It's so much easier to win when you're not playing against Premier League opposition
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 25.08.21. | 23:59
Arsenal score six without reply in their EFL Cup match at second-tier West Bromwich Albion
Arsenal put their Premier League blues on hold with a comprehensive victory in the EFL Cup second round tie at Championship side West Bromwich Albion. It was a great attacking display by captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Nicolas Pepe and Bukayo Saka as the Gunners trolled to a win.
Saturday, 22.00: (4.90) Peterborough (3.50) WBA (1.77)
A grim start to their Premier League campaign made Arsenal fans hate this season already, but now they at least know that their team is indeed capable of finding the net - and more than once!
Captain Auba opened the scoring with the easiest of finishes after WBA goalkeeper Alex Palmer could only palm away a Bukayo Saka shot. New-old Gunner Martin Odegaard should have made it two-nil, but he somehow managed to hit the post when presented with an open goal minutes after the opener. Gabonese star Aubameyang did grab his and Arsenal's second after some fine work by Pepe on the right. And the Frenchman joined the party seconds later with a simple close-range finish with WBA defender seemingly sleepwalking.
Arsenal get their first win of the season behind Aubameyang's hat trick 👏 pic.twitter.com/u6x5yOrf5V
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 25, 2021
Bukayo Saka played a gorgeous one-two with Odegaard before slotting in from the edge of the box and Aubameyang sealed his hat-trick after a mazy run into the box and a cool finish. Alexandre Lacazette struck just a few minutes later to make it six.
It's a welcome respite from the dreadful start of the Premier League campaign for Mikel Arteta and his players, but they should be aware that even better performance will be required of them when they travel to Etihad Stadium to face champions Manchester City in their next fixture.
In the meantime, trigger-happy Southampton put eight goals past fourth-tier side Newport County with Norwegian international Mohamed Elyounoussi bagging a hat-trick. Up in the northeast of England, Burnley beat Newcastle United on penalties after a dour 90 minutes had ended goalless.
EFL Cup - Second round
Wednesday
Newcastle - Burnley 0-0
/Burnley win 4-3 on penalties/
Newport - Southampton 0-8 (0-3)
/Broja 9, 57, Telal 25, Walker-Peters 44, Elyounoussi 48, 55, 90+1, Redmond 59/
West Bromwich Albion - Arsenal 0-6 (0-3)
/Aubameyang 17, 45, 62, Pepe 45+1, Saka 50, Lacazette 69/
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