Arsenal 0-1 West Ham – Premier League: Live score, team news and updates as Tomas Soucek fires home controversial opener with Gunners on wrong side of another tight VAR call

Great first half for West Ham, who got a bit of luck with the award of their goal, while it’s been a nearly half for the Gunners.

Arsenal have played some truly wonderful stuff and have even tested Areola on occasion but more often than not you feel they need to sacrifice a couple of passes for a better look on goal.

Arteta may not be happy with the performance but he’ll not lose heart of them still getting a win in this game. We’re seeing the big teams comeback from deficits with increasingly regularity and Arsenal will fancy their chances in the second half.

For the Hammers, they need to get Bowen and Kudus on the ball as much as possible. When the pair have been involved Moyes’s side have looked dangerous.

Arsenal chase an equaliser before the interval.

West Ham give the ball away before Odegaard finds Saka on the right. The winger’s touch took him away from the goal which forced him to let off a shot with his weaker right it foot.

It was still nearly good enough but strike came back off the post before hitting an incoming attacker and going out for a goal kick.

Beautiful stuff by Arsenal

All that was missing was a shot on goal. Arsenal have made a bit of a habit of that in this half.

They again worked the chance brilliantly by playing it between their attacking midfielders before Zinchenko recieved the ball inside the area and turned inside but Ogbonna defender him well and the Hammers were able to clear.

Martinelli this time with the effort

It’s Martinelli’s turn to go close. The youngster curled an effort wide of the post from the inside the area.

Arsenal wanted a penalty for a foul on Gabriel in the lead up but nothing was given as the Hammers escaped another Gunners attack.

Arenal are piling on the pressure and have just gone close with an effort from White after a short corner from Arsenal.

The defender just managed to get a glancing header on Zinchenko’s cross but the attempt went wide of the West Ham goal.

Benrahma replaces Paqueta

Sorry Hammers fans but the Brazilian has pulled up and it doesn’t look like he’ll continue.

The West Ham keeper makes a good save from Saka’s header after Jesus had put in a pinpoint cross. It was stop you’d expect him to make but it was a good one nonetheless.

Gunners reluctant to put the ball in the box

The home side have wrestled the ball back from the Hammers but all the possession has been in front of a disciplined rearguard.

West Ham are without their two starting centre-backs but Arsenal are unwilling to test their defence from crosses.

Hammers continue to grow in the game

The visitors are getting on the ball more and more and are finding some joy with Paqueta pulling the strings.

Arsenal of course remain a constant theat but West Ham will be bouyed not just by their goal but their increasingly ability to play through their hosts.

West Ham’s lead is confirmed in the absence of evidence that the ball had gone out of play.

It’s a tight one and it looks like Arsenal could be on the end of another decision on whether the ball was out of play.

West Ham take the lead but it’s going to be another tricky decision for VAR here. Did the ball go out of play before Bowen set up Soucek? Stay tuned.

Emerson’s brilliant cross wasn’t dealt with by the Arsenal defence before it bounce back towards Bowen. The winger then played it into the middle were Soucek arrived to knock it in.

Another good move from Arsenal leads to a shot from Trossard but the Belgian’s shot sailed way over the crossbar. It’s more good struff from the home side but they’re yet to worry Areola with an effort.

Hammers fail to make free-kick count

Ward-Prowse delivered a brilliant free-kick but the Hammers players in the box were unable to force the ball on goal. It represented the best chance the visitors are likely to get in the game with Arsenal so dominant on the ball.

Arsenal in confident mood

Arteta’s side have dictated the play in the early minutes of the game and have even let off a few fancy flicks and tricks for good measure. The Hammers are already penned back into their box with only Bowen the outlet up field.

Corner incoming for the home side.

Wonderful Gunners play opens up West Ham

Odegaard produces an exquisite flick to unlock the Hammers defence and play in Saka on the edge of the box. The winger came inside before curling an effort that was comfortable for Areola in goal.

Ward-Prowse has an early shot

The midfielder cracks his shot from the edge of the area high over the bar after it had fallen to him from a long throw in. You’d have expected him to do better with it but it was very early in the game.

West Ham get the action underway at the Emirates

And to the delight of Hammers fans, Paqueta IS still in the starting XI. Kick-off just moments away.

The midfielder was seen hobbling off after picking up an injury in the warm-up. We’ll update on official news from West Ham when we have it.

