West Ham vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction as Gabriel earns vital win
The Brazilian defender earned the win at the London Stadium after Jarrod Bowen cancelled out Rob Holding’s opener
Arsenal tightened their grip on fourth place in the Premier League after goals from centre-backs Rob Holding and Gabriel delivered a 2-1 victory over West Ham at the London Stadium.
The Gunners struck from corners in each half to secure a crucial three points in their race for Champions League qualification and for the time being hold off closest rivals Tottenham, who overcame Leicester 3-1 earlier in the day.
Bukayo Saka was an influential figure throughout and Arsenal would have won more comfortably had Eddie Nketiah not been so wasteful, but West Ham were magnificent given their Europa League semi-final commitments and shortage of defenders.
Star forward Michail Antonio only appeared as a second-half substitute after Thursday night’s 2-1 defeat by Eintracht Frankfurt and Declan Rice started even though the away leg is only four days away.
West Ham’s biggest problems were in defence, however, where injury and suspension left Kurt Zouma as the only fit centre-back and at times even he appeared to still be hampered by his recent ankle injury.
But they emptied the tanks and took the game to their London rivals for long spells, looking the stronger side and equalising through Jarrod Bowen before eventually falling to a defeat that mathematicaly ends their own designs on fourth place.
For all the demands of their European campaign, West Ham started brightly and Aaron Ramsdale needed to act decisively to deal with an inswinging corner by Bowen.
Saka was determined to make something happen for Arsenal during a promising attack that eventually came to a halt.
West Ham were on top but there were few thrills at either end and when Holding inexplicably passed the ball into touch it summed up a lifeless opening spell.
When action did occasionally break out it took place at Arsenal’s end and in the 30th minute it needed a determined block from Holding to deny Manuel Lanzini from close range after Vladimir Coufal’s pass had deflected off Nuno Tavares.
Rice shot straight into the arms of Ramsdale but soon after it became the Gunners’ turn to threaten, with Nketiah the catalyst as they crept ahead against the run of play.
Nketiah threaded his way into the box to force a save from Lukasz Fabianski and from the ensuing corner Saka found Holding, who nodded home his first Premier League goal.
Rice was at the heart of West Ham’s response that meant they entered half-time all square as he forced a smart save from Ramsdale before launching the move that led to their equaliser.
A long pass into the box found Coufal and the Czech defender controlled the ball brilliantly before picking out Bowen, whose shot deflected off Gabriel and into the net.
The second half started at a frantic pace as Bowen was shown a yellow card for simulation as he avoided Ramsdale’s lunge, amid a breathless spell for West Ham that ended abruptly when Arsenal added a second.
Once again they pounced from a corner as the ball found Gabriel Martinelli, who crossed to his unmarked namesake and fellow Brazilian for a diving header that beat Fabianski at the far post.
A flare hurled from the away fans’ section was cleared off the pitch and play resumed with Nketiah failing to make the most of a strong chance as Arsenal broke incisively.
Nketiah’s wasteful afternoon continued as he sent his best opportunity yet wide of the right post, but the visitors had already done enough for the win in spite of West Ham’s late endeavour.
Everton 1-0 Chelsea
68 mins: Chelsea searching for an equaliser as Everton continue to revert to their deep defensive block.
GOOD CHANCE! A good ball in from the right drops onto the head of an unmarked Havertz but his tame header drifts well wide. Had to do better.
Tottenham 2-0 Leicester (Son, 61)
Tottenham have doubled their lead against Leicester and it’s Son Heung-min with the goal. The points look relatively safe for Spurs in that one.
Everton 1-0 Chelsea
66 mins: Rudiger tries his luck from 25 yards out but it sails over the top. We know he can hit them, but not on this occasion.
Everton 1-0 Chelsea
65 mins: Nothing comes from the VAR check. He was jumping for the ball when it hit him on the shoulder/top of the arm.
Would have been incredibly harsh.
Everton 1-0 Chelsea
64 mins: Appeals for a handball on Reece James inside the Chelsea penalty area as he looked to control a cross from the left-hand side.
VAR having a look.
Everton 1-0 Chelsea
63 mins: Everton suddenly defending desperately but here they come on the break!
Richarlison breaks down the left and sends a low ball into the middle which somehow Gray falls on without instead of turning it home.
There was a nudge from Silva on Gray but not enough for a penalty. The VAR check was swift.
Everton 1-0 Chelsea
61 mins: AND AGAIN!
The subsequent corner deflects and finds its way through to Rudiger at the back post. The German looks destined to score but his close-range effort cannons back off Pickford’s face!
Now he is down and receiving a round of applause from the Goodison Park faithful.
How are Everton still in front?!
Everton 1-0 Chelsea
60 mins: OH MY WORD! How are Chelsea not level?! How has Jordan Pickford kept that out?!
Mount shoots on the edge of the area and the ball hits BOTH posts before Azpilicueta tries to curl the ball into an empty net but Pickford is up on his feet incredible quickly to make a wonderful save!
Everton 1-0 Chelsea
58 mins: Loftus-Cheek storms through the middle yet again and earns his team a free-kick. He has been the visitors’ standout player going forward so far today.
Everton 1-0 Chelsea
57 mins: Richarlison chases a ball down the left channel and nips in ahead of Silva. The Brazilian defender brings his compatriot down and Everton have a free-kick in a dangerous position to deliver into the box.
Gordon takes... over everyone and out for a goal kick. Waste.
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