That’s all from me! I’ll leave you with John Brewin’s report from the London Stadium. Thanks for reading!
Tomorrow’s Premier League fixtures:
Chelsea vs Aston Villa
Tottenham vs Fulham
Manchester United vs Everton
Liverpool vs Manchester City
Arsenal full-back Jurrien Timber tells Sky Sports: “It was fun to play in. We scored a lot of goals and it’s always fun to score a lot of goals. We showed some really great football, we just need to keep this momentum going because we have a really tough game to come against Man United
“We have a big squad with a lot of good players and I think we showed that last week and again this week with different players in the starting line-up.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta tells BBC Sport: “We made it crazy, we played so well at the start of the game. We scored three early goals and then they score one immediately after kick-off and then another one - then it was game on.
“We have to manage the game - we did that really well. The last two games were tricky and to score goals is a big one.”
Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka tells Sky Sports: “I am taking a lot of pleasure from creating and scoring but the greatest pleasure is to win. Let’s keep this form going. Definitely the last three games we have been back.”
Speaking of Liverpool vs Manchester City, here’s a little preview to whet the appetite courtesy of Jonathan Liew.
That second half certainly did not have as much drama as the first, but it’s a testament to just how well Arsenal managed things following that five-minute blip. West Ham didn’t have too many chances after the break and the visitors were able to take their foot off the gas. A well-earned three points for Mikel Arteta’s side. They will now be able to relax ahead of tomorrow’s huge clash between Liverpool and Manchester City.
Full-time: West Ham 2-5 Arsenal
Arsenal go second in the table with a dramatic win at the London Stadium.
90+4 min: Sterling breaks into the box in possession before playing a short pass to Jesus on his left. The Brazilian goes for a powerful shot from a tight angle and his effort rattles the side netting.
90+2 min: Irving sends an excellent pass through to Ings, who taps the ball past Raya before shooting from a tight angle, but his effort runs across the face of goal and Arsenal can eventually make the clearance.
90+1 min: Five minutes have been added on.
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89 min: Sterling steps up to take the free kick and curls his effort just wide of the post.
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88 min: Irving gives away a free kick just outside the box for a challenge on Jesus. Jorginho gets a telling off from referee Anthony Taylor for standing in Fabiański’s way while he is trying to set up the wall. Not the most inventive idea from the midfielder.
85 min: Another change, Arsenal this time. Ethan Nwaneri is on for Trossard. Gary Neville is not happy about the number of changes on Sky Sports’ commentary – he suggests the Premier League should introduce rolling substitutions… I’m not sure on that idea.
83 min: You almost get the impression that Mikel Arteta also believes this game is. Ødegaard off, Saka off, Gabriel off. A three-goal lead, surely they can’t go wrong here…
81 min: West Ham fans are slowly starting to make their way out of the London Stadium. They think this match is done. I’m not sure I’d leave just yet considering how the end of the first half went…
78 min: Another double substitution, this time for West Ham. Soler is replaced by Andrew Irving while Paquetá makes way for Guido Rodríguez.
76 min: Kiwior gives away a foul on Bowen with a shirt pull and West Ham have a free kick in a dangerous position. The ball is sent in but Raya can eventually claim following a headed effort from Souček.
74 min: Mikel Arteta makes a double change as Saka, who today became the first player in Europe’s top five leagues to reach 10 assists this season, makes way for Raheem Sterling. Meanwhile, Gabriel Jesus is on for Ødegaard.
72 min: The ball is played through to Timber, who makes a run to the edge of the box before sending a pass to Havertz, but a deflection takes it away from the striker’s path and Fabiański can claim.
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69 min: Another corner for Arsenal and this time Saka is there to take it. He sends a cross in and there appears to be a bit of confusion before West Ham eventually make the clearance.
67 min: We’re 22 minutes into this second half and no more goals – what’s going on?!
64 min: A double change for the hosts as Antonio makes way for Danny Ings and Vladimír Coufal replaces Emerson, who scored arguably the best goal of the game so far.
61 min: There is some concern for Arsenal now as Saka is down with a knock. He receives some treatment from a physio and makes his way over to the sidelines.
