Arsenal v West Ham LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Hammers move into top six with shock away win

Arsenal missed out on the chance to move top of the Premier League table as they slumped to a 2-0 loss and a first home defeat of the season against West Ham.

The home slide flew out of the traps in the early goings but soon found themselves behind when Tomas Soucek slammed home an effort in the first half, which stood after a lengthy VAR check couldn’t determine whether the ball had gone out of play in the build-up.

David Moyes had never won away against Arsenal in his managerial career but his team took a further step towards victory when former Arsenal defender Konstantinos Mavropanos headed home from a corner after the break.

Declan Rice started his first league game against his former side and saw his blushes saved late on when David Raya saved Said Benrahma’s injury-time penalty after the former Hammers skipper brought down Emerson in the penalty area. Relive all the match action and reaction below:

Arsenal vs West Ham LIVE: Latest Premier League updates

• FT: West Ham move into the top six with shock 2-0 win away at Arsenal

• REPORT: Arsenal show why Premier League title may slip away – and it’s not down to VAR

• 90+6’ PENALTY SAVE! Raya denies late Benrahma effort after Rice concedes penalty (ARS 0-2 WHU)

• 66’ CHANCE! Jesus spurns two golden opportunities with missed headers (ARS 0-2 WHU)

• 55’ GOAL! Mavropanos thumps in header to double lead (ARS 0-2 WHU)

• 42’ POST! Saka strikes the woodwoork as Arsenal search for equaliser (ARS 0-1 WHU)

• 13’ GOAL! Soucek opens the scoring against the run of play (ARS 0-1 WHU)

Arsenal FC 0 - 2 West Ham United FC

Arsenal show why Premier League title may slip away – and it’s not down to VAR

23:16 , Ben Fleming

Arsenal missed the chance to return to the top of the Premier League as they slipped to a disappointing defeat against West Ham amid more VAR controversy.

The Gunners needed victory to replace Liverpool at the summit but lost 2-0 to the Hammers on a night where David Moyes finally landed a victory at the Emirates Stadium.

His West Ham side lost Kurt Zouma ahead of the game and Lucas Paqueta after just over half an hour but hit the front through Tomas Soucek’s strike, awarded after VAR could not determine whether the whole ball had gone out of play in the build-up.

A second-half header from former Arsenal defender Konstantinos Mavropanos secured the points and things could have been even better for the visitors had Said Benrahma not seen a last-gasp penalty saved by David Raya.

Read the full match report below:

Arsenal show why Premier League title may slip away – and it’s not down to VAR

Up next

23:23 , Ben Fleming

That’s West Ham done for the calendar year and they’ve ended it in style with back-to-back wins over Man United and Arsenal. They are back in action on January 2 as they host Brighton, who won earlier tonight against Tottenham.

Arsenal, meanwhile, remain second but Arteta’s side do still have the chance to end 2023 on top of the table when they travel to face Fulham on New Year’s Eve.

That’s all from us today, though. Until next time!

A win at last for Moyesey

23:14 , Ben Fleming

It’s been mentioned a lot today but, at last, it’s a win for David Moyes away against Arsenal. It’s taken him 23 attempts but the 60-year-old finally has his win. And what a way to do it.

More from Moyes

23:12 , Ben Fleming

On Lucas Paqueta’s injury: “He got it in the warm-up and when he came in we had a decision to make. He just felt something at the back of his knee. I didn’t know how long he was going to last. He is such a talented player and he makes us such a better team.

“It was difficult because we could have probably said in the dressing room ‘we’ll make the change now’. Thankfully he came off.”

On Jarrod Bowen as a striker: “Jarrod is learning his trade and there are parts that he doesn’t do that an out-and-out number nine does. But whenever we go to buy a striker they are too expensive or we can’t get one and there aren’t many around.

“He played a bit at centre-forward for Hull. I can tell; I can see it in his eyes, he has that smell of the goal. I think he is probably disappointed to not get his goal. he is starting to get that look in his eye that he wants to score. He is a great finisher and he is a lot braver in the air than people give him credit for.”

On the January transfer window: “The injuries will always play a part. I don’t think we have a great lot of cash. January is never an easy window. We need to see how the window is. It will be a loss for us with Kudus going to the Africa Cup of Nations. He has been brilliant for us.”

