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
14 mins: The first lull in the game as Chelsea look to ride out the early pressure from the hosts. Thomas Tuchel would have known the hosts start fast at home.
The visitors are knocking the ball around, building up slowly. A lot of whistling from the raucous home crowd.
Everton 0-0 Chelsea
12 mins: Gray puts James under pressure and forces a throw-in deep inside the Chelsea half. Everton have shown a tremendous energy in the opening stages without really creating anything of note in front of goal.
A second throw sees Holgate send a long one into the box but Jorginho heads clear. It’s lofted back in and Mina goes down under pressure from Azpilicueta. The Everton fans call for a penalty but there was no real contact.
Everton 0-0 Chelsea
10 mins: CLOSE! Havertz goes down on the edge of the box after a challenge from Fabian Delph. Kevin Friend waves play on and the Everton players seem to have stopped. Mount picks it up and sends a dipping effort just over the top.
Not sure Pickford had that covered.
Everton 0-0 Chelsea
8 mins: Gordon delivers and Rudiger does well to head it clear of danger.
Havertz then loses possession in the corner as Doucoure bursts into the box but gets his footwork all wrong as Mendy is eventually able to gather.
Everton 0-0 Chelsea
6 mins: Rudiger slides a pass into Havertz but he can only knock it back to Alonso to avoid it rolling out of play. Alonso’s low cross is then easily dealt with.
Everton break forward and earn themselves a free-kick 10 yards inside the Chelsea half. Gordon over it again.
Everton 0-0 Chelsea
4 mins: Chelsea come forward for the first time but Gordon does well to win the ball back from Alonso as the Spaniard looks to charge into the Everton half.
The visitors eventually do settle down into their passing rhythm as boos begin to ring out around Goodison Park.
Everton 0-0 Chelsea
3 mins: Gordon tries to go keeper’s side but it’s a good few yards over and a few more wide of Mendy’s left-hand post.
Everton straight back on the ball from Chelsea’s goal kick though. The hosts starting positively.
Everton 0-0 Chelsea
2 mins: Blimey, what a fast start! Everton pump the ball forward and Loftus-Cheek brings Gordon down on the edge of the area inside the opening 10 seconds!
Chance for Everton. Gordon and Mykolenko over the ball.
Everton 0-0 Chelsea
1 min: We are underway at a rocking Goodison Park. What an atmosphere on Merseyside. But how long will it last?
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