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 20:52 · Michael Jones]

Penalty to Arsenal!

Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

45+3 mins: Gabriel Martinelli cuts the ball inside from the left wing and picks out Martin Odegaard on the edge of the box. He shoots and drills the ball at Aaron Cresswell.

His hands are up next to his head and the referee thinks he’s stopped the shot with his arm and points to the spot.

[26 December 2022 20:48 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

45 mins: Three minutes of added time to play before the end of the first half.

Arsenal win a free kick that is whipped into the box by Martin Odegaard. Eddie Nketiah leaps above Michail Antonio to flick the ball onto the back post but Declan Rice steps ahead of William Saliba and marshalls the ball out of play.

[26 December 2022 20:46 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

42 mins: Odegaard fins Martinelli on the left wing who has a go at goal but it denied by the steadfast Craig Dawson. The loose ball comes out to Nketiah who attempts to weave into the penalty area but eventually gets tackled.

[26 December 2022 20:42 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

39 mins: A quick free kick from West Ham inside their own box gets chipped up to Michail Antonio who spins away from William Saliba to collect the ball.

He drives it to the box then hooks a shot wide of the near post.

[26 December 2022 20:40 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

36 mins: Chance! Bukayo Saka evades a tackle from Aaron Cresswell and sends the ball inside. Odegaard and Partey combine before giving the ball to Nketiah on the left side of the box.

The forward rolls the ball onto his right foot and shoots but Craig Dawson gets the block in and Fabianski pounces on the loose ball.

[26 December 2022 20:36 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

33 mins: There’s a bit of bite to West Ham now that they’re in front. Bukayo Saka is a little slack in getting back to help out the defence which allows Aaron Cresswell to get forward on the overlap.

He’s given the ball by Said Benrahma before flicking one into the box. Aaron Ramsdale thinks he can get there but gets shoved by Michail Antonio and wins Arsenal a free kick.

[26 December 2022 20:31 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

30 mins: That goal is just West Ham’s fourth away goal of the season and it’s a big one. They now have something to hold onto although it’s too early for the Hammers to go into their shell.

Arsenal are behind and will need to fight back if they want to get something out of this game.

[26 December 2022 20:29 · Michael Jones]

GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 West Ham (Benrahma, 27’)⚽️

27 mins: Said Benrahma bangs his penalty straight down the middle and West Ham take the lead against the run of play!

That goal could have big ramifications on the table if Arsenal fail to respond.

[26 December 2022 20:28 · Michael Jones]

Penalty to West Ham!

Arsenal 0-0 West Ham

24 mins: Craig Dawson flicks the ball down the right side of the pitch and gets the ball up to Michail Antonio. He spins away from William Saliba and slides the ball inside to Jarrod Bowen.

Bowen dribbles into the box and is clipped by the lunging Saliba which throws him off his stride. Bowen goes down and the referee points to the spot.

VAR is taking a look though.

[26 December 2022 20:25 · Michael Jones]

Arsenal 0-0 West Ham

23 mins: Chance! Ramsdale throws the ball up to Granit Xhaka who shifts it up the pitch and sends Eddie Nketiah sprinting in behind.

The striker carries the ball to the edge of the box and shoots but Thilo Kehrer is back in time to leap in front of the effort and get the block in.