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 21:51 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal 3-1 West Ham

87 mins: Close! Saka swings the ball into the six-yard area where Saliba rises and turns the ball towards goal. Fabianski leaps towards him and deflects the ball with his fist resulting in another corner for Arsenal.

West Ham deal with this second effort more competently.

[26 December 2022 21:48 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal 3-1 West Ham

84 mins: Zinchenko threads the ball up to Odegaard on the inside right who flicks the ball on for Saka. Saka brings it into the penalty area before looking to pull it back for Xhaka.

Dawson gets in the way though and turns the ball behind for a corner.

[26 December 2022 21:46 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal 3-1 West Ham

81 mins: Chance! Ben White gets forward on the right wing bringing the ball to the byline before getting tackled by a back-tracking Said Benrahma.

Benrahma brings the ball to the edge of the box and attempts a step-over but has it nicked off him by Martin Odegaard who checks to the left and shoots but smokes his effort well wide of the far post.

[26 December 2022 21:44 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal 3-1 West Ham

78 mins: Martin Odegaard has become the 11th player from Norway to reach double figures in both goals and assists in the Premier League. He’s now got 14 goals and 10 assists for Arsenal.

David Moyes makes a change and brings Pablo Fornals on to replace Tomas Soucek.

[26 December 2022 21:40 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal 3-1 West Ham

75 mins: West Ham are growing increasingly frustrated. Ben White receives the ball and dribbles his way up the pitch holding off Said Benrahma who has two or three attempts to recover it.

Eventually the referee decides Benrahma is being too forceful and awards Arsenal a free kick.

[26 December 2022 21:38 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal 3-1 West Ham

72 mins: Kieran Tierney’s decent night comes to an end as Oleksandr Zinchenko gets a run out of near 20 minutes. The left back is just returning from injury and will give Arsenal a boost when fully fit again.

As it stands the Gunners are moving seven points clear at the top of the table.

[26 December 2022 21:32 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Arsenal 3-1 West Ham (Nketiah, 69’)⚽️

69 mins: Lovely goal! A cross field pass comes over to Ben White who brings the ball under control and cuts inside of Said Benrahma.

White gives it to Martin Odegaard who sends the ball into the box for Eddie Nketiah. The forward spins off Thilo Kehrer’s shoulder before lacing a shot back across the box and earning Arsenal a two-goal lead!

[26 December 2022 21:30 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal 2-1 West Ham

65 mins: West Ham have been passive in the second half which has allowed Arsenal the freedom to get those two goals. The Hammers need to step up a gear and take the attack to the Gunners.

Jarrod Bowen curls a corner ball into the penalty area but William Saliba gets highest and nods the ball clear.

[26 December 2022 21:27 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal 2-1 West Ham

62 mins: Arsenal have got themselves in front but it’s doubtful that they’ll settle for just two goals. They’ll want at least one more to take all the pressure off and the Gunners are ramping up the pressure.

Martinelli swings a corner into the box but doesn’t beat the first defender.

[26 December 2022 21:22 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 West Ham (Martinelli, 59’)⚽️

59 mins: Turnaround! Saka recovers the ball deep in West Ham’s half and passes it square to Odegaard who works it across to Xhaka.

Xhaka assesses his options before slipping the ball into the left side of the box for Martinelli who drills a low effort towards goal and beats Fabianski at the near post.

Arsenal take the lead.