Andy Caroll celebrates after scoring his hat-trick
Andy Carroll’s hat-trick for West Ham dealt another blow to Arsenal’s already slim title hopes, despite the Gunners fighting back to draw at Upton Park.
Arsenal are 10 points behind leaders Leicester with six games to play.
Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez converted Alex Iwobi passes to put Arsenal 2-0 up but Carroll netted twice in 160 seconds to bring his side level by half-time.
A far-post header completed Carroll’s treble, before Laurent Koscielny hooked in the equaliser from 10 yards.
The hosts extended their unbeaten home run in the Premier League to 14 games but Slaven Bilic’s side remain sixth, two points behind fourth-placed Manchester City, who play West Bromwich Albion later.
-Hammers’ hat-trick hero-
Striker Carroll was rarely far from the action in a pulsating London derby, being booked as early as the fourth minute for a needless late tackle on Koscielny.
There appeared little way back for West Ham as clinical finishes from Ozil and Sanchez gave the visitors a two-goal cushion, but England international Carroll would turn the game in his side’s favour in the space of eight minutes either side of the interval.
All three goals were typical Carroll efforts, the first a powerful far-post header from Aaron Cresswell’s left-wing cross, while he was awarded too much space by the Arsenal defence to fire in the equaliser at the second attempt during first-half stoppage time.
The ex-Newcastle forward was perhaps lucky to escape further punishment when he clashed with Gabriel in the air, catching the centre-back with his arm, shortly before rising above Hector Bellerin to head past David Ospina – who had kept his place in the Arsenal goal ahead of Petr Cech.
Carroll had 10 of West Ham’s 16 shots in the match, and took his tally for the season to seven Premier League goals.
Andy Carroll bags hat-trick as Arsenal draw West Ham
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