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 0-0 Chelsea
30 mins: James does well to evade the challenge of Mykolenko and stand a cross up for Alonso but as the Spaniard brings it down Everton are able to pinch the ball away from him.
Everton are defending well. But they need to show more in the final third if they are going to have any hope of winning this game.
Everton 0-0 Chelsea
28 mins: Another PA announcement says the exercise they were carrying out has been completed. Far from it on the pitch though - still an hour to go.
Chelsea still have the ball. They have had nearly 80 per cent of possession over the last 10 minutes.
Everton 0-0 Chelsea
26 mins: Everton now firmly dropping into their deep defensive block as Chelsea probe for a way through. The visitors are forced all the way back to Mendy though as the home supporters applaud their team’s pressing.
Everton are going to have to cope with lengthy periods without the ball today.
Everton 0-0 Chelsea
24 mins: Gorgeous from Loftus-Cheek. A wonderful flick leaves the Everton midfield in his wake. He drives through the centre before laying it off to Mount. The England man looks for Havertz at the back post but Holgate is just there in front of him to crucially head clear.
Chelsea getting on top.
Tottenham 1-0 Leicester (Kane, 22)
Elsewhere, Harry Kane has scored for Tottenham against Leicester in their pursuit of a top four place.
Everton 0-0 Chelsea
22 mins: The corner is cleared away at the front post and Everton are then awarded a free-kick in their own half as the hosts regroup.
Few PA announcements over the tannoy. A rather strange time to do them - mid-game.
Everton 0-0 Chelsea
20 mins: Mount with a couple of lovely deft touches to bring Chelsea clear - a flick with his foot and then a nice keepy-up with his head. The England international has been impressive so far.
Havertz slides the ball to James on the right and he earns the visitors a corner.
Everton 0-0 Chelsea
18 mins: YELLOW! First booking for the day goes the way of Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger. He brings down Coleman as the Everton captain charges down the right flank.
Gordon’s free-kick is shanked towards the back post and Havertz comfortably deals with it.
Everton 0-0 Chelsea
17 mins: The free-kick is taken by James but it’s straight into the arms of Pickford.
Everton then break up the other end of the pitch as Gray receives the ball inside the penalty area but his tame effort enables Mendy to safely get down and make a routine save.
Everton 0-0 Chelsea
16 mins: James and Jorginho play a neat one-two but the England man can’t quite control the return ball on the edge of the box.
Mount is then fouled 25 yards from goal as Holgate needlessly brings him down. Opportunity for Chelsea to load the box.
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