LONDON: Andy Carroll netted a memorable hat-trick but the Hammers had to settle for a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Arsenal in the final ever London derby at the Boleyn Ground, according to agencies. Carroll was back in the starting line-up for the first time in the Premier League since the 3-1 victory over Bournemouth back in January. And the Hammers forward reminded everyone of his quality when he scored three goals inside eight minutes to help the home side stage an amazing comeback from a two goal deficit after Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez had put Arsenal in pole position. It was the first hat-trick at the Boleyn Ground since Kevin Nolan’s three goals against Reading back in May 2013 and looked to be enough to help the Hammers close the gap on the top four.
But Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny made it 3-3 on 70 minutes and both sides had to settle for a draw in one of the best games of the season witnessed at the Boleyn this season. In a pulsating contest, the home side could have taken the lead on 13 minutes when Mark Noble’s cross fell to Carroll who produced a superb over-head kick and the ball picked out Manuel Lanzini who converted from close-range but his effort was ruled out for offside. Arsenal made them pay as they opened the scoring on 18 minutes. Alex Iwobi played the ball into the path of Ozil who appeared to be in an offside position but he produced a clinical finish past Adrian into the corner of the net.
The north London club doubled their lead on 35 minutes and Iwobi was involved in the heart of the action once again when played a clever ball over the top of the Hammers defence which picked out Sanchez and he slid the ball past Adrian from close-range.
Despite falling two goals behind there were signs of a Hammers comeback when Carroll produced the best chance for the home side on 38 minutes when he picked up the ball just outside the penalty area and fired a powerful left-foot shot which produced a fine save from David Ospina diving low to his left. The turnaround started on the stroke of half-time when the Hammers pulled a goal back on 44 minutes when Aaron Cresswell’s cross fell perfectly for Carroll and he directed a powerful header past David Ospina into the corner of the net. Adrian made a fine save to deny Monreal just after the restart and it proved crucial as the Hammers raced down the other end and made it 2-2 just 160 seconds later.