We take a closer look at Andy Carroll's hat-trick heroics against Arsenal
44, 45 and 52. Eight minutes were all that separated Andy Carroll’s hat-trick goals against Arsenal on Saturday.
What could well be the final treble scored at the Boleyn Ground rescued a situation that had the Hammers’ now 14-game unbeaten home run in jeopardy, and gave Slaven Bilic’s men a terrific boost ahead of a massive week in league and cup.
Carroll’s goal-getting exploits ended a near three-year wait for a West Ham hat-trick at the Boleyn Ground – Kevin Nolan’s against Reading in May 2013 was the last – and took his goal tally for the season to seven.
It also means the Hammers have now taken 15 points from their eight London derbies this season and have not lost in eleven starts.
Carroll’s contribution was key and he will be hoping it sets up a big end to the season for him, with glory for Club and the potential of a place in Roy Hodgson’s thoughts on the line.
He made himself so hard to defend against for the Arsenal backline, getting on the end of Aaron Cresswell and Michail Antonio crosses to notch headed goals, either side of his left foot finish for 2-2.
The former Newcastle and Liverpool made now has 41 Premier League goals to his name – 21 of those coming from headers.
He tallied ten shots in total against the Gunners – seven more than the next-most prolific opportunist, also winning five aerial duels. Only Laurent Koscienly could match that figure.
His heading stats always make for impressive reading – with the No9 being involved in an average of 13.1 aerial challenges and winning 6.8 of them in every game.
More importantly, that facet of his game led to two goals on Saturday and gave him a second career hat-trick, six years after his first for Newcastle against Aston Villa back in 2010.
What could well be the final treble scored at the Boleyn Ground rescued a situation that had the Hammers’ now 14-game unbeaten home run in jeopardy, and gave Slaven Bilic’s men a terrific boost ahead of a massive week in league and cup.
Carroll’s goal-getting exploits ended a near three-year wait for a West Ham hat-trick at the Boleyn Ground – Kevin Nolan’s against Reading in May 2013 was the last – and took his goal tally for the season to seven.
It also means the Hammers have now taken 15 points from their eight London derbies this season and have not lost in eleven starts.
Carroll’s contribution was key and he will be hoping it sets up a big end to the season for him, with glory for Club and the potential of a place in Roy Hodgson’s thoughts on the line.
He made himself so hard to defend against for the Arsenal backline, getting on the end of Aaron Cresswell and Michail Antonio crosses to notch headed goals, either side of his left foot finish for 2-2.
The former Newcastle and Liverpool made now has 41 Premier League goals to his name – 21 of those coming from headers.
He tallied ten shots in total against the Gunners – seven more than the next-most prolific opportunist, also winning five aerial duels. Only Laurent Koscienly could match that figure.
His heading stats always make for impressive reading – with the No9 being involved in an average of 13.1 aerial challenges and winning 6.8 of them in every game.
More importantly, that facet of his game led to two goals on Saturday and gave him a second career hat-trick, six years after his first for Newcastle against Aston Villa back in 2010.