2024 aspirations: “We are not one of the top teams. We are trying to get up and grow the team. For West Ham to be in Europe is a great target.”

David Moyes speaking to Amazon Prime after his side’s win

23:10 , Ben Fleming

“Football is played in many ways and tonight we’ve done the stuff that isn’t talked about so much. We had a brilliant defensive performance; well organised and well disciplined. We have to play 50 or 60 games in a season and sometimes you have to watch how you are going to play teams and we’ve done a good job on Arsenal tonight.

“They had lots of the ball - too much for my liking - but ultimately we’ve done a great job in keeping them from scoring.”

On the first half of the season: “We’ve had an unbelievable year. After the World Cup, we’ve picked up and the team has got better. We sold one of our best players to Arsenal during that time and continued our form. We won a trophy last year as well so it’s been really good.”

Mikel Arteta speaking to Amazon Prime

23:03 , Ben Fleming

“I think we deserved much more than what we got today. We tried and tried and tried but the difference was in the two boxes. They had two shots and scored two goals and we had 30 shots and didn’t score. We had big, big chances but that’s the difference in the Premier League - if you want to win games you have to make it count in both boxes and today we haven’t done

“I have to praise the players because they tried until the end but we could not get what we deserved.”

On West Ham’s first goal: I don’t know [if it was out] - I haven’t seen it but everybody is saying ‘is the technology good enough to understand what it is’. That is probably the question. We all want the best technology so the decisions are clear. Today it was inconclusive with the technology that we have so probably that is something we can improve.”

More from Ward-Prowse

23:00 , Ben Fleming

On his assist: “Throughout the week I’ve got four or five lads coming up to me and telling me where they want me to deliver it. I’ve got a lot of options and it’s something we work on a lot. It’s a bit tedious at times but it’s worth it when you get the results like that

“We don’t get too many corners in the game so it’s about making sure my practice is specific and not overloading it. We only had two tonight so I had to make sure it [the delivery] was on the money.”

On the club’s ambitions for 2024: “I think we’ve given ourselves a really good start to the league after the first half and you never know what could happen but it’s the old cliché that we can’t get too carried away. We have to keep applying ourselves in the right way and who knows where the season could take us.”

James Ward-Prowse speaking to Amazon Prime

22:56 , Ben Fleming

“It’s a fantastic atmosphere [in the dressing room] and great to be part of a historic win for us.

“Looking at the club on the outside before I joined I’ve always associated it with a hard work with people who love the club and that married up with my values. So, it’s been great to be part of a group that wants to work hard. When you do that good things come and we showed that tonight.”

Martin Odegaard, speaking to Amazon Prime

22:53 , Ben Fleming

“It’s one of those nights. We had a lot of chances and did enough to score some goals but in the box we were not good enough. We take the good things and learn from the things we didn’t do well.

“We created enough and had some big chances. We’re together as a team. It’s not about some players [not scoring]. We have to improve in front of the goal and it’s down to the whole team to do that.

On the first West Ham goal: “I guess it was a close call [whether the ball was in play or out]. Hopefully, they have made the right call there. Still after that we had enough chances to win the game.”

On where Arsenal are at the halfway stage: “It’s not bad. We’re up there and fighting. We are aiming to be better every day. We learned a lot from last season and gained some experience, and hopefully, we can use that through to the end of this season.”

Konstantinos Mavropanos speaking to Amazon Prime after the game

22:52 , Ben Fleming

“I think the work from everyone was amazing. The team was sprit was great and we worked very well defensively”

On his goal: “It’s the best moment to score my first goal for West Ham and in the Premier League. We work a lot on the set-pieces, so it was great.

“It is an important win for everyone and for our boss. We are really happy.”

FULL-TIME: Arsenal 0-2 West Ham

22:44 , Ben Fleming

It was a night to forget for Arsenal in front of goal. The home side had 77 touches in the opposition box in this match, the most on record (since 2008-09) in a single Premier League match for a team that failed to score.

FULL-TIME: Arsenal 0-2 West Ham

22:35 , Ben Fleming

Into the top six:

Jarrod Bowen speaking to Amazon Prime after the win

22:32 , Ben Fleming

“It’s a massive win. We knew it was going to be difficult - they are a top side - but we built upon what we did against Man United. For us, we probably haven’t been consistent enough but if you want to be spoken about and get into the top six you have to be consistent.

