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Arsenal vs West Ham LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction tonight

Follow all the reaction from the Emirates Stadium after the Gunners saw off West Ham

Michael Jones
Wednesday 15 December 2021 22:01 GMT
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(Getty Images)

Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe fired Arsenal to a 2-0 victory over West Ham and into the top four of the Premier League.

Brazilian forward Martinelli, profiting from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s enforced absence from the squad with a rare run in the Gunners starting line-up, tucked in his second goal of the season early in the second half.

And substitute Smith Rowe doubled the lead late on after Alexandre Lacazette had missed a penalty.

It was enough to inflict defeat on an increasingly weary-looking West Ham side, whose own charge for a Champions League spot has slowed to a crawl in recent weeks.

To add to their problems they were reduced to 10 men when Vladimir Coufal was sent off for bringing down Lacazette, who saw his subsequent penalty saved by Lukasz Fabianski.

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Arsenal 1 - 0 West Ham

54 mins: Save! Martin Odegaard gives the ball away with a wayward pass along the front edge of his own box. Jarrod Bowen collects the ball and dinks a shot towards the top left corner only for Ramsdale to leap across and push it wide of the post.

The corner comes in to Declan Rice who flicks it towards the back post. It goes over Michail Antonio and Arsenal manage to work it clear.

Michael Jones15 December 2021 21:11
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Arsenal 1 - 0 West Ham

51 mins: Arsenal have been the more threatening team, they deserved that goal. Kieran Tierney brings the ball down the left wing and cuts a pass into the box but Soucek is there to intercept it this time.

Michael Jones15 December 2021 21:08
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GOAL! Arsenal 1 - 0 West Ham (Martinelli, 48’)⚽️

48 mins: Lovely goal! Gabriel brings the ball up the pitch and sends it into the feet of Lacazette. Martinelli makes a fantastic run off the ball and Arsenal’s captain slides it into the box for him. Martinelli opens up the far bottom corner and curls his shot around the goalkeeper sinking the ball in off the far post!

Michael Jones15 December 2021 21:05
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Second half: Arsenal 0 - 0 West Ham

Kick off: Arsenal get the match back underway and attack immediately through Lacazette. He drives towards the box before laying the ball off to Saka. Saka cuts inside and takes a shot but fires his chance over the crossbar.

Michael Jones15 December 2021 21:04
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Arsenal 0 - 0 West Ham

As things stand West Ham will hold on to fourth place until the weekend at least. If neither team scores in the second half Arsenal will remain sixth but they’ll have drawn level with Manchester United on 27 points.

Can someone find a winning goal in the second half? The players make their way back out onto the pitch.

Michael Jones15 December 2021 21:01
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Michael Jones15 December 2021 20:55
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Arsenal 0 - 0 West Ham

Nothing to separate the teams at half-time. It’s been scrappy at times with plenty of work for the officials to do. Who’s going to get the first goal in this goal? It feels as though there’s going to be one.

(Getty Images)
Arsenal striker Gabriel Martinelli (L) vies with West Ham’s Vladimir Coufal (Getty)
(Getty Images)
Michael Jones15 December 2021 20:52
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Half-time: Arsenal 0 - 0 West Ham

45+1 mins: As 0-0s go this have been very enjoyable. Arsenal have been the more threatening team with the Hammers relying heavily on last ditch defending to keep them out. Alexandre Lacazette has been good, Kieran Tierney has hit the crossbar but Bukayo Saka is causing the most trouble out on that righ wing. For West Ham Craig Dawson is having a blinder at centre-back and Lukasz Fabianski has made a few good saves. Goalless at the break .

Michael Jones15 December 2021 20:47
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Arsenal 0 - 0 West Ham

42 mins: Martinelli knocks a short pass into Lacazette who spins into the box but loses the ball. He goes down hoping for a free kick but play goes on as Rice carries the balll away. He has his pocket picked by Martinelli and Arsenal come at West Ham again.

Saka comes inside from the wing and squares a pass to Lacazette. He shoots and forces Fabianski into a leaping save to his left. The ball comes loose and Martinelli pokes it wide of the near post under pressure from Dawson!

Michael Jones15 December 2021 20:45
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Arsenal 0 - 0 West Ham

39 mins: Chance! Chances! How are Arsenal not in front?! The Gunners work the ball down the right side and give it to Saka. He drives into the box and plays a one-two with Lacazette to create a yard of space. He gets the bal back and squares it to Xhaka who shoots but has his effort blocked by Dawson.

The ball comes out to Tierney who blasts a left-footed shot from range. The ball is heading just underneath the crossbar by Fabianski jumps across and tips the ball onto the bar where is bounces clear!

Michael Jones15 December 2021 20:42

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