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
55 mins: Chelsea probe for an equaliser but they simply cannot find a way through the lines. Azpilicueta is eventually challenged by Gray and the throw-in goes Everton’s way.
A huge roar from the Goodison crowd. They know how big this next 35 minutes is in their season.
Everton 1-0 Chelsea
53 mins: Chelsea back on the front foot after going behind. Alonso sends a corner into the middle and Rudiger heads wide.
Everton now need to show that organisation they displayed in the first half. They have something to cling onto.
Everton 1-0 Chelsea
The biggest goal of Everton’s season? Richarlison puts the hosts in front at the start of the second half.
Everton 1-0 Chelsea
51 mins: In amongst all that chaos, I should stress it was Jorginho who came off for Kovacic, not Mount.
Anyway, what a start from Everton!
Everton 1-0 Chelsea
49 mins: HUGE CHANCE FOR TWO!
Everton work the ball across the Chelsea box from a throw-in. It finds its way through to Mykolenko who fires over from 10 yards out!
Will they rue that chance?
GOAL! Everton 1-0 Chelsea (Richarlison, 47)
47 mins: WOW!
A huge moment in Everton’s battle to avoid the drop! It’s a horrible moment for César Azpilicueta who is caught in possession by Richarlison on the edge of his own box. The Brazilian steadies himself before slotting the ball home cooly.
He picks up a flare and throws it off the pitch in celebration. MASSIVE.
Everton 0-0 Chelsea
46 mins: SUB! Chelsea made a change at half-time.Mateo Kovacic has come on for Jorginho.
Everton 0-0 Chelsea
46 mins: Back underway at Goodison Park. Let’s have some more chances from both sides please.
HT: Everton 0-0 Chelsea
We don’t love to see it. But we do love to see it.
HT: Everton 0-0 Chelsea
Half-time: Five yellow cards but no goals to speak of at the break.
An aggressive, combative half of football which Frank Lampard will be pleased with. Neither side have really threatened, but Chelsea are the team who have failed to register a shot on target.
Much to ponder for Thomas Tuchel, but Everton need more creativity in the final third if they are going to pick up a much-needed win here.
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