‘They are unbelievable together. ‘White said after the Gunners’ 1-1 draw with Liverpool. ‘They are so strong and powerful. They make it easier for everyone around them.

‘They just don’t do too much wrong, do they? They are so consistent every game.

‘No one is dominating them speed-wise or strength-wise. It’s hard for strikers to come up against and find anything positive to come out of the game.’

Mohamed Kudus has won the most points of any midfielder since gameweek 11. In real money that translates to five goals and three assists in his last eight games.

The Gunners played West Ham at home around the same time last season, though their match-up came following a break in the season for the World Cup.

Last year, Arsenal claimed a 3-1 comeback win courtesy of secon-half goals from Saka, Martinelli and Nketiah after Benhrama had given the Hammers the lead from the spot.

It’s the final column of 2023 so it feels only right to look back and, to a degree, forwards. So here are the good, the bad and the ugly of my football year.

You will be pleased to see that VAR doesn’t even get a mention until the very last paragraph.

Happy New Year to all of those with sufficient constitution to have stuck with this page and thanks in particular for all your emails.

It’s almost time for Arsenal’s final home game of an impressive 2023. Kick-off is a little under 45 minutes away.

Ogbonna and Jorginho are united in their honest responses ahead of the Premier League clash.

Arteta is forced into making one change from the side that drew 1-1 with Liverpool in their last game. Trossard comes in for Havertz, who misses out through suspension.

Changes at the back for Moyes as Aguerd and Zouma BOTH miss out for the Hammers. Ogbonna comes in and takes the captain’s armband from the Frenchman.

The fearsome trio of Bowen, Kudus and Paqueta start.

Arsenal know that a win today will see them claim top spot on Christmas Day and at the turn of the year, while West Ham can leapfrog Man United in sixth place.

Mikel Arteta’s side might just be looking over their shoulders as well following Man City’s comeback win against Everton yesterday. Villa’s defeat to United kept them in second ahead of tonight’s clash.

The West Ham star’s tally of 11 Premier League goals is only bettered by Dominic Solanke, Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland.

If Bowen scores again tonight, he’ll not only move into joint-second spot in the scoring charts but he’ll become the first West Ham player to net 12 times in the opening 19 Premier League fixtures

The Hammers boss was on the charm offensive during his pre-match press conference, telling reporters that Arteta has proved all of his doubters wrong.

The Spaniard led the team to an unexpected title challenge last season and is masterminding another assualt on the top prize.

• Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 12 home London derbies in the Premier League
• The Gunners have won 12 of their last 13 Premier League home games against the Hammers
• West Ham have only won their final league game once in the last seven calendar years
• David Moyes has NEVER won at the home of the Gunners in 2 attempts in all competitions
• Bukayo Saka has been involved in 18 goals in his last 17 home games in all competitions
• Jarrod Bowen has scored seven away goals for West Ham in the Premier League this season

David Moyes insists there is much more to come from West Ham as they aim to bolster their top-six charge by surprising Arsenal for the second time this season.

Moyes’ men stunned Mikel Arteta‘s team in the Carabao Cup last month when they won 3-1 with only 28 per cent possession.

West Ham realise they are unlikely to see much more of the ball at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday night but hope Mohammed Kudus and Co can be clinical on the counter.

David Moyes’ side have already beaten tonight’s opponents this season. The Hammers dumped Mikel Arteta’s men out of the League Cup in November thanks to goals from Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus and an own goal from Ben White.

The former West Ham captain joined London rivals Arsenal for a record fee of £105million during the summer, and has helped propel the Gunners’ title charge after falling short in the 2022-23 campaign.

Hello and welcome to Mail Sport’s coverage of Arsenal’s Premeir League fixture against West Ham at the Emirates.

Mikel Arteta’s side come into the game off the back of a five-day rest, that has seen their main rivals for the title, Liverpool and Man City, claim wins.

As a result, the Gunners now find themselves in second place but a win tonight will see the return to the Premier League summit once again.

As for the Hammers, they enjoyed a huge 2-0 win against Manchester United in their last outing that saw them climb up the standings.

United’s win against Aston Villa yesterday has seen David Moyes’ side fall to seventh but a draw would see them leapfrog the Manchester side.

It could be a really exciting game, but it is one Arsenal know they need to win if they are to secure a first top-flight title in 20 years come May.

We’ll have all the news ahead of the 8:15pm kick-off and then stay tuned for our updates once the action gets underway!