“I spoke after the United game that we had to come here with the mindset that we need to take points and we’ve done that.”

FULL-TIME: Arsenal 0-2 West Ham

22:27 , Ben Fleming

There was just one goal in the second half, with Mavropanos’ thumping header sending West Ham on their way to an unlikely away victory...

FULL-TIME: Arsenal 0-2 West Ham

22:13 , Ben Fleming

A huge noise erupts from the away end as the whistle goes. What a huge performance from Davie Moyes’ who thoroughly deserved their three points. They didn’t dominate the chances but they were dogged in defence and took their two golden opportunities when they presented themselves.

With back-to-back wins over Man United and now Arsenal, the Hammers move into the top six while Mikel Arteta’s side miss out on the chance to go top of the table after a poor display and their first home defeat of the season.

Arsenal 0-2 West Ham

22:13 , Ben Fleming

90+6 mins: SAVED! Raya guesses correctly and palms away Benrahma’s effort. West Ham won’t care one bit though as it’s the last kick of the game.

Arsenal 0-2 West Ham

22:11 , Ben Fleming

90+5 mins: PENALTY TO WEST HAM!

And it’s Declan Rice who gives it away...

The former West Ham captain slips up in the area before bringing down Emerson with a late tackle inside the box. It’s a no-brainer for the referee as a wry smile appears upon the Arsenal midfielder’s space.

Arsenal 0-2 West Ham

22:09 , Ben Fleming

90+2 mins: Another couple of corners from Arsenal but, still, the West Ham defence stays strong. The visitors closing in on a huge victory now.

Arsenal 0-2 West Ham

22:07 , Ben Fleming

90 mins: Areola hasn’t been tested enough tonight but he’s been equal to everything so far. He scrambles across to his right on this occasion to push Odegaard’s effort behind.

Nelson fires over from the resulting corner as five added minutes is displayed by the fourth official.

Arsenal 0-2 West Ham

22:05 , Ben Fleming

89 mins: Another half chance for Arsenal from a corner but Nketiah’s overhead kick doesn’t have the power to trouble Areola who makes a comfy save down to his right.

Arsenal 0-2 West Ham

22:02 , Ben Fleming

86 mins: A loose ball falls to Smith Rowe but the Arsenal midfielder can’t get it out of his feet and the effort is straight down Areola’s throat. Some Arsenal fans have seen enough and are heading for an early exit.

Arsenal 0-2 West Ham

21:58 , Ben Fleming

82 mins: Saka takes a tumble after skipping past Ogbonna but there’s not sufficient contact for Oliver and play continues. VAR is taking a look but they, too, don’t feel it’s a penalty.

Arsenal 0-2 West Ham

21:57 , Ben Fleming

81 mins: Into the final ten minutes of normal time we go. West Ham have had just one shot on target and 25 per cent possession but they stand on the brink of a famous away win and David Moyes’ first at the Emirates.

Arsenal 0-2 West Ham

21:54 , Ben Fleming

79 mins: Saka finds a yard of space inside the crowded West Ham box but his eventual low effort is straight at Areola who claims with ease.

Another roll of the dice for the home side as Smith Rowe replaces Trossard.

Arsenal 0-2 West Ham

21:51 , Ben Fleming

75 mins: Arsenal must retain their composure if they are to find a way back into this game. Odegaard sending a pot shot well wide from long range is certainly not an example of that.

Arsenal 0-2 West Ham

21:49 , Ben Fleming

73 mins: Benrahma squirms into the area and bundles an effort on goal, but it’s well blocked by a watchful White.

Arsenal 0-2 West Ham

21:48 , Ben Fleming

72 mins: A minute after his poor cross, it’s a yellow card for Nelson following a late challenge on Soucek.

Arsenal 0-2 West Ham

21:46 , Ben Fleming

70 mins: A promising free-kick which Nelson stands over on the left side of the area but it’s a wasted delivery that flies out for a goal-kick.

Arsenal 0-2 West Ham

21:43 , Ben Fleming

66 mins: ANOTHER GOES BEGGING! Jesus has to score this one. It’s magical footwork from Odegaard before White clips a ball to the far post. Jesus is there - unmarked - but inexcusably balloons his header over the goal.

Arteta has his hands on his head - he knows how big a chance that was!