Meanwhile, the visitors have a corner. Rice crosses it in with a relatively poor effort, but Paquetá attempts an even worse clearance and sends it behind for another corner. Fabiański punches clear the next one.
59 min: I don’t know how but Zinchenko has found himself over on the right wing. He plays a pass inside to Ødegaard on the edge of the box, who goes for goal, but Fabiański saves.
57 min: Another change for Arsenal as Oleksandr Zinchenko replaces Calafiori as left-back.
55 min: West Ham break forward as Paquetá is given plenty of space to carry the ball. He passes it through to Antonio, who shoots from the edge of the box and forces Raya into a fingertip save.
52 min: The ball is sent through to Bowen in the centre of attack, whose touch falls slightly away from him. He goes to make a run but Saliba catches him on the shin and West Ham have a free kick. Nothing comes of it, however.
49 min: Saka takes the corner and sends the ball towards the front post, where Calafiori makes a run, but West Ham clear the danger.
48 min: Arsenal look to play forward as Saka receives a pass on the right side of the box. Álvarez quicky comes across to make the challenge and sends the ball out for a corner.
47 min: Both teams made a change at the break, with Jakub Kiwior replacing goalscorer Gabriel for Arsenal. Meanwhile, Edson Álvarez is on for Summerville.
Kick-off: West Ham 2-5 Arsenal
And just like that, we’re back under way!
John Cox is not convinced about the free kick decision that led to West Ham’s second…
“Was it me or did that free kick arise from a really terrible decision? Hard to see how Rice could have won the ball more cleanly.”
Tony is taking a moment to consider ex-West Ham manager David Moyes: “Somewhere David Moyes is out there, perhaps relaxing in his most comfortable Chesterfield chair, sipping an irn bru and whisky, watching this game.”
Jeremy Boyce says: “Wow! Is Premier League Footie the new NBA? Goals Goals Goals today, and we haven’t even started on tomorrow’s fixture list of teams who’ve forgotten how to defend, champions and challengers alike. Goal-less second half ?”
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Kári messaged in midway through the first half: “On the one hand, matches like this is why I fell in love with the game. On the other hand, at 4-0 I was already starting to prepare to make another batch of gingerbread during the second half. Now these biscuits will never get made.”
Then got back in touch when the half-time whistle went: “Okay, now that it’s 5-2 maybe I can risk making a new batch without getting so gripped that I forget the gingerbread in the oven.”
This is the point where I usually try to summarise the first half. But, to be quite honest, I don’t know where to start.
It was all Arsenal in the opening 30 minutes, but Mikel Arteta’s side gave West Ham a glimpse at goal late in the half and they took it with both hands. Two goals, two minutes, and everything changes. That late penalty makes things a bit more comfortable for Arsenal – just.
Half-time: West Ham 2-5 Arsenal
And, breathe…
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45+7 min: West Ham have another free kick, this time from a bit further out. Emerson steps up to take again and forces a fingertip save from Raya, Nothing comes of the following corner and that should be time.
GOAL! West Ham 2-5 Arsenal (Bukayo Saka, 45+5)
Saka converts the penalty, passing the ball into the bottom-left corner. Fabiański got a hand to it, but it was not enough.
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PENALTY! Arsenal
It’s a penalty! After a VAR check, Fabiański is booked for accidentally punching Gabriel in the head.
45+2 min: Arsenal have another corner and Gabriel goes for goal but collides with Fabiański. This could be a penalty…
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45+1 min: We’re into five minutes of added time…
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44 min: Amid all the chaos, Saka and Emerson were booked for a clash on the left.
44 min: Despite being 4-2 up, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta looks incredibly frustrated after giving away those two goals in quick succession. The visitors have to be careful here.
41 min: Rice gives away a free kick in a dangerous position just outside the box. Emerson steps up to take it and fires his strike off the crossbar and into the top-right corner!
I can barely keep up! What a game this has been so far!
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GOAL! West Ham 2-4 Arsenal (Emerson, 40)
WHAT. A. HIT! WHAT A GAME!
39 min: Soler picks up the ball in midfield, turns and sends it through to Wan-Bissaka, who passes it into the bottom-right corner!
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GOAL! West Ham 1-4 Arsenal (Aaron Wan-Bissaka, 38)
Wan-Bissaka gets one back for the hosts!
