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Arsenal vs West Ham LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction tonight

Follow all the reaction from the Emirates Stadium after the Gunners saw off West Ham

Michael Jones
Wednesday 15 December 2021 17:01 EST
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(Getty Images)

Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe fired Arsenal to a 2-0 victory over West Ham and into the top four of the Premier League.

Brazilian forward Martinelli, profiting from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s enforced absence from the squad with a rare run in the Gunners starting line-up, tucked in his second goal of the season early in the second half.

And substitute Smith Rowe doubled the lead late on after Alexandre Lacazette had missed a penalty.

It was enough to inflict defeat on an increasingly weary-looking West Ham side, whose own charge for a Champions League spot has slowed to a crawl in recent weeks.

To add to their problems they were reduced to 10 men when Vladimir Coufal was sent off for bringing down Lacazette, who saw his subsequent penalty saved by Lukasz Fabianski.

Arsenal 1 - 0 West Ham

84 mins: Xhaka blocks a cross from Soucek and the ball goes out for a throw in. West Ham are bringing the pressure and Nketiah has to get back to head another cross out of the box. The visitors are pushing for the equaliser.

Michael Jones15 December 2021 21:43

Arsenal 1 - 0 West Ham

81 mins: The goalscorer Gabriel Martinelli is taken off by Mikel Arteta and on comes Eddie Nketiah for the final 10 minutes or so. There’s still time for West Ham to find an equaliser but with only 10-men they’re up against it.

Michael Jones15 December 2021 21:39

Arsenal 1 - 0 West Ham

78 mins: Chance! Bukayo Saka comes so, so close to doubling Arsenal’s lead. Martinelli drives down the inside left and squares a pass into the box. He picks out Saka who takes a first time shot only to be denied by a block from Issa Diop. The ball deflects off him and bounces wide of the left-hand post.

Michael Jones15 December 2021 21:37

Arsenal 1 - 0 West Ham

75 mins: Saka swings a corner into the box for Arsenal. It’s flicked on by a West Ham defender but there were no Arsenal players around to tap the ball in as it bounces past the back post.

The Gunners recover the ball and win another corner. Martinelli picks out Gabriel in the box and the defender attempts a spectacular volley but puts his effort wide of goal!

Michael Jones15 December 2021 21:33

Arsenal 1 - 0 West Ham

72 mins: Antonio tries to weave his way around Martinelli on the right wing for West Ham and eventually wins a throw in. The ball is sent to Dawson who classes with Lacazette and comes away with the ball.

Diop sends a long ball into the box and Tomiyasu attempts to head it back to his goalkeeper. Ramsdale is out of position though and has to scramble back towards goal to bring the ball under control.

Michael Jones15 December 2021 21:30

SAVED! Fabianski denies Lacazette

Arsenal 1 - 0 West Ham

69 mins: Vladimir Coufal can feel hard down by with the red card and penalty. He clearly won the ball and had nowhere else to go in the follow through and clipped the Arsenal captain.

Lacazette steps up to take the penalty... it’s saved! He sends it to Fabianski’s left and the goalkeeper guesses correctly, leaps across and parries it wide of the post!

Michael Jones15 December 2021 21:27

Penalty to Arsenal! Red card for Coufal!

Arsenal 1 - 0 West Ham

66 mins: This is interesting! The ball is played into the box for Lacazette to chase down. Coufal comes across and slides at the ball. He wins it and takes out Lacazette in the follow through.

Anthony Taylor takes his time over the decision and then points at the spot. He then pulls out a yellow card for the tackle, it’s Coufal’s second of the night and he has to depart!

Michael Jones15 December 2021 21:24

Arsenal 1 - 0 West Ham

63 mins: Chance! Antonio has drifted out wide since Arsenal went in front and West Ham seem to be getting more joy from this slight change. He receives the ball and drives a low pass in towards the near post. Bowen meets it but can’t hit the target with a shot on the spin and the ball goes wide.

Michael Jones15 December 2021 21:22

Arsenal 1 - 0 West Ham

60 mins: Coufal brings the ball up the right side for West Ham. He sends it wider to Antonio who swings a decent cross into the middle but can’t find a teammate. The ball hits Tomiyasu and Arsenal clear their lines with a pass up to Lacazette. He carries the ball towards the box before laying it off to Partey. He shoots from range but has the effort blocked.

Michael Jones15 December 2021 21:19

Arsenal 1 - 0 West Ham

57 mins: Arsenal win a free kick right on the tip of the ‘D’. Lacazette and Odegaard are both over the deadball but it’s the former who takes the shot. He whips a left-footed effort wide of the wall and towards the back post but Fabianski has it covered and smothers the ball low to his left.

Michael Jones15 December 2021 21:15

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