Arsenal 0-2 West Ham

21:42 , Ben Fleming

65 mins: CHANCE! Jesus should do better. It’s a wonderful ball in from the left but Jesus’ header is straight at Areola. The Brazilian was no more than six yards out and surely should be testing the West Ham keeper more than that.

Arsenal 0-2 West Ham

21:40 , Ben Fleming

64 mins: West Ham have been superb in defence throughout this game. Yet again, another player throws themselves in front of Saka’s attempted shot as Areola claims the loose ball.

A double change for Arsenal now as Martinelli and Zinchenko make way for Nketiah and Nelson.

Arsenal 0-2 West Ham

21:37 , Ben Fleming

61 mins: Arteta is readying subs on the bench but Arsenal look blunt in attack at the moment. The crowd has died down noticeably too since that second goal.

GOAL! Arsenal 0-2 West Ham (Mavropanos, 55 mins)

21:32 , Ben Fleming

The former Arsenal man doubles West Ham’s lead!

It’s a sumptuous delivery corner delivery from Ward-Prowse and an even better header from Mavropanos, guiding it into the far corner via the underside of the bar and the post.

He doesn’t celebrate against his former side but the West Ham fans in the away end more than make for it. A huge goal for the Hammers and a mountain to climb now for Arsenal.

Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

21:30 , Ben Fleming

53 mins: It’s been one of Rice’s quieter games in an Arsenal shirt so far, but the midfielder almost changes that against his former club as a well-struck effort from the edge of the box whistles just over the bar.

Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

21:28 , Ben Fleming

52 mins: Martinelli makes a smart dart inside the box and has the beating of Coufal on the right side. He’s fed the ball by Trossard but it’s a heavy touch by the Brazilian which allows West Ham to clear.

Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

21:25 , Ben Fleming

49 mins: Odegaard swings in the first corner of the second half as the rain comes down in north London. It’s fired low into Trossard on the edge of the box but Kudus does well to get a firm block in on the effort.

KICK-OFF! Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

21:22 , Ben Fleming

46 mins: Arsenal get us back underway after the break as the home side resume their hunt for a much-needed equaliser.

HALF-TIME: Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

21:17 , Ben Fleming

Arsenal have only been trailing at half-time on three occasions so far this season but in all three the Gunners have failed to come back and win.

The home fans will be hoping their side can buck that trend and return to the top of the table.

HALF-TIME: Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

21:13 , Ben Fleming

Finely poised at the break...

HALF-TIME: Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

21:11 , Ben Fleming

So it was Soucek’s strike who put the away side ahead but it wasn’t without a tinge of controversy:

Do you reckon that was out? VAR certainly wasn’t sure....

HALF-TIME: Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

21:06 , Ben Fleming

West Ham hold firm as the referee blows to signal the end of the first half. Arsenal have had the lion’s share of the ball but it’s Soucek’s strike that has the Hammers in the lead the break.

It’s not all been plain sailing for the visitors, mind, who have lost Paqueta to a first-half injury after the Brazilian had gone down in the warm-up.

Plenty to address at the break for Mikel Arteta - his Arsenal side have been far from their free-flowing best.

Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

21:04 , Ben Fleming

45+4 mins: Odegaard and Jesus attempt a cute give-and-go around the edge of the West Ham box but it’s a superb tackle from Ogbonna to dispossess the Arsenal skipper just as he was looking to pull the trigger.

Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

21:01 , Ben Fleming

45 mins: Five minutes of added time is greeted by a roar from the Arsenal fans. How they would love an equaliser before the break.

Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

20:58 , Ben Fleming

42 mins: POST! So close to an opener from Saka as he smashes the near post with a fierce, low effort. The ball cannons back to Trossard but the Belgian doesn’t have enough time to re-adjust his body and the ball ricochets off him and out for a goal-kick.

Arsenal’s best chance of the game so far.

Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

20:57 , Ben Fleming

41 mins: Rice makes one of his first bursting runs forward into the West Ham box but he’s forced away well by the West Ham defence. Odegaard’s low ball - looking for Saka - is intercepted before Martinelli’s low ball, moments later, goes straight into Areola’s hands.

Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

20:53 , Ben Fleming

37 mins: WIDE! Martinelli fires wide but what an intricate move from Arsenal. Saka finds Jesus with a low cross before the Brazilian flicks it back to his fellow countryman.

Martinelli shifts it onto his right foot but he just can’t wrap his boot around the ball as it flies just wide of the right post.

Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

20:50 , Ben Fleming

35 mins: A nice corner routine from Arsenal but White’s flicked header from Zinchenko’s cross just drifts past the far post.

Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

20:48 , Ben Fleming

32 mins: Ah, that’s not good for the visitors. Paqueta went down in the warm-up but still started the match. However, the Brazilian has now hit the turf and can clearly no longer continue.

Benrahma replaces the midfielder for West Ham.

Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

20:46 , Ben Fleming

30 mins: SAVE! Areola is finally forced into a save as the West Ham keeper does well to tip Saka’s header over the bar from close range.

Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

20:45 , Ben Fleming

29 mins: Trossard’s set-piece delivery has been poor so far to put it lightly. Another delivery in from the Belgian’s foot comes up short of the targets in the area and West Ham can clear with ease once again.

Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

20:43 , Ben Fleming

27 mins: Jesus is brought down on the edge of the West Ham box and it’s a great chance for the home side to test Areola...but it’s wasted and West Ham can clear after Arsenal make a mess of trying to play it short.

Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

20:39 , Ben Fleming

23 mins: For all their possession and early dominance, Arsenal are now left with a hole to climb out of following that early goal.

To their credit, the home fans have remained in fine voice since that Soucek goal but West Ham are holding firm for the time being.

Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

20:35 , Ben Fleming

19 mins: Emerson and Paqueta double up well on Saka down the right flank to snuff out any threat from the Arsenal forward. Saka appeals to the referee but there’s nothing doing.

Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

20:32 , Ben Fleming

17 mins: The goal stands!

The camera angle doesn’t provide a great deal of help to the VAR officials and, in the end, VAR decides there’s no real clear and obvious evidence upon which to overturn the original decision.

GOAL! Arsenal 0-1 West Ham (Soucek, 13 mins)

20:28 , Ben Fleming

The visitors are ahead!

Paqueta almost didn’t start the game but it’s his ball in from the left that creates the ball. The loose ball is kept on superbly by Bowen and the onrushing Soucek is on hand to slam home from six yards out.

It’s against the run of play but West Ham won’t care.

BUT... there’s now a VAR check to see if the ball went out of play. It looks tight.

Arsenal 0-0 West Ham

20:27 , Ben Fleming

11 mins: Martinelli makes a smart dart into the penalty area before laying it back to Trossard on the edge of the box. The Belgian has space to shoot but he’s skewed that effort over the bar.

Arsenal 0-0 West Ham

20:24 , Ben Fleming

9 mins: Trossard whips in Arsenal’s first corner of the game but it’s bravely cleared away by the West Ham defence at the near post.

Arsenal 0-0 West Ham

20:23 , Ben Fleming

7 mins: Some half-hearted appeals for handball on Coufal are waved away by Michael Oliver. It’s still all Arsenal in these early goings.

Arsenal 0-0 West Ham

20:20 , Ben Fleming

5 mins: An interesting early tactical development is the positioning of Declan Rice. The Arsenal midfielder seems to be dropping deep alongside the two centre-backs when the hosts have the ball. Zinchencko, in turn, appears to be taking up an inverted role in central midfield.

Arsenal 0-0 West Ham

20:19 , Ben Fleming

3 mins: The hosts are on top in the early stages as Odegaard’s flick plays through Saka into the area. The forward tries to bend it around Areola but it’s a comfortable save in the end for the West Ham keeper.

Arsenal 0-0 West Ham

20:17 , Ben Fleming

1 min: An early chance for the Hammers as Ward-Prowse slice a challenging effort over the bar from the edge of the box.

KICK-OFF! Arsenal 0-0 West Ham

20:15 , Ben Fleming

West Ham get us underway in the first half.

Arsenal vs West Ham

20:12 , Ben Fleming

Lucas Paqueta appears to be starting as he - alongside his teammates - emerges from the Emirates tunnel. A sigh of relief for West Ham.

Kick-off coming up shortly

20:10 , Ben Fleming

Just five minutes to go, now, and the atmosphere inside the Emirates is building nicely for the final fixture of the midweek Christmas slate. Can Arsenal go back to the top of the table or do West Ham have another surprise win up their sleeve?

Potential bad news for West Ham

20:06 , Ben Fleming

Lucas Paqueta has gone down in the warm-up for West Ham and has limped off the pitch. No confirmed news as to whether he will still start but it doesn’t look good for the Brazilian.

