Andy Carroll created another Boleyn Ground moment to remember against Arsenal on Saturday
It has already been a season of memories to last a lifetime for West Ham United players and supporters – and Andy Carroll added his name to the list of unforgettable moments in this Farewell Boleyn campaign with an eight-minute hat-trick against Arsenal on Saturday.
Trailing 2-0 to goals from Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, West Ham’s long unbeaten Boleyn Ground run looked in real peril, but not to Carroll, who notched in the 44th and 45th minutes to bring his team level before the break.
Then, with just seven minutes of the second half played, the No9 nodded home from a Michail Antonio cross to complete a sensational treble.
Laurent Koscienly later levelled for the Gunners, but it was another demonstration that the Hammers now belong in such exalted Barclays Premier League company.
Carroll said: “It was nice to get three goals, I didn’t realise it was as quick as eight minutes between them, but we feel we should have taken the three points.
“It is a great feeling to score my first hat-trick for the Club, especially as we’re coming to the end [at the Boleyn Ground]. I’ll always remember scoring a hat trick at the Boleyn.
“I was pleased with the finishes. The first was a header, then the second one, I was lucky with the right foot as I didn’t connect properly, but it sat up nicely for my left and I put it away.
Then it was another cross for my header to make it 3-2. We probably should have taken the three points. We got a little sloppy at the end and got tired because it was a tough game, but we are happy with the point.”
With the Hammers now set to face Manchester United in the Emirates FA Cup in midweek and league leaders Leicester City next weekend, Carroll is confident of making sure a big week ends in style.
He added: “We’ve done well against all the top teams we’ve played this season. We’ve shown that we should be up there and hopefully we can carry on.
“It’s a big week for us and this will be a boost. We’re scoring goals, it’s not as though we’re scraping points. We’ve shown that we can beat the top teams so we’re looking forward to the games we’ve got ahead.”
Trailing 2-0 to goals from Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, West Ham’s long unbeaten Boleyn Ground run looked in real peril, but not to Carroll, who notched in the 44th and 45th minutes to bring his team level before the break.
Then, with just seven minutes of the second half played, the No9 nodded home from a Michail Antonio cross to complete a sensational treble.
Laurent Koscienly later levelled for the Gunners, but it was another demonstration that the Hammers now belong in such exalted Barclays Premier League company.
Carroll said: “It was nice to get three goals, I didn’t realise it was as quick as eight minutes between them, but we feel we should have taken the three points.
“It is a great feeling to score my first hat-trick for the Club, especially as we’re coming to the end [at the Boleyn Ground]. I’ll always remember scoring a hat trick at the Boleyn.
“I was pleased with the finishes. The first was a header, then the second one, I was lucky with the right foot as I didn’t connect properly, but it sat up nicely for my left and I put it away.
Then it was another cross for my header to make it 3-2. We probably should have taken the three points. We got a little sloppy at the end and got tired because it was a tough game, but we are happy with the point.”
With the Hammers now set to face Manchester United in the Emirates FA Cup in midweek and league leaders Leicester City next weekend, Carroll is confident of making sure a big week ends in style.
He added: “We’ve done well against all the top teams we’ve played this season. We’ve shown that we should be up there and hopefully we can carry on.
“It’s a big week for us and this will be a boost. We’re scoring goals, it’s not as though we’re scraping points. We’ve shown that we can beat the top teams so we’re looking forward to the games we’ve got ahead.”