West Ham vs Arsenal LIVE: Result and reaction as Gunners record biggest-ever Premier League away win

As if there was not enough embarrassment, Declan Rice’s final touch completed the humiliation. Arsenal were already 5-0 up at West Ham United and cruising towards a resounding victory in the Premier League title race when the former Hammers captain stepped up to curl in a sublime sixth from 25 yards to add to his two previous assists. As Rice’s thumping strike flew past the goalkeeper Alphonse Areola, the midfielder held up his hands in a gesture of apology. Yet, with thousands already having made their way to the exits and an early tube home, the catastrophic damage had been done.

While Arsenal backed up last weekend’s statement win over Liverpool with a brilliant display of their title credentials, and their biggest away win in Premier League history, the questions will now turn to how fatal this thrashing at the London Stadium will be for David Moyes. The manager who led West Ham to their historic victory in the Europa Conference League last season was left to look on at the unfolding car crash with a hauntingly anguished expression. The mood has turned so quickly. Moyes had the Hammers within touching distance of sixth place before kick-off, but West Ham are now winless in seven and this capitulation felt ominously bleak.

Read Jamie Braidwood’s report from the London Stadium:

West Ham will go in search of their first win of the year next week away at Nottingham Forest, while Arsenal will look for another win as they travel to face Burnley.

That’s all for today from the London Stadium but there’s plenty more football to follow along with today, starting with Aston Villa vs Manchester United which kicks off in just a couple of minutes.

You can follow live updates of that game by clicking below:

“I’m extremely happy. The way we performed, the way we played. Such a big score in a really difficult place tells you a lot about how well the boys played today.

“We’re in a good moment and when you have good moments you have to build and maintain the momentum. The team from the beginning looked really sharp. We had to put right the last two results against them and that was a good motivation for the boys.

On Rice’s return to West Ham: “It’s always difficult to come back to your old club. The fans were really good to him. When he went to take the corner they clapped him so it’s great to see that kind of reception. He loves this club so much and I know what it meant to him to play today.”

Arsenal’s 6-0 win today marks their joint-biggest margin of victory in an away league match and their first such win by six goals since December 1935 against Aston Villa (7-1).

For West Ham, meanwhile, the heavy defeat marks their joint-heaviest home defeat in their league history and the first tie since December 1963 that they’ve lost by six goals in the top flight.

“Very happy and proud of the team. Coming from a big game and a big win last week and backing it up today with another great performance. Like I said, we were really sharp in front of goal - I think that’s what we’ve been missing in the last few weeks and today we really showed that quality we have.

On the message that win sends to Liverpool and Manchester City: “We’re focusing on ourselves and what we do every day. We don’t care too much about the other teams - we focus on ourselves and we keep working hard.”

“We were 4-0 up at half-time but we could have scored many more, including myself. I think we smelt blood today and went for the kill. We did really well today to score more.”

On scoring his 50th goal for the club: “I’m really happy to achieve that but I’m not sure I can be happy today - I missed some chances that I feel I could have scored. But obviously, it’s a great achievement so I’m proud of that.”

Another two goals after the break courtesy of Saka and Rice:

What a day for Arsenal and their fans in the capital.

The home fans are finally put out of their misery but what a superb display from Arsenal who thump West Ham at the London Stadium.

Those six goals also move the Gunners level on points and goal difference with Manchester City in second.

90 mins: A late yellow for Phillips after a poor challenge on Nelson.

Three minutes of added time here to wrap up this second half.