Arsenal vs West Ham

20:05 , Ben Fleming

It’s a chance for Arsenal tonight to move back to the top of the Premier League and Mikel Arteta’s side will surely fancy their chances given their imperious home record. The Gunners are unbeaten in their last 13 home games in all competitions (W11 D2) and have won their last seven at the Emirates Stadium by an aggregate score of 21-2.

Ominous signs for tonight’s visitors...

The stage is set

20:00 , Ben Fleming

Around 15 minutes to go until kick-off in north London and the stage is set:

Bowen hunting another away day treat

19:54 , Ben Fleming

One player who will be key for the Hammers tonight is Jarrod Bowen, who notched up yet another goal on the weekend against Manchester United. The England international has also been on fine form on the road scoring seven away league goals for West Ham already. this season.

Mike Small in 1991-92 (9) the last player to score more on the road in a top-flight campaign for the Hammers.

Can Bowen bag another under the lights tonight?

Moyes looking to banish unwanted away record

19:48 , Ben Fleming

David Moyes and his side have quite the task on their hands tonight and it’s fair to say that the Emirates Stadium has not been a happy hunting ground for the Scottish manager. In fact, the 60-year-old has never won in 22 attempts away against Arsenal in all competitions (D4 L18). He’s only faced Chelsea on the road more without ever winning in his managerial career (23).

He’ll be hoping to end that run tonight.

The Nuke meets The Gunners

19:42 , Ben Fleming

16-year-old darting sensation Luke “The Nuke” Littler is the person on everybody’s lips right now after his stellar run in the World Darts Championships. Littler has already made it through to the last 16 and seems to already have his own fan club in the Arsenal dressing room:

Arsenal vs West Ham betting tips

19:36 , Ben Fleming

Arsenal earned a 1-1 draw at Anfield last time out against the Merseysiders, but will now be out to clinch their eighth home win of the season when David Moyes’ side visit the Emirates.

West Ham warmed up for Christmas by beating Manchester United 2-0 at the London Stadium last weekend.

The Hammers responded from their 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Liverpool in the EFL Cup with a comfortable win over the Red Devils to remain in the hunt for European qualification.

However, they have had troubles on their travels, conceding 10 goals in their last two away games, having previously suffered a 5-0 battering against Fulham in the Premier League.

As a result, Arsenal are odds-on favourites at 1/3 with football betting sites to win the game. You can find a price of 9/1 for the Hammers to secure their first away victory since 2015 over the Gunners.

Here are our betting predictions for the contest using the best Premier League odds.

Arsenal vs West Ham betting tips: Premier League predictions, odds and free bets

David Moyes reflects on Declan Rice move as former Hammers captain returns

19:30 , Ben Fleming

He came off the bench in Arsenal’s Carabao Cup defeat to West Ham earlier in the season but tonight will be the first time that Declan Rice starts against his former side.

Rice made the big-money move across London in the summer and Moyes is pleased how the transfer worked for both parties.

“We’re all pleased for Declan Rice,’ Moyes said. “No one ever doubted his ability and, while we won’t be cheering him on against us on Thursday evening, we’re always looking out for him.

“I said right from the start that I thought Declan Rice was a top player and I thought his value could have been greater. We got the price we wanted though, and Dec got the move he wanted, so it was a move that worked for both parties.

“I think Declan would make any team more mature and improve any team in the Premier League so I think their current levels are partially to do with him right now.”

West Ham team news - Zouma misses out with knock

19:25 , Ben Fleming

There is also one enforced change for the Hammers as Kurt Zouma misses out in central defence with a knock. Nayef Aguerd is also still missing so it’s a second-choice pairing at the back as Ogbonna starts alongside Mavropanos.

West Ham XI: Areola; Coufal, Mavropanos, Ogbonna, Emerson; Alvarez, Soucek, Ward-Prowse; Kudus, Bowen, Paqueta

Arsenal team news

19:20 , Ben Fleming

There’s just the one change for Arsenal as the suspended Kai Havertz is replaced by Trossard in central midfield. An attacking change from Arteta, with both Jorginho and Elneny left on the bench.

Rice, as expected, makes his first start against his former club.

Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Rice, Odegaard, Trossard; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli

The teams are in!

