GABRIEL’S winner has given Arsenal a crucial three points in the race for the top four.
The Brazilian defender latched on to Gabriel Martinelli’s cross that he stood up to the far post, smashing the ball straight at Lukasz Fabianski who fumbled the ball over the line.
Jarrod Bowen had fired West Ham back into their Premier League match, after Rob Holding had given the visitors the lead just moments later.
Holding’s power header connected with Bukayo Saka’s corner to give the visitors the advantage, but it did not last long.
Tottenham had briefly leapfrogged their rivals after beating Leicester but Arsenal are two points ahead with Leeds up next.
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That’s all from East London
Arsenal slipped out of the Champions League places this Sunday – but only for two hours.
The Gunners found an ‘ugly’ way to get the job done at West Ham, and matched Tottenham’s victory from earlier in the day.
The battle for Champions League football continues, and will most likely go on to the final kick of the season.
West Ham will be disappointed by the home defeat, but their own pursuit of Champions League football this week is much more important.
The Hammers head to Germany on Thursday for their Europa League semi-final with Eintracht Frankfurt, 2-1 behind from the first leg.
David Moyes’ men will be aiming to make history, and we’ll be there with them so join us from 6.30pm for live coverage.
Until then, thanks for joining us and goodnight.
Extra! Read all about it!
Before we sign off on the Sunday evening, let’s head back and relive the action with Dave Kidd’s match report from the London Stadium where Arsenal have beaten West Ham 2-1.
This victory was not a thing of beauty, but for Mikel Arteta it will have meant the world. If Arsenal are to end their five-year exile from the Champions League, the Gunners boss will look back on fondness to a day when two headed goals from centre-halves won a thoroughly untidy London derby.
Arteta delight at ugly Arsenal
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta praised his players for the manner in which they dug in to win at West Ham despite not being anywhere near their best.
If I have to analyse the game, I will use a word: ugly. Today we won ugly. Big teams, they have to find a way to win ugly when they don’t play at their best.
Mikel Arteta
North London rivals march on
It’s as you were at the start of the day with Arsenal back in fourth place, two points ahead of their rivals Tottenham.
It’s looking increasingly likely that the battle for the title, the top four and to avoid the drop will go right to the wire.
A surefire Nket as Eddie stars
He may not have scored but Eddie Nketiah was a constant menace for Arsenal this afternoon.
The striker stretched play when the visitors needed it most, often operating on the shoulder of the last defender.
The 22-year-old has come to the party at the right time of the season. If he helps fire the Gunners to the Champions League, will it convince him to sign a new deal at the Emirates?
Aaron unaware of Spurs result
Straight off the final whistle, Aaron Ramsdale and Rob Holding were nabbed by Sky Sports’ reporter Geoff Shreeves and asked if today’s game was made more important by Tottenham’s win over Leicester earlier in the afternoon.
“To be honest, I didn’t know they had won, but every game until the end of the season is vital for us,” remarked Ramsdale.
When the same query was put to Holding about whether he knew the Spurs result, he replied with a smirk: “Yeah, of course!”
More honest.
Gunners back in the groove
After three disappointing defeats, Arsenal have roared back in the past 11 days with victories against Chelsea, Manchester United and West Ham.
It leaves them in pole position in the battle for the top four with today’s result ensuring they will definitely play in Europe one way or another next season.
- Crystal Palace 3-0 Arsenal (Apr 4)
- Arsenal 1-2 Brighton (Apr 9)
- Southampton 1-0 Arsenal (Apr 16)
- Chelsea 2-4 Arsenal (Apr 20)
- Arsenal 3-1 Man Utd (Apr 23)
- West Ham 1-2 Arsenal (May 1)
Match stats from the London Stadium
West Ham had the majority share of possession and passing, but failed to land too many blows upon Arsenal, who took their opportunities in the air when they came.
Full time – West Ham 1-2 Arsenal
The final whistle goes, and Arsenal have held on – under minimal pressure, it has to be said – to move back above Tottenham and into fourth spot.
Four games remain and the gap to their rivals, who they face in 11 days’ time, is two points.
It’s been an afternoon to forget for West Ham, but it could still be a week to remember if they can overturn their Europa League semi-final deficit around in Frankfurt on Thursday.
West Ham 1-2 Arsenal
90+2. That angry delay has certainly done much for Arsenal than it has West Ham, and has eaten up a good 90 seconds of playing time.
Meanwhile, Sambi Lokonga – on seconds earlier for Odegaard – has the chance to wrap it up, but slams his shot high and wide.
West Ham 1-2 Arsenal – Nketiah and Cresswell yellow cards
90. A flashpoint to end the game!
Nketiah stops West Ham from taking a quick free-kick in their own half, and receives a booking from Mike Dean.
That should be the end of it, but it’s not as players from both sides become embroiled in an unnecessary melee.
Cresswell receives a caution for his part, but it’s Declan Rice that remains furious.
The West Ham midfielder continues to square up to Nketiah, and has to be restrained by Coufal and Fredericks.
West Ham 1-2 Arsenal
88. Both managers are incredibly animated on the edge of their technical area.
In fact, Moyes rushes to relieve the ball and looks set to rugby tackle Cedric to retrieve in before thinking better of it.
If only the players had shown this much energy.
West Ham 1-2 Arsenal – Arsenal substitution
87. Saka goes off replaced by his friend and England colleague, Emile Smith Rowe.
West Ham 1-2 Arsenal
85. Saka goes down for the third time in the last ten minutes, and the home fans are incensed.
Injury or not, I think Mikel Arteta would do to take him off now.
West Ham 1-2 Arsenal
83. “Arsenal are cruising towards an away victory,” opines Alan Smith.
You do hope that West Ham are saving themselves for Thursday because if they’re not, they’ll find themselves in big trouble in Frankfurt if they play like this.
West Ham 1-2 Arsenal – West Ham substitution
81. A final change for the hosts.
Andriy Yarmolenko has come up with some big goals lately, and he’ll have nine minutes plus stoppage time in order to record another.
Off goes Said Benrahma.
West Ham 1-2 Arsenal
80. Inside the final ten minutes now.
Can Arsenal hold on for a huge three points?
West Ham haven’t really made the visitors work for the win in this second half – yet.
West Ham 1-2 Arsenal
79. Another opportunity for Nketiah to seal victory on the break.
The striker’s pace has the Hammers backline all over the place as Arsenal break forward, and this time he opts for power over precision.
His strike is low, but Fabianski’s response is solid with the former Gunners keeper diving to his left to push away.
West Ham 1-2 Arsenal – West Ham substitution
78. A second change for the hosts as David Moyes throws on Tomas Soucek for a tiring Mark Noble.
West Ham 1-2 Arsenal – Arsenal substitution
77. Clear disappointment for the Tomiyasu, and audible frustration from the away fans.
The right-back even points to his calf as he departs, and the immediate concern is that he’s aggravated one of those prior injuries.
On comes Cedric to take his place.
West Ham 1-2 Arsenal
76. Tomiyasu has gone down off the ball, but this looks as though it may not be the latest attempt at timewasting.
In fact, it looks as though the right-back will be unable to continue on his return.
West Ham 1-2 Arsenal
74. Ramsdale finally claims the ball after a lengthy spell of West Ham possession, and immediately slows things down as he appeals to his teammates for calm.
It doesn’t take long for the whistles to ring out from the home stands though, and it’s clear that they are going to put pressure on referee Mike Dean to penalise and record any time wasting.
West Ham 1-2 Arsenal
72. Nketiah goes close to wrapping up the points!
A beautiful pass from Elneny sends the forward racing down the left, and one-on-one with Zouma.
Nketiah does everything right, cutting back inside the West Ham defender and on to his right foot, before curling a shot agonisingly wide of the post.
Fabianski was rooted to his spot.
West Ham 1-2 Arsenal – West Ham substitution
71. Here’s the change! Antonio replaces Manuel Lanzini, and will go straight up top to offer a physical presence in attack.
The forward’s goalscoring record hasn’t been anywhere close to last season’s exploits. What a time this would be to put that right.
West Ham 1-2 Arsenal
69. David Moyes is preparing a change, and it looks to be a positive one.
Michail Antonio is being readied on the touchline.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
