West Ham vs Arsenal (foto: Screenshot)
West Ham have launched an investigation and vowed to ban fans involved in a violent brawl during their 5-2 defeat to Arsenal at the London Stadium.
West Ham United have promised to take strong action after a violent brawl erupted among home supporters during their 5-2 defeat to Arsenal at the London Stadium on Saturday. The incident, which was captured on social media, showed a group of home fans engaging in a mid-game fight, further souring the atmosphere on a difficult evening for the Hammers.
Footage revealed chaotic scenes as stewards rushed to diffuse the situation. While reports suggested that a male supporter was left unconscious, this has not been officially confirmed. West Ham have since launched an investigation and pledged to issue indefinite bans to those involved, with details passed on to the police.
A club spokesperson said: "The club is aware of the incident and will be working to identify the offender(s). In line with our zero-tolerance approach, anyone identified will have their details passed to the police and will be given an indefinite ban. There is no place for this kind of behaviour at our Stadium."
The toxic atmosphere mirrored events on the pitch, as West Ham found themselves 4-0 down within 36 minutes due to goals from Gabriel, Leandro Trossard, Martin Odegaard, and Kai Havertz. The Hammers managed a brief response through Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson Palmieri, but Arsenal’s dominance was sealed with a penalty from Bukayo Saka before halftime, prompting many fans to leave early.
Pressure continues to mount on West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui, whose debut season has been underwhelming. Suspended for this match, Lopetegui watched from the stands and expressed frustration with the officiating after the game. "Overall, I am frustrated with the first half. We deserved two goals, but they didn't deserve five. We were unlucky in the decisions, in my opinion," he said.
West Ham, currently 14th in the Premier League, face a crucial match against Leicester on Tuesday, marking Ruud van Nistelrooy’s managerial debut after replacing Steve Cooper. The Hammers must regroup quickly to avoid further disappointment in what has been a challenging season.