West Ham vs Arsenal LIVE: Gunners run riot in first half
Hello and welcome to football.london's live blog covering Arsenal's Premier League match with West Ham at the London Stadium. After the success of the victory over Liverpool, the Gunners must maintain their momentum and not falter as they travel to the East End of London and Stratford.
Thomas Partey remains out for now but is progressing whilst questions over Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus also remain. However, Takehiro Tomiyasu has returned from his commitments at the Asia Cup and is available for Arteta.
Michail Antonio and Lucas Paqueta remain out due to injury and there is also concerns over goalkeeper Alphonse Areola meaning former Gunners Lukasz Fabianski could come in. Kalvin Phillips has struggled since arriving and David Moyes will have to make a big decision on him.
Meanwhile selection wise for the Gunners the midfield sees a number of conundrums. Declan Rice is sure to make his third appearance against his old club and hope to get his first victory but the bigger question is whether Jorginho should continue after his brilliant display against Liverpool.
Tom Canton and Kaya Kaynak will bring all the build-up, match commentary and reaction from the London Stadium. Updates to follow.
Full-time!15:57
16:01Kaya Kaynak
Declan Rice has found his past two matches against West Ham tough but he was outstanding today with two assists and a superb goal. He showed great character and so did Bukayo Saka with his pen
So many standout performers in the full Arsenal player ratings here.
15:58Tom Canton
West Ham0
Arsenal6
Premier League, Sunday 11th, 2024
15:57KEY EVENT
That is that! Arsenal win by six to close the gap in both goals and points after a stunningly controlled display.
Mikel Arteta's press conference is to come and more from the fallout of the big win.
15:46Tom Canton
The youngster is looking good, playing some cute passes and finding space for a pass to Mohamed Elneny. The shot however was way over the bar. Some lovely moments between Odegaard the captain and the teenager as he keeps encouraging him.
15:39Tom Canton
Mikel Arteta giving a run out to the 16-year-old Ethan Nwaneri and Cedric Soares.
Nwaneri making his first appearance since the away win at Brentford last season. Ben White and Martinelli are leaving the field for the contrastingly aged players.
15:34Tom Canton
72- Odegaard sets the ball back as Nelson slips. Elneny runs onto the strike and fires the ball straight at Areola.
74 - Now Nketiah tries to get in on the action but fires his shot again straught at the Frenchman.
15:30Tom Canton
Rice has done his job and is brought off for Mohamed Elneny. Leandro Trossard brought off for Eddie Nketiah whilst Bukayo Saka comes off for Reiss Nelson.
15:28KEY EVENT
DECLAN RICE SCREAMER!
Both Trossard and Odegaard leave the back pass from White and it reaches the former Hammer who slams in a curling effort.
15:26KEY EVENT
That's the fifth. Out of nothing really, Saka is found on the right by Odegaard.
He cuts inside Aguerd who looks like he has given up and fires in at the near-post.
15:20Tom Canton
Nothing much in the way of chances so far in this second period as Arsenal continue to dominate the ball. The best has so far fallen to Bukayo Saka.
More good work from the Gunners inside the box as Havertz lays off the winger beautifully but his shot is well saved by the French keeper.
15:14Tom Canton
With the second half underway and looking positive with more Gunners attacks it has to be said this team is purring. They're showing the signs of title chasers with ruthless finishing and dominance here. Four goals, two from two defenders and a set piece threat that has returned this season.
15:09Tom Canton
Arsenal start well again as Leandro Trossard has an early chance go over the bar! Arsenal know three more goals will send them second.
14:53Tom Canton
Well, well, well. Four goals, four scorers and Arsenal are in dreamland.
14:51Tom Canton
Thousands of fans are leaving the London Stadium.
14:47KEY EVENT
ANOTHER GOAL!
Odegaard finds Trossard in the box and the Belgian curls an effort for the Gunners' 8000th league goal.
14:44KEY EVENT
Gabriel this time from a free-kick cross into the box!
That is two assists from Declan Rice in this game. His set piece deliveries have been fantastic.
14:41KEY EVENT
Saka sends Areola the wrong way as he strikes it to his right. Areola dives the other way.
14:39KEY EVENT
Areola has taken down Saka in the box. VAR checking offside.
Onside, it will be a penalty.
14:38Tom Canton
The West Ham fans have been stunned into silence by the Arsenal pressure. This time Odegaard's flick through to his right winger is perfect but Saka's left-footed dink is not. The ball goes just wide of the left post and yet another big chance goes begging.
14:36Tom Canton
Another big chance goes wide. This time Jakub Kiwior has the effort into the box for Saka to leap and meet the header.
However, he gets arguably too much on the ball and it sails wide.
14:32KEY EVENT
Arsenal have the breakthrough!
The corner comes into the back post where the Frenchman leaps highest and heads into the net. So simple but the pressure that has lifted is immense.
14:28Tom Canton
28 - The Arsenal chance keep coming. This time Martin Odegaard has a strike but Emerson is there to block instead. Corner to follow.
14:23Tom Canton
23 - Leandro Trossard spurns the chance of the game. The cross from Saka is into the perfect area and the Belgian gets onto the end of it but misjudges his jump and is too underneath the ball.
Naturally the ball flies over the bar. Arsenal having the better of the chances now.
24 - Another chance comes soon after. Martinelli crosses this time and Trossard volleys at Areola who palms over the bar.
14:18Tom Canton
Odegaard takes a risk with Soucek from a corner, focusing solely on the Czech midfielder. He goes down but the referee waves away the claims - we've seen them given. Mainly for Manchester City.
14:16Tom Canton
15 - Another period of sustained Arsenal pressure leads to further attempted crosses into the West Ham box. Several corners come and go but no clear-cut opportunity comes from it.
West Ham looking always to respond on the counter when the possession is turned over as the Gunners hold firm defensively themselves.
14:10Tom Canton
Bukayo Saka is scythed down by Edson Alvarez with his studs up in the challenge. It is a glance of the winger's boot but certainly was dangerous. No VAR intervention here.
10 - Rice fires in a cross but Havertz cannot get on the end of it.
14:08Tom Canton
07 - The Gunners have so far been unable to breach the Irons' back line. Some tricky passing to the wide areas has tried to open up space.
West Ham looking to try and find the break on the counter. Kudus and Bowen always looking dangerous if the ball is turned over.
14:03Tom Canton
02 - First mistake by Kiwior who is caught in possession by Mohammed Kudus. The Ghanain drives at the box but the Gunners have plenty of players back.
The cross comes in and Rice is there to head away to great cheers from the Arsenal fans.
14:00Tom Canton
00 - Arsenal know that they need to respond to Manchester City and Liverpool's victories yesterday and overcome a Hammers side who have already won twice against them this season. Mikel Arteta is without as many as seven senior players including Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Thomas Partey, Fabio Vieira, Emile Smith Rowe, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jurrien Timber.
13:56Tom Canton
Here we go! We are minutes from kick-off now!
