Welcome!
West Ham host Arsenal in a tantalising London derby at 2pm this afternoon, with both teams looking to send a fierce message to competitors with the tail-end of the season rapidly approaching.
It’s Moyes vs Arteta. Kudus vs Saka. East vs North. This is West Ham vs Arsenal. Fortunately, we’re here to take you through the action as it happens.
Home Team News: Moyes’ names an unchanged West Ham team, simultaneous to the Hammers 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford. With their infamous talisman Lucas Paqueta still side-lined Ward-Prowse and Alvarez look to make the difference in the middle with Jarrod Bowen still leading the line.
Subs – Fabianski, Ogbonna, Mavropanos, Cresswell, Scarles, Phillips, Cornet, Ings, Mubama
Away Team News: The Gunners line up with a familiar back-line, with the addition of Polish International Jakub Kiwior at left-back deputising for the absent Oleksandr Zinchenko. Former Chelsea attacker Kai Havertz remains in his new ever-changing progressive midfield role, with Leandro Trossard returning to the middle of the Arsenal frontline.
Subs – Ramsdale, Cedric, Bandeira, Walters, Elneny, Nelson, Jorginho, Nketiah, Nwaneri
0′ – Both sides have finished their final preparations, training tops have been stripped off and the players have made their ways into the respective dressing rooms to get the final words of wisdom from the two managers. Moyes looks to spoil the Gunners’ title race similar to how Arsenal’s season capitulated at the London Stadium not too far from 12 months ago. Will history repeat itself? Or have Mikel Arteta’s men learned and grown from the heartbreak of last year? In 90 minutes all questions will be answered.
Embed from Getty ImagesAnd we’re off!
1′ – Both managers have clearly emphasised the importance of the fixture, as both teams have fired out of the block like 22 whippets! If this is any indication of how the game may go, we’re in for a hell of a 90 minutes of football.
3′ – West Ham have already looked to break the back line of Arsenal with 2 quick but unsuccessful break attempts at Saliba and Gabriel, who already a few times have looked isolated because of Ben White’s attacking intent. Kudus has a cross cleared after dispossessing Jakub Kiwior, but Gabriel heads’ away comfortably into Arsenal possession.
6′ – Arsenal are finding their feet in the game, stringing together some intricate passes in the final third, but they are yet to create a clear-cut chance to capitalise on. West Ham are intent on finding the breakaway for Bowen and Kudus, however it’s proving a difficult task with the organisation of the Arsenal back line. It may be a difficult night for West Ham attackers.
9′ – Edson Alvarez cynically chops down Saka on the right wing in a threatening position resulting in a yellow card for the Hammers’ man. He’ll be treading on thin ice for the next 80 minutes.
Embed from Getty Images10′ – Rice plays in a teasing ball to Havertz who connects with the header but only enough to send it spiralling comfortably into the hands of Areola. Shortly after Saka attempts a speculative effort from 25 yards which is blocked by Aguerd for another Arsenal corner. The Gunners are turning up the heat and cracks are beginning to show in the Hammers’ back line.
16′ – West Ham look to gain a foothold in proceedings as they string some more promising passes together. Johnson and Bowen play a simple one-two down the left side and Johnson drills a low cross in towards Kudus who marginally misses’ due to a Kiwior intervention. Is the tide turning for the Hammers?
19′ – Danger man Jarrod Bowen picks the pocket of Gabriel Martinelli and charges at the Arsenal backline. He lets a piledriver go from distance, but the deflection off of Gabriel escorts it safely into the hands of a forgiving David Raya.
20′ – The game really seems to have opened up with Arsenal charging down the other end and creating their own chance in the form of a Bukayo Saka solo run.
22′ – Another chance! A fizzing Saka cross meets the head of Leandro Trossard who misjudged the cross and blazes his close range header off of the bar. A goal is coming.
23′ – Save of the season contender! Martinelli pulls back another inviting cross for Belgian Leandro Trossard who gets a sweet connection on his volley but it is still not enough to beat a full stretch Areola who acrobatically tips the ball behind for a corner.