19:16 , Ben Fleming

Here is how both sides will line up tonight:

Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Rice, Odegaard, Trossard; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli

West Ham XI: Areola; Coufal, Mavropanos, Ogbonna, Emerson; Alvarez, Soucek, Ward-Prowse; Kudus, Bowen, Paqueta

Team news coming shortly

19:12 , Ben Fleming

The confirmed XI’s are just moments away. We’re not expecting many surprises but let’s wait and see...

Arsenal ‘really short’ on players as Mikel Arteta outlines January transfer plans

19:10 , Ben Fleming

Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal are prepared to dip into the transfer market in January if his squad remains as “exposed” as in recent weeks.

The Gunners have fared better than some of their Premier League rivals in terms of injuries but are without five players for Thursday’s London derby at home to West Ham.

Thomas Partey, Jurrien Timber, Fabio Vieira and Takehiro Tomiyasu are all still sidelined while Kai Havertz is banned having collected five yellow cards.

At the moment, it is very difficult. We are really short,” he said.

“We have positions that we have been very exposed [in] for the last six weeks and hopefully we are going to get players back. In what condition and when?

“We have certain targets, ideas if things happen. As well, we don’t know how the squad is going to look in two weeks’ time and you have to be always prepared for that.”

Read more about the Spaniard’s transfer thoughts below:

Arsenal ‘really short’ on players as Mikel Arteta outlines January transfer plans

Declan Rice is the face of a new Arsenal as Mikel Arteta learns Anfield lesson

19:00 , Ben Fleming

Arsenal are in the same position as they were last year. But they are also in a worse position. And yet, evidently, in a much better state. They are the Premier League’s Christmas No 1, just as they were in 2022. But, with a game to go to reach the halfway stage, they will get there on 40, 41 or 43 points, all well short of the 50 they posted from the first 19 matches last season, and that near-immaculate start still could not propel them to the title.

But Arsenal have improved and upgraded in other respects. “They are really physically strong,” said Jurgen Klopp, a particular compliment considering the priorities that underpin his team-building. Metaphorically as much as physically, Arsenal appear to have three giants in their centre-backs, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, and their defensive midfielder, Declan Rice. “Those three were phenomenal,” Arteta smiled after Saturday night’s 1-1 draw at Anfield.

Rice has become the face of progress, the sign of a new Arsenal: more battle-hardened, more streetwise, more pragmatic.

Declan Rice is the face of a new Arsenal as Mikel Arteta learns Anfield lesson

Last time out

18:50 , Ben Fleming

For West Ham, meanwhile, it was a very Merry Christmas after David Moyes’ side completed a comprehensive 2-0 win over Manchester United. Goals from Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus secured the win to temporarily move the Hammers into the European places once again.

Forget a lack of skill – Man United have a much bigger problem after West Ham defeat

Last time out

18:40 , Ben Fleming

Before we get into tonight’s fixture, let’s take a look at how both sides got on in midweek. For Arsenal, it was a crunch fixture at the top of the table versus Liverpool. And while Mikel Arteta’s side weren’t able to get their first win at Anfield since 2012, a valuable point on the road was more than useful for the north London title challengers.

Liverpool and Arsenal’s breathless stalemate leaves one true winner in title race

Arsenal vs West Ham - Predicted line-ups

18:30 , Ben Fleming

We should be getting confirmed team news in about 45 minutes but here is a look at how we expect both teams to line up:

Arsenal predicted XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Jorginho, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli

West Ham predicted XI: Areola; Coufal, Mavropanos, Zouma, Johnson; Alvarez, Soucek, Ward-Prowse; Kudus, Bowen, Paqueta

Arsenal vs West Ham - early team news

18:25 , Ben Fleming

Arsenal will be without the suspended Kai Havertz, who picked up his fifth Premier League booking of the season against Liverpool. Takehiro Tomiyasu, Fabio Vieira and Thomas Partey remain out.

Nayef Aguerd is a doubt for West Ham after missing the win against Manchester United while Michail Antonio remains out with a knee injury.

Arsenal vs West Ham - key info

18:20 , Ben Fleming

When is Arsenal vs West Ham?

The match will kick off at 8:15pm BST on Thursday 28 December at the Emirates Stadium.

Where can I watch it?

This fixture will be shown live on Amazon Prime Video, streamable on all devices and smart TVs with a Prime subscription.

If you’re not an Amazon Prime Video subscriber start a free 30-day