Gabriel Magalhaes’ winner sees Arsenal reclaim fourth spot in the Premier League with an important victory at West Ham.
The Gunners knew only a win would lift them back into the Champions League places after Tottenham beat Leicester earlier in the afternoon, but Mikel Arteta’s side responded by grinding out a vital three points at London Stadium.
It was Arteta’s centre-backs who came up with the goods, with Gabriel Magalhaes nodding the winner early in the second half after Rob Holding had opened the scoring from Bukayo Saka’s 38th-minute corner.
Jarrod Bowen did pull the Hammers level just before the break, controlling Vladimir Coufal’s cross and squeezing a strike into the bottom corner in what was a reward for a strong first-half performance.
But David Moyes’ outfit failed to reach those levels after going behind for a second time – and defeat leaves them seventh, three points behind sixth-placed Manchester United with three games remaining.
Gunners grind out vital win
The Gunners are desperate to return to Europe’s elite competition next season and Arteta’s side have enjoyed the advantage of having no continental football this term, meaning all their resources can be focused on achieving a top-four finish for the first time since 2015-16.
West Ham’s only realistic chance of qualifying for the Champions League now is to win the Europa League – and Moyes’ team would be forgiven for having one eye on overturning their 2-1 deficit in the semi-final second leg against Eintracht Frankfurt in Germany on Thursday.
Arsenal struggled to get a foothold, though, before Eddie Nketiah’s clever run and low shot forced a corner, from which Holding climbed highest to head in Saka’s delivery for his first Premier League goal.
Bowen’s smart finish pulled the Hammers level on the brink of half-time. But, after the hosts failed to properly clear a corner, Gabriel was left unmarked at the back post to head in Gabriel Martinelli’s 54th-minute cross, beating former Arsenal stopper Lukasz Fabianski at his near post.
Nketiah could have sealed the success on the break, only to curl wide, but the 22-year-old continued to prove a threat after again being trusted to lead the line for Arsenal.
The visitors were not at their fluent best, but as the battle with north London rivals Spurs hots up – and with the Gunners heading to Tottenham a week on Thursday – restoring their two-point advantage was the most important outcome for Arsenal.
More to follow.
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
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West Ham United
Starting XI
Avg
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Squad number1Player nameFabianski
Average rating5.65
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Squad number5Player nameCoufal
Average rating5.45
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Squad number4Player nameZouma
Average rating4.36
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Squad number3Player nameCresswell
Average rating5.53
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Squad number24Player nameFredericks
Average rating5.28
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Squad number16Player nameNoble
Average rating5.51
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Squad number41Player nameRice
Average rating6.05
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Squad number8Player nameFornals
Average rating5.64
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Squad number10Player nameLanzini
Average rating5.40
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Squad number22Player nameBenrahma
Average rating5.75
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Squad number20Player nameBowen
Average rating6.36
Substitutes
Avg
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Squad number7Player nameYarmolenko
Average rating4.65
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Squad number9Player nameAntonio
Average rating4.83
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Squad number28Player nameSoucek
Average rating4.59
Arsenal
Starting XI
Avg
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Squad number32Player nameRamsdaleAverage rating
6.55
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Squad number18Player nameTomiyasuAverage rating
6.50
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Squad number16Player nameHoldingAverage rating
6.85
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Squad number6Player nameGabriel MagalhãesAverage rating
6.52
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Squad number20Player nameNuno TavaresAverage rating
5.85
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Squad number8Player nameØdegaardAverage rating
6.58
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Squad number25Player nameMohamed ElnenyAverage rating
6.35
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Squad number34Player nameXhakaAverage rating
6.29
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Squad number7Player nameSakaAverage rating
6.84
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Squad number30Player nameNketiahAverage rating
6.43
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Squad number35Player nameGabriel MartinelliAverage rating
6.45
Substitutes
Avg
-
Squad number10Player nameSmith RoweAverage rating
6.97
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Squad number17Player nameCédric SoaresAverage rating
6.57
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Squad number23Player nameSambi LokongaAverage rating
6.09
Line-ups
West Ham
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Fabianski
- 5Coufal
- 4Zouma
- 3CresswellBooked at 90mins
- 24Fredericks
- 16NobleSubstituted forSoucekat 77’minutes
- 41Rice
- 8Fornals
- 10LanziniSubstituted forAntonioat 71’minutes
- 22BenrahmaSubstituted forYarmolenkoat 81’minutes
- 20BowenBooked at 52mins
Substitutes
- 7Yarmolenko
- 9Antonio
- 11Vlasic
- 13Areola
- 23Diop
- 26Masuaku
- 28Soucek
- 33Král
- 42Alese
Arsenal
Formation 4-3-3
- 32Ramsdale
- 18TomiyasuSubstituted forCédric Soaresat 78’minutes
- 16Holding
- 6Gabriel
- 20Tavares
- 8ØdegaardSubstituted forSambi Lokongaat 90+2’minutes
- 25Elneny
- 34Xhaka
- 7SakaBooked at 48minsSubstituted forSmith Roweat 87’minutes
- 30NketiahBooked at 90mins
- 35Martinelli
Substitutes
- 1Leno
- 9Lacazette
- 10Smith Rowe
- 17Cédric Soares
- 19Pépé
- 23Sambi Lokonga
- 54Kirk
- 65Oulad M’hand
- 69Swanson
- Referee:
- Mike Dean
Live Text
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Match ends, West Ham United 1, Arsenal 2.
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Second Half ends, West Ham United 1, Arsenal 2.
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Foul by Michail Antonio (West Ham United).
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Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt missed. Albert Sambi Lokonga (Arsenal) right footed shot from the right side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Eddie Nketiah.
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Substitution, Arsenal. Albert Sambi Lokonga replaces Martin Ødegaard.
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Aaron Cresswell (West Ham United) is shown the yellow card.
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Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal) is shown the yellow card.
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Pablo Fornals (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Mohamed Elneny (Arsenal).
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Jarrod Bowen (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Cédric Soares (Arsenal).
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Substitution, Arsenal. Emile Smith Rowe replaces Bukayo Saka because of an injury.
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Hand ball by Bukayo Saka (Arsenal).
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Offside, West Ham United. Vladimir Coufal tries a through ball, but Andriy Yarmolenko is caught offside.
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Substitution, West Ham United. Andriy Yarmolenko replaces Saïd Benrahma.
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Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Lukasz Fabianski.
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Attempt saved. Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
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Substitution, Arsenal. Cédric Soares replaces Takehiro Tomiyasu because of an injury.
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Substitution, West Ham United. Tomas Soucek replaces Mark Noble.
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