soon the goalkeeper had to make a first save, and slashed to his right to block a light curling effort by clever Tom Fellowes. West Brom managed to take Arsenal out with a clever routine from the ensuing corner, but Adam Rich snagged his foot from seven yards.

Aaron Ramsdale made his Arsenal debut. Photo: Andrew Bowers/Action Images/Reuters

Arsenal did not wither. Their departure was more complicated than the hosts’, but they could only make this matter if it matched the energy of West Brom – which they mostly did. Then they seized it. Their first goal came from pressure from the team’s best player, Saka sending Castro out of West Bromwich Albion’s area before ignoring another challenge and offloading a shot that only Alex Palmer could dodge. Aubameyang swept the rebounding ball into the net from close range. Ødegaard could have made it 2-0 after another shot was blocked by Saka, but from an uncomfortable angle, the Norwegian hit the post at the post.

Arsenal crushed the resistance of its hosts before the break with two goals in two minutes. Aubameyanag made it 2-0 by exploiting another rebound, this time after Pepe hit the post after being sent in by Mohamed Elneny. Palmer denied Aubameyang a hat-trick moments later after playing more intensely than Saka, but the Gabonese striker put a rebound in Pepe’s way who pushed it into the net.

Arsenal’s hunger was uncertain. They continued their lead four minutes after he resumed with a superb goal. Saka slid to the left before cutting into the field and feeding Odegaard and continuing his run. Ødegaard returned the ball to him with a delicious reverse flick, and Saka finished flat. Aubameyang provided a better finishing touch to complete his hat-trick. After Ainsley Maitland-Niles awarded him the ball in the left corner of the penalty area, the striker fired a fine shot out of the goalkeeper and into the far corner of the net.

Arsenal keep coming. Pépé sent a ball over the crossbar after substitute Lacazette fired it. One minute later, Pépé switched to provider, and Lacazette showed him how to finish the match, firing a low shot into the net from 12 yards.

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