'Have to review' - Arsenal told why two goals against West Ham should have been disallowed

West Ham United boss Julen Lopetegui has claimed that two of Arsenal’s five goals against his team shouldn’t have counted as the Gunners came out as 5-2 winners at the London Stadium.

All seven goals were scored in the first half, with Mikel Arteta’s side quickly taking a 4-0 lead. The Hammers then scored two goals in quick succession to reduce the deficit.

But in first half added time, Bukayo Saka’s penalty gave Arsenal some more breathing space for the second 45 minutes. In contrast to the first half, the second period was goalless.

READ MORE: 'Saturday night siege' - national media deliver clear Arsenal Premier League title verdict

READ MORE: Gabriel Magalhaes fires new two-word message amid Arsenal injury concern after Mikel Arteta update

The match saw five different goalscorers for Arsenal, with Gabriel Magalhaes opening the scoring. Leandro Trossard, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Saka added to the scoreline.

But it was Gabriel’s opener from a corner after just 10 minutes that Lopetegui feels should not have been allowed due to a block on Lucas Paqueta.

“It was a very strange first half above all,” he said. “I think that when you see the score, 2-5, you think that it has been an incredible storm, but it wasn’t like that.

“I think that it happened in a lot of little details. We didn't do well, it's true that we have to do better, but [they have scored] with two penalties, one set-piece action.

“I think that it was very, very close with Paqueta [Being fouled for Gabriel’s goal]. “We have to review all our understanding about the rules. That was very, very clear in my opinion. And that was the first goal, I think that it was tough for us.

“I'm very sad, and then suddenly the second goal, I think it was an action that we had to defend better.

“There was energy about us after the second goal by Emerson, thinking that with one goal more we are very close to getting back level.”

It wasn’t only the first goal Lopetegui wasn’t happy with. The West Ham boss also disagreed with the decision to award Arsenal a penalty just before half time.

“And the fifth goal with one very, very soft action for the penalty, when Lukasz said he touched the ball. I think that we were unlucky with the decisions, in my opinion, the first goal and with the fifth goal,” he said.

“It’s very difficult to compete when being three goals down, but I think that the players did well in the second half.”

Referring back to the Gabriel goal, Lopetegui added: “There is one player [Timber] that bumped into the back of Paqueta with the only intention that he can’t jump. The rules have to be the same for all of us.

“The first was a set-piece that we prepared and, in my opinion, has been a very, very clear foul. We were unlucky with the decisions today. We asked before the match, the referee with the block, as a coach we have to know the limit.”