Declan Rice goal secures West Ham victory over defensively frail Arsenal
Re-live all the action as West Ham beat Arsenal in Saturday's early Premier League kick-off
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Your support makes all the difference.West Ham United were deserved winners in their Premier League early kick-off against Arsenal, with Declan Rice scoring what proved to be the winning goal three minutes after the restart for the second half to secure victory and lift Manuel Pellegrini's side up to eighth in the table.
Arsenal were once again without Mesut Ozil, who Unai Emery left out due to "tactical reasons", but without the German midfielder they had not way of finding both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, who both started the match in attack.
Instead, it was West Ham who struck first with Rice's deftly-executed finish on the turn, and although Laurent Koscielny put the ball into the back of the net in the final minute of the match, the offside flag saved West Ham to guarantee them a valuable three points. Re-live the action below.
What time does it start?
West Ham vs Arsenal kicks off at 12:30pm (GMT).
Where can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on Sky Sports’ Premier League and Main Event channels from 11:30am. Sky Sports subscribers can also watch the game via the Sky Go app.
The match will also be available on Now TV by grabbing a day pass for just £7.99.
Highlights will be shown at 10:20pm on BBC One.
Player to watch…
Samir Nasri - The 31-year-old midfielder is set to make his first league start for West Ham against his former club after signing a six-month contract with the Hammers on New Year’s Day. The Frenchman, who completed an 18-month doping ban before signing, made his debut in Manuel Pellegrini’s side 2-0 win over Birmingham City in the FA Cup third-round and dictated play for large parts of the 58 minutes that he played.
Form guide…
West Ham: WLWLDW
Arsenal: LWDLWW
Odds…
West Ham to win: 5/2
Arsenal to win: Evens
Draw: 14/5
(Odds provided by 888 Sport)
39 mins: West Ham 0 - 0 Arsenal
Nasri and Guendozi get into a tangle and Guendouzi goes down clutching his shoulder. The physios take a look at him but he seems to be okay.
42 mins: West Ham 0 - 0 Arsenal
Arsenal have been notoriously better in the second half of games this season. It looks as though that may be the case again today so West Ham need to push for a reward to their play in this first half. They've played well and a goal wouldn't be undeserved.
45 mins: West Ham 0 - 0 Arsenal
West Ham finally create a good corner. Felipe Anderson puts an accurate ball into the middle of the box and Rice gets a free header but he puts it wide of goal. Just before the break and that's been West Ham's best chance to score.
Goalless at the London Stadium at the break, both sides have had chances and either could be in front. Will West Ham have the stamina to continue to hold Arsenal at bay and maybe squeeze through a winner?
Stay with us to find out.
SECOND HALF: West Ham 0 - 0 Arsenal
Arsenal restart the match. They've scored 46 Premier League goals this season. 32 of them during in the second half of games.
48 mins: West Ham 1 - 0 Arsenal - Rice
Mustafi dives into a challenge and gets the first yellow card of the match. The resulting free kick goes out for another West Ham corner. Felipe Anderson puts it in to the near post but it's headed away as far as Noble. Noble gives it back to Anderson who runs it to the byline and whips it in. Xhaka's header to clear is poor and it falls to Rice who smashes a shot into the back of the net.
51 mins: West Ham 1 - 0 Arsenal
Lots of work for Arsenal to do now. They respond with a corner of their own, Xhaka takes it and it goes through everyone and out for a goal kick.
54 mins: West Ham 1 - 0 Arsenal
Arsenal have now conceded 22 away goals in this campaign. That's the third worst in the Premier League this season with only Fulham(28) and Bournemouth(23) conceding more.
Antonio makes a mess of clearing the ball away from his own goal and gives it to Guendouzi. Guendouzi takes an effort from range and sends it wide.
57 mins: West Ham 1 - 0 Arsenal
Felipe Anderson makes a mad run from the right, into the box and up to the byline but Arsenal defend well and all he can do is win a throw in. West Ham now win a free kick next to the corner flag, Anderson puts it in and Ogbonna heads it wide.
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