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 21:20 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal 1-1 West Ham

56 mins: That’s a terribly unlucky goal for West Ham to concede but it’s fantastic work from Saka to control the ball and and calmly guide it home after keeping himself onside.

The Arsenal fans now believe they can go on and win this game.

[26 December 2022 21:17 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 West Ham (Saka, 53’)⚽️

53 mins: Maybe not. Arsenal have their equaliser.

Martin Odegaard gets the ball on the right side of the pitch and brings it inside before lining up a shot. He smokes it but pulls the effort wide of the target.

Luckily for him Bukayo Saka is waiting in the box and controls the wayward ball before slipping it past Lukasz Fabianski.

[26 December 2022 21:17 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

51 mins: David Moyes is winless in 70 Premier League away matches as a manager against Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United (D21 L49).

Can he get a win tonight?

[26 December 2022 21:12 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

48 mins: Chance! That’s nice from Arsenal. They work the ball beautifully down the right wing and give the ball to Saka. He carries it to the edge of the box before laying the ball off to Thomas Partey.

Partey shoots and looks to be curling one inside of the near post but Lukasz Fabianski leaps across and turns the ball wide of the goal.

[26 December 2022 21:10 · Michael Jones]

Second half: Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

Arsenal get the match restarted and work the ball back to Aaron Ramsdale who belts it long. Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah both challenge for the ball in the air but it skips through everyone and bounces out for a goal kick.

[26 December 2022 21:07 · Michael Jones]

HT Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

Arsenal have won just one of their last 25 Premier League games when trailing at the break (with four draws and 20 defeats). That victory came against Wolves in February (2-1).

West Ham have lost just one of their last 24 top-flight games when leading at half-time (19 wins, four draws), against Brighton in May (3-1).

[26 December 2022 21:03 · Michael Jones]

Arsene Wenger returns to Arsenal for first time since leaving club

Arsene Wenger has returned to Arsenal for the first time since leaving the club four years ago.

Wenger, who managed Arsenal between 1996 to 2018, was in the crowd for Arsenal’s Boxing Day match against West Ham.

The 73-year-old led Arsenal to three Premier League titles, including an unbeaten season, but had previously said he did not plan to watch his former club after departing.

But the Frenchman was at the Emirates Stadium after receiving an invitation from Arsenal’s board, as the Gunners returned to action following the World Cup.

[26 December 2022 20:59 · Michael Jones]

HT Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

Said Benrahma’s penalty is the difference between the teams at the halfway stage. Can West Ham go on to win this game now?

(PA)

(Getty Images)

[26 December 2022 20:55 · Michael Jones]

Half-time: Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

45+5 mins: The players head down the tunnel for the half-time break. Arsenal have had more possession and created more chances but it’s West Ham who lead at the halfway point.

Jarrod Bowen was brought down by William Saliba inside the box and Said Benrahma knocked home the penalty kick. Arsenal though they had a penalty of their own but VAR overturned the original decision.

All to play for in the second half.

[26 December 2022 20:53 · Michael Jones]

No penalty!

Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

45+5 mins: West Ham have a reprieve! VAR checks the referee’s penalty decision and sees that Cresswell blocked Odegaard’s shot with his forehead.

His hands were high but it’s clear that the ball didn’t touch them.