Arsenal vs West Ham LIVE: Premier League result and final score as Eddie Nketiah goal completes comeback

Arsenal 3-1 West Ham: The Gunners extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to seven points after a second-half comeback at the Emirates

Arteta insists potential new Arsenal striker needs to be the right fit

Arsenal moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table after goals from Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah completed a second-half comeback against West Ham.

The Premier League leaders were missing the injured Gabriel Jesus for the first time this season and trailed at half time after Said Benrahma converted a first-half penalty.

But in the absence of Jesus, Arsenal’s other forwards stepped up when Saka and Martinelli scored in the space of five minutes to flip the Boxing Day fixture on its head, with Nketiah adding a third with a brilliant turn and finish shortly afterwards.

The win was Arsenal’s fourth in a row, moving them seven points clear of Newcastle and eight ahead of Manchester City, and came as former manager Arsene Wenger returned to the club for the first time since his exit in 2018.

Follow all the reaction from the final Premier League outing on Boxing Day below

Arsenal vs West Ham

• FT! Arsenal return from World Cup to move seven points clear at top of the Premier League table
• 69’ GOAL! Nketiah spins Kehrer in the box before firing brilliant finish into the corner (ARS 3-1 WHU)
• 58’ GOAL! Martinelli catches Fabianski out at near post as Arsenal complete rapid turnaround (ARS 2-1 WHU)
• 53’ GOAL! Odegaard’s wayward shot finds Saka who equalises for Arsenal (ARS 1-1 WHU)
• 45+3’ NO PENALTY! Referee Oliver points to the spot but VAR correctly overturns handball decision (ARS 0-1 WHU)
• 27’ GOAL! Benrahma stays cool to put it down the middle as West Ham take the lead (ARS 0-1 WHU)
• 25’ PENALTY WEST HAM! Bowen goes down in the box after Saliba dives in (ARS 0-0 WHU)
• 5’ NO GOAL! Saka strike ruled out for offside after slight touch in build up (ARS 0-0 WHU)

[26 December 2022 17:27 · Michael Jones]

Robertson to overtake Baines?

Andy Robertson is level with Leighton Baines as the defender with the most assists in Premier League history. They both have 53 but Robertson could go ahead of the former Everton man this evening.

[26 December 2022 17:24 · Michael Jones]

A hotstreak for Salah

Mohamed Salah has scored in each of his last four starts against Aston Villa in all competitions. Is five from five on the cards today?

(PA)

[26 December 2022 17:21 · Michael Jones]

Emery vs Klopp

Unai Emery’s only triumph in seven fixtures as a manager against Jurgen Klopp in all competitions was Sevilla’s 3-1 victory versus Liverpool in the 2016 Europa League final.

Can the Aston Villa boss finally get the better of his counterpart once again?

[26 December 2022 17:18 · Michael Jones]

Will Klopp match Poch’s record?

Liverpool are looking to win three top-flight fixtures in a row for the first time this season. If they do so Jurgen Klopp would match Mauricio Pochettino’s Premier League record of five wins from as many Boxing Day fixtures as a manager.

(Getty Images)

[26 December 2022 17:15 · Michael Jones]

What do we want to see from the Premier League restart?

A strange new sequence in the Premier League season will begin on Boxing Day, as the top flight returns after a month-long pause.

Domestic action was put on hold due to the Qatar World Cup, and there is no rest for the stars of that tournament, as the Premier League restarts on Monday 26 December – just a few days after we saw Carabao Cup action play out.

Arsenal have a five-point lead atop the table, with defending champions Manchester City gunning for the Gunners, while Newcastle are flying high in third.

Elsewhere, West Ham and Everton are struggling stalwarts of the division. But what next? Below, we look at what we want to happen, more so than what we think will happen...

[26 December 2022 17:10 · Michael Jones]

Will Liverpool emulate Manchester United?

Liverpool have won five consecutive Boxing Day games by an aggregate score of 15-0 since a 2-1 defeat at Manchester City in 2013.

They can equal the top-flight record for most successive Boxing Day clean sheets: six by Manchester United from 1996 to 2001.

[26 December 2022 17:05 · Michael Jones]

Boxing Day voodoo

Aston Villa have lost an unrivalled seven Boxing Day home games in the Premier League. Can they break their curse tonight?

(Getty Images)

[26 December 2022 17:00 · Michael Jones]

Unai Emery to discuss World Cup celebrations with Aston Villa goalkeeper

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has said he will speak to goalkeeper Emi Martinez about his celebrations following Argentina’s World Cup triumph.

Martinez saved a penalty from Kingsley Coman in the shoot-out showdown with France in the final, and pulled off a last-gasp save to keep out Randal Kolo Muani in extra time, but the 30-year-old has come into the spotlight following some of his celebrations.

Martinez has not yet returned to training since the World Cup as he enjoys a period of rest, but despite being proud of his achievements, Emery admits he will have a word with him when he gets back.

[26 December 2022 16:55 · Michael Jones]

A poor start for Liverpool

Liverpool, in sixth, are outside the top four on Christmas Day for the first time since 2015/16 when Jurgen Klopp had been manager for only two months.

The Reds have dropped 20 points in their 14 league matches this season. They only dropped 22 points in the whole of 2021/22.

[26 December 2022 16:50 · Michael Jones]

Will Villa win again?

Aston Villa have won three of their last four league matches, including both under Unai Emery. They had only managed two victories in their final 15 attempts under Steven Gerrard (five draws, eight defeats).

The midlands side can also earn three consecutive Premier League home wins in a season for the first time since a run of four from August to October 2007.