36 min: Ødegaard receives the ball in midfield and sends a stunning pass over to Havertz in attack. Kilman goes to head it away but completely misses the clearance and Havertz takes it down before slotting into the bottom corner.
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GOAL! West Ham 0-4 Arsenal (Kai Havertz, 35)
Havertz gets in on the action!
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GOAL! West Ham 0-3 Arsenal (Martin Ødegaard, 34)
Ødegaard converts the spot kick to absolute perfection, tucking the ball into the bottom-right. Fabiański went the right way, but it was too far into the corner.
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PENALTY! Arsenal
Saka is allowed to make his way into the box and Paquetá sticks out a leg to bring him down. A very poor penalty to give away for West Ham.
28 min: Saka receives the ball on the right and plays it inside to Ødegaard. The midfielder then chips it into the perfect position for his team-mate to run onto. Saka regains possession before playing a simple pass across the six-yard box to Trossard, who slots it into an empty net.
GOAL! West Ham 0-2 Arsenal (Leandro Trossard, 27)
Trossard makes it two! A fantastic goal orchestrated by Saka and Ødegaard!
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25 min: Timber comes close to making it two – in what could have been an exact replica of Gabriel’s opener!
Saka steps up to take a corner and the Dutchman drives towards the front post. He flicks the ball in the direction of goal and forces a save from Fabiański.
22 min: Ødegaard is given plenty of time and space to run into the West Ham box before laying the ball off to Saka on his right. The winger goes for goal, but his effort flies wide.
20 min: Trossard receives the ball on the left and plays a pass with the outside of his boot to Calafiori in the box, but the left-back is nudged off-balance and Fabiański can claim.
17 min: Summerville has the ball in the net for West Ham – but it won’t count!
Calafiori sends a poor pass back to Timber and it is intercepted. The ball is then sent through to Summerville, who lobs Raya, but he is immediately flagged offside.
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15 min: Aside from that goal, Arsenal haven’t really challenged Fabiański too much so far. West Ham appear to be making life quite difficult for Saka on the right, with several players closing him down quickly whenever he gets on the ball.
12 min: Whatever Gabriel and Saka were planning before that corner clearly worked to absolute perfection!
As the winger takes a slow walk over to the flag, his Arsenal team-mates congregate at the back of the box. They all quickly make a darting run to the front post where Gabriel flicks it past Fabiański and into the net!
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GOAL! West Ham 0-1 Arsenal (Gabriel, 10)
And just like that, Gabriel heads in the opening goal!
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9 min: Another corner for the visitors. Saka goes over to take it and has a subtle word with Gabriel on his way to the flag. What are they cooking up?
7 min: Arsenal have a corner and Gabriel takes a slow jog into the box. Rice is the man to take it, but West Ham can make a fairly easy clearance at the front post.
5 min: Saka picks up possession on the right, but Paquetá comes storming over to win it back. The Brazilian eventually draws a foul from the Arsenal man, much to the delight of the home fans.
3 min: Bowen receives the ball on the right and looks to cut into the Arsenal box, but he is cut out by Calafiori.
2 min: West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui is watching from what looks to be the back of the Directors’ Box. Not sure if that’s the best place to sit when trying to manage a team…
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Kick-off
We’re under way at the London Stadium!
Charles Antaki has messaged in about the inclusion of Kieran Tierney…
“A small ripple of appreciation for Kieran Tierney as he edges back into contention. Arsenal fans aren’t sure quite how much affection to invest in him anymore – there was plenty – but he’s what? fourth or fifth in line for the left back role…. If and when he goes we’ll have plenty of fond memories; not many elite football players turn up to games with their belongings in a plastic bag, so he has that distinction probably in perpetuity.”
Martin Ødegaard proved once again last week that he is Arsenal’s puppet master. The Gunners appeared to lose their way in his absence over the last few months, enduring a four-game winless run between the end of October and start of November. But they hit their stride when captain Ødegaard completed his comeback from injury. The Norwegian has the ability to make those around him better on the pitch, which is something West Ham will have to be wary of this evening.