24′ – The resulting corner is met by Trossard who glances another header wide! The Belgian may come to regret these missed chances if West Ham knick one down the other end…
32′ – GOAL! William Saliba heads home from uncontested at the back post from an Arsenal corner. It’s definitely been coming and now the Gunners look to push on and increase the pressure on league leaders Liverpool. Questions have to be asked about the West Ham marking but Mikel Arteta and his men won’t mind at all. West Ham 0-1 Arsenal.
Embed from Getty Images33′ – Rice’s delivery was perfection to give Saliba his second in the league this season as well as giving Arsenal their 11th from a corner, the highest in the league.
37′ – Two quick Saka chances sift wide of the same left post from Arsenal. First meeting a difficult cross from Kiwior and misdirecting his header wide, then Odegaard played a majestic pass through to Saka leaving him practically 1 on 1 with Areola, but the forward dinked his cheeky effort marginally wide.
38′ – PENALTY! Trossard plays a beautiful lofted pass to the man of the moment Bukayo Saka, who intelligently marshals past Alphonse Areola who has no choice but to bring him down. Saka now has the chance to double Arsenal’s lead in the same stadium that he missed a crucial penalty in last years title race. Will the pressure be too much?
Embed from Getty Images41′ – GOAL! The pressure didn’t even phase Arsenal’s starboy who powerfully slots home sending Areola the wrong way. The keeper received a yellow card for his initial foul and after minutes of VAR checks Arsenal now have a commanding 2-0 lead.
Embed from Getty Images44′ – GOAL! Another goal. Another cross. Another Rice assist. Arsenal’s midfield man whips in the left sided free kick which is met by the other centre half this time, Gabriel.
Embed from Getty Images45′ – The ref adds on 7 minutes of injury time while Arsenal are in full flow. Could they get a fourth before half time?
47′ – GOAL! Yes they can! A rifle from Leandro Trossard after some really intelligent interplay with captain Martin Odegaard left him with time and space in the box. It looks like it may be a damage limitation protocol for West Ham from now on. To be a fly on the wall in that West Ham dressing room at halftime…
Embed from Getty Images51′ – The West Ham fans are leaving by the dozen… or the hundreds, as the East London faithful begin making their early journey home before the first half even ends. As if the players could look more disheartened than they already do.
HALF-TIME – West Ham 0-4 Arsenal.
52′ – A slow start to the second half sees Havertz attempt the first effort roll by Areola’s far post by a few inches. The keeper wa at full stretch that one was closer than Havertz will get credit for.
53′ – Kudus and Johnson both take speculative efforts from outside Arsenal’s box which are both blocked by Gabriel and Rice respectively, with the latter coming away with the ball the second time around.
58′ – Saka waltzes through two challenges after the ball from Havertz, getting his shot away which is parried away from danger by Areola.
63′ – GOAL! West Ham have been chasing Arsenal’s shadows again, much like the first half, epitomised by a clean Bukayo Saka double. The Arsenal man shaped up to bend one into the far corner, but he deceived us all, including Areola who could do nothing but watch the ball trickle into his near post. The mauling continues…
Embed from Getty Images65′ – GOAL! The misery compiler! Former West Ham starlet Declan Rice curls in a beauty from 30 yards and then refuses to celebrating raising an arm respectfully to his former club. Left by Trossard and Odegaard on the edge of the box, Rice runs onto the loose ball firing a thunderbolt into the top corner. 6-0. Game well and truly over.
Embed from Getty Images67′ – Rice, Saka and Trossard all make way after arguably being the three most impactful players on the pitch. Elneny, Nelson and Eddie Nketiah replace them.
74′ – Elneny and Nketiah take it in turns to take tame efforts at Areola’s net. The game has slowed significantly but the Gunners still look for a seventh!
77′ – The Premier League’s youngest ever player makes another appearance with Ethan Nwaneri replacing Brazilian Martinelli.
81′ – Nwaneri has looked bright, and intelligent interplay with Reiss Nelson leads to an Elneny shot, but that’s barely remained in the stadium.
88′ – Nelson whips in an inviting ball but Gabriel can’t connect, slowing proceedings for the everlooming final whistle.
91′ – Kalvin Phillips gets booked for a pointless, cynical foul on Nelson in the first of three additional minutes, which pretty much sums up West Ham today in a nutshell.
FULL TIME – West Ham 0-6 Arsenal.
