Premier League Hits and Misses: Arsenal Shift into High Gear, West Ham Unravel

The pessimism among supporters has been palpable, with many fearing their team would be the one to hand Wolves their first win. Fittingly, it was West Ham who succumbed to the bottom club. The Hammers played with even less confidence than Wolves, making for a dismal display. Wolves had only led in three of their previous 19 games this season and never by more than one goal, but West Ham's abject performance allowed them to take a three-goal lead at the break. The away fans were quick to express their discontent, chanting about their own relegation and mocking their team. The lack of a meaningful response from West Ham after the interval was almost as damning, with Wolves keeping a clean sheet for the first time this season. West Ham failed to force a save from Jose Sa, and their inability to offer anything attacking in the second half was concerning. Unlike Wolves, West Ham still have time to salvage their Premier League status, but their upcoming game against Forest has taken on greater importance. Arsenal, on the other hand, have demonstrated their ability to go up a gear in the second half, scoring 12 times in the first 15 minutes of the second period. This was evident in their win over Bournemouth, where they came from behind to secure the victory. The Gunners have won their last four league games, beating Everton away, Wolves and Brighton at home, and now Bournemouth away. Burnley's defeat to Brighton has heaped pressure on Scott Parker, with the team's inability to string together a consistent performance over 90 minutes a major concern. The Clarets spent more in the summer than Leeds but have only watched as Daniel Farke has found a winning formula to take his side seven points clear of the drop. Nottingham Forest have a major problem scoring goals, with their league position suffering as a result. Sean Dyche's team has scored twice from an xG value of 3.66 in their last four defeats, and chance creation has dipped dangerously low. Youri Tielemans was instrumental in Aston Villa's 3-1 win over Forest, making 32 line-breaking passes, including the assist for John McGinn's second goal. Bournemouth's high-pressing, high-risk football under Andoni Iraola has led to 69 goals being scored in their matches, but the defensive lapses in concentration are letting down a sturdy attacking outfit. The Cherries are now set to lose a key attacker in Antoine Semenyo, and if they cannot be reliable defensively, it is difficult to see how they will break their 11-game winless run.