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These two teams last met at the London Stadium back in February - and it was a miserable day for the hosts. Arsenal cruised to a huge 6-0 win over West Ham thanks to goals from William Saliba, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Magalhães, Leandro Trossard and ex-Hammer Declan Rice.
Will we see a repeat today? Or will West Ham shock Mikel Arteta and Co?
Ahead of today’s match, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said: “I know him [Lopetegui], we are friends, I have huge admiration for what he has done in the game. He is from the same area as I am in the north of Spain. It’s a team that’s now in a high after the big win that they had against Newcastle away and it’s always a really tough opponent, we know that.
“[They have] various ways to create big problems. They are a really physical side, really good in direct play, attacking second balls where they have to dominate the game through the ball. Or when they have the space they are a really dangerous team. Set pieces, and then individual quality they have, the front players can create in any moment any situation to cause you trouble. They are really well coached.”
Elsewhere in the Premier League today
Wolves 2-4 Bournemouth
Crystal Palace 1-1 Newcastle
Nottingham Forest 1-0 Ipswich Town
Brentford 4-1 Leicester City
Julen Lopetegui will not be in the West Ham dugout this evening. The 58-year-old received his third yellow card of the season during Monday’s clash with Newcastle, meaning he will have to serve a one-match touchline ban against Arsenal.
“The players that are on the pitch is always most important,” the manager said during his pre-match press conference. “Players ready to help the team and to be able to compete against one of the, in my opinion, best teams in the Premier League. So we have to be ready. I am not going to be in the dugout, and maybe I have to improve my way because I have three yellow cards, but it’s done. I am passionate. And sometimes you try to say something, or how you act, or you make an action with your hands.”
Kieran Tierney has been named in the Arsenal squad for the first time since August 2023. The left-back, who spent last season on loan at Real Sociedad, starts on the bench.
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I want to hear from you! Be sure to email me with any predictions, feelings, thoughts and all that jazz. Where will you be watching from? Who will you be watching with? Are you off to any other games this weekend? I want to know!
Mikel Merino and Thomas Partey are both out of the Arsenal squad this evening. Merino is unavailable with a knee problem while Partey is absent due to a muscular issue.
Arsenal fans breathe a collective sigh of relief as Gabriel is named in the starting line-up for this evening’s match. There had been doubts regarding his involvement after he limped off against Sporting Lisbon earlier this week. In true Mikel Arteta style, the manager was incredibly cryptic about his availability during a pre-match press conference yesterday, but nevertheless – and it’s not entirely a surprise – he is in from the start.
Meanwhile, Julen Lopetegui names an unchanged squad from Monday’s win over Newcastle.
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Team news
West Ham starting XI: Łukasz Fabiański; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jean-Clair Todibo, Max Kilman, Emerson Palmieri; Carlos Soler, Tomáš Souček; Jarrod Bowen (C), Lucas Paquetá, Crysencio Summerville; Michail Antonio. Substitutes: Alphonse Areola, Vladimír Coufal, Luis Guilherme, Danny Ings, Edson Álvarez, Guido Rodríguez, Andy Irving, Oliver Scarles, Ezra Mayers.
Arsenal starting XI: David Raya; Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, Riccardo Calafiori; Jorginho, Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard (C); Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Kai Havertz. Substitutes: Neto, Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Josh Nichols, Gabriel Martinelli, Ethan Nwaneri, Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus.
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Team news will be out shortly. Mohammed Kudus is absent for West Ham while he serves the fifth of his five-match ban. Niclas Füllkrug is also sidelined with an Achilles injury.
Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu remain unavailable for Arsenal, with Gabriel Magalhães an uncertainty.
Preamble
Hello, good evening and welcome to coverage of West Ham’s Premier League clash with Arsenal. Julen Lopetegui earned himself a lifeline on Monday when his team cruised to a shock 2-0 win over Newcastle at St James’ Park. It was the club’s first victory in just under a month, giving them some breathing space between the likes of Leicester and Everton.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have returned to fine form following the international break. Mikel Arteta and his players endured a rough patch between the end of October and the start of November, but Martin Ødegaard’s return to full fitness has provided a huge boost. The North London side earned a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest last weekend followed by a 5-1 victory against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday, so they should be oozing confidence going into this London derby.
We’re certainly in for a treat! Kick-off is at 5:30pm GMT - join me!
