Arsenal analysis: Low-key start to Arsene Wenger's long goodbye as West Ham lack bravery

Arsenal scored three goals in the final eight minutes as Arsene Wenger marked his penultimate home Premier League match in charge with a flattering 4-1 win over West Ham.

A lacklustre opening 45 minutes was followed by a far more entertaining second half as Nacho Monreal put Arsenal ahead six minutes into the second half before Marko Arnautovic equalised 13 minutes later

Aaron Ramsey put Arsenal ahead again in the 82nd when a mistake in the Hammers defence allowed his effort from the left edge of the box to sail into the far side of Hart's net and Alexandre Lacazette added the third and fourth goals.

James Olley was at Emirates Stadium to assess the key talking points...

A low-key curtain raiser to Wenger’s long goodbye

It appeared that many supporters were still processing the news Arsene Wenger will step down at the end of the season.

There were empty seats – although fewer than for recent Premier League home matches against Southampton and Stoke – and a strange atmosphere permeated Emirates Stadium, especially until Nacho Monreal’s 50th-minute opener.

Wenger was greeted to applause as he took his seat in the dugout and there were a few brief chants of ‘There’s Only One Arsene Wenger’ – heard at their loudest after the flurry of late goals put Arsenal 4-1 ahead – but this was not the outpouring of emotion some had anticipated.

The story of the match didn’t help in that regard. It will surely come later – especially when the club ramp up their own tributes to him in the coming weeks – but all in all, this was a low-key start to Wenger’s long goodbye.

Elneny’s World Cup dream in tatters

Mohamed Elneny covered his face as he was stretchered off following a collision with Mark Noble shortly before half-time.

His left leg was put in a brace after suffering an injury which surely puts his participation at this summer’s World Cup finals in doubt with the first game under eight weeks away.

Arsenal will also have more immediate concerns, too. Elneny is now virtually certain to miss the Thursday’s Europa League semi-final, first leg against Atletico Madrid at the very least, putting added pressure on Jack Wilshere to recover in time from an ankle injury that sidelined him here.

Wenger’s curious Aubameyang gamble

Wenger suggested on Thursday that this match would be treated as preparation for the forthcoming match against Atletico and that was reflected in his team selection, which saw Alexandre Lacazette start in attack with Aaron Ramsey, Laurent Koscielny and Hector Bellerin all returning to the starting line-up.

It was, however, still bizarre that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was restricted to a 20-minute cameo at the end given he is ineligible in Europe and has been in such fine form this season.

In the end, it didn’t matter as late goals from Aaron Ramsey and Lacazette secured the points but Arsenal will need to play much better than this to find a way past Atletico.

Moyes defensive approach comes unstuck

The logic of packing West Ham’s defence and looking to hit on the break is undeniable and has been replicated by many sides visiting Emirates Stadium down the years but the Hammers might have been rewarded for a little more bravery here.

The Gunners have frequently come unstuck when put under pressure at the back and while Marko Arnautovic did his best to do just that as a lone striker – scoring a fine equaliser in addition – a greater sense of adventure may have yielded dividends.

As it was, West Ham invited pressure and eventually, it told.