Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang opened his goals account for the season as he helped himself to a hat-trick as struggling Arsenal thrashed a much-changed West Brom side 6-0 to book their place in the third round of the Carabao Cup.
Super Eagles defender Semi Ajayi was one of the players not listed by Baggies manager Valerien Ismael for the tie.
With Mikel Arteta’s side without a win, or a goal, this season, the under pressure Spaniard decided to name a very strong side, with Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard and Aubameyang all in the XI.
Their quality would shine through as well, as they produced a devastating attacking display to hammer the Championship side.
Even though West Brom started positively, the Gunners always looked a threat with Ødegaard, Saka and Aubameyang in particular, and the latter two would be involved in the first goal of the game in the 17th minute.
It was primarily down to Saka who wriggled past a few weak challenges before firing at goal, with Alex Palmer only able to push out to Aubameyang who tapped in from close range.
A flick from Ødegaard would somewhat fortuitously find its way to Mohamed Elneny and he fed Nicolas Pepe through with a nice ball. Surprisingly, the winger could only hit the post when facing down on goal, but Aubameyang was on hand again to get his second in the 45th minute.
With five minutes of time added on, Arsenal went 3-0 up. Once again, Saka was the catalyst, as his quick feet saw him beat the press and his through ball put Aubameyang through on goal for his hat-trick.
Palmer would save well from the ex-Borussia Dortmund man but the striker retrieved the ball and put it across to Pepe who couldn’t miss from a few yards out.
Arsenal would wait just five minutes before getting a fourth, with Saka and Ødegaard combining brilliantly again.
After surging forward, Saka played into the feet of the Norwegian who returned the ball with a classy flick to set the wide man in on goal and he struck powerfully past Palmer.
Aubameyang would get his hat-trick and Arsenal’s fifth, with his best goal of the night, as he cut in from the left after a pass from former Baggies loanee Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who came on as a sub, before curling beautifully into the top corner.
Substitute Alexandre Lacazette replaced Granit Xhaka in the 67th minute, and added the sixth goal with one of his first touches a cool finish from Pepe’s pull-back.
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