West Ham vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction as Gabriel earns vital win
The Brazilian defender earned the win at the London Stadium after Jarrod Bowen cancelled out Rob Holding’s opener
Arsenal tightened their grip on fourth place in the Premier League after goals from centre-backs Rob Holding and Gabriel delivered a 2-1 victory over West Ham at the London Stadium.
The Gunners struck from corners in each half to secure a crucial three points in their race for Champions League qualification and for the time being hold off closest rivals Tottenham, who overcame Leicester 3-1 earlier in the day.
Bukayo Saka was an influential figure throughout and Arsenal would have won more comfortably had Eddie Nketiah not been so wasteful, but West Ham were magnificent given their Europa League semi-final commitments and shortage of defenders.
Star forward Michail Antonio only appeared as a second-half substitute after Thursday night’s 2-1 defeat by Eintracht Frankfurt and Declan Rice started even though the away leg is only four days away.
West Ham’s biggest problems were in defence, however, where injury and suspension left Kurt Zouma as the only fit centre-back and at times even he appeared to still be hampered by his recent ankle injury.
But they emptied the tanks and took the game to their London rivals for long spells, looking the stronger side and equalising through Jarrod Bowen before eventually falling to a defeat that mathematicaly ends their own designs on fourth place.
For all the demands of their European campaign, West Ham started brightly and Aaron Ramsdale needed to act decisively to deal with an inswinging corner by Bowen.
Saka was determined to make something happen for Arsenal during a promising attack that eventually came to a halt.
West Ham were on top but there were few thrills at either end and when Holding inexplicably passed the ball into touch it summed up a lifeless opening spell.
When action did occasionally break out it took place at Arsenal’s end and in the 30th minute it needed a determined block from Holding to deny Manuel Lanzini from close range after Vladimir Coufal’s pass had deflected off Nuno Tavares.
Rice shot straight into the arms of Ramsdale but soon after it became the Gunners’ turn to threaten, with Nketiah the catalyst as they crept ahead against the run of play.
Nketiah threaded his way into the box to force a save from Lukasz Fabianski and from the ensuing corner Saka found Holding, who nodded home his first Premier League goal.
Rice was at the heart of West Ham’s response that meant they entered half-time all square as he forced a smart save from Ramsdale before launching the move that led to their equaliser.
A long pass into the box found Coufal and the Czech defender controlled the ball brilliantly before picking out Bowen, whose shot deflected off Gabriel and into the net.
The second half started at a frantic pace as Bowen was shown a yellow card for simulation as he avoided Ramsdale’s lunge, amid a breathless spell for West Ham that ended abruptly when Arsenal added a second.
Once again they pounced from a corner as the ball found Gabriel Martinelli, who crossed to his unmarked namesake and fellow Brazilian for a diving header that beat Fabianski at the far post.
A flare hurled from the away fans’ section was cleared off the pitch and play resumed with Nketiah failing to make the most of a strong chance as Arsenal broke incisively.
Nketiah’s wasteful afternoon continued as he sent his best opportunity yet wide of the right post, but the visitors had already done enough for the win in spite of West Ham’s late endeavour.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
36 mins: Xhaka clips a decent-looking cross towards the back post but Nketiah can’t bring it under control and it tamely drifts away for a West Ham goal kick.
Very little in the way of attacking intent or atmosphere from the crowd. It’s a rather insipid affair so far.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
34 mins: No shot on target for either side so far in this match. The same was the case at this stage of Everton vs Chelsea earlier today. We eventually got a goal in that one!
Rice charges forward and takes the shot on from the edge of the area but Ramsdale safely gathers.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
32 mins: Saka superbly skips past Cresswell down the right-hand side but as he lays it off to Nketiah the Arsenal forward is challenged by Noble. The West Ham captain then earns himself a free-kick as the pair tussle for the ball in a rather ugly fashion.
All a bit scrappy just now.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
31 mins: CHANCE! West Ham break and finally create a meaningful chance.
Fornals plays it to Coufal and his low cross reaches Benrahma at the back post. The Algerian opens his body up and tries to curl one towards the far post but it’s well blocked by Holding.
Rapid break from the hosts.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
30 mins: Martinelli stands up Coufal and then plays a one-two with Odegaard which the West Ham defender has to put behind for a corner as the Brazilian came steaming into the area.
The corner is swung in under the crossbar but Fabianski does well to gather again.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
28 mins: Handball appeal from the West Ham supporters as a Zouma header cannons off Holding in the area but the VAR check takes a matter of seconds. No handball.
West Ham then work it out to Coufal. His delivery is a good one but as it falls to Fornals he sends a half volley well over the bar.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
26 mins: Fredericks brings Saka down just inside the West Ham half. Very little rhythm to this game as we approach the half hour mark.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
24 mins: Arsenal are fighting for the top four, aren’t they? You’d be forgiven for thinking both these sides had little to play for.
Tavares sends a cross into the box but Zouma comfortably deals with it ahead of Nketiah.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
22 mins: Patient build-up play from West Ham before Benrahma beats Tomiyasu but can’t quite keep the ball in as it trickles over the byline.
West Ham win the ball back and Rice charges forward before trying to clip a ball over the top for Fornals but it’s straight out of play.
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