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.
Everton 1-0 Chelsea
89 mins: Ziyech beats his man on the right and sends a deep cross in which Pickford has to tip away.
Everton then break as Gordon bursts down the left and tries his luck from a tight angle which Mendy has to turn behind for a corner. Everton will take that.
Everton 1-0 Chelsea
88 mins: The corner is cleared and Gray ends up winning a throw for his team on the halfway line. It’s cheered like a goal has gone in.
Everton are nearly there.
Everton 1-0 Chelsea
87 mins: Another chance for the hosts! Gordon takes on Silva and pulls the ball back for Rondon but it’s just behind the striker and he can’t get anything on it with a creative flick.
Chelsea then break as Pulisic bursts into the box but he can only earn his side a corner.
Everton 1-0 Chelsea
86 mins: CHANCE FOR TWO! Everton go so close to killing the game. Holgate finds Doucoure and he turns it onto Gray on the edge of the area. The former Leicester man takes a touch before bending it towards the top corner but it’s a yard too high.
Everton 1-0 Chelsea
85 mins: Mount whips a nice cross towards the edge of the six-yard box but Pickford gathers with no Chelsea attacker anywhere near him. Not enough threat through the centre for the visitors.
Everton 1-0 Chelsea
84 mins: With the amount of attacking talent on display for Chelsea you feel they should have created more today. A couple of Pickford saves aside, the Toffees have kept them at arm’s length for large periods of the match.
That said, the visitors are well on top now. Loftus-Cheek sends a hopeful cross into the box which Iwobi chests back to Pickford.
YELLOW! Havertz then has an altercation with Mina, shoving him over and receiving a booking.
Everton 1-0 Chelsea
82 mins: Loftus-Cheek finds Silva at the back post but his header back across goal is straight into the arms of Pickford.
Everton clinging on. It’s all Chelsea pressure now.
Everton 1-0 Chelsea
80 mins: SUB! Richarlison has picked up a knock and trudges off the pitch. He is replaced by Salomon Rondon.
Everton 1-0 Chelsea
80 mins: CHANCE! Pickford makes another good save. It’s Loftus-Cheek again who shrugs off a couple of challenges before letting fly and Pickford gets a strong arm to it to parry over the top.
Tottenham 3-0 Leicester (Son, 79)
Spurs have wrapped up the points against Leicester at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Son has scored his second of the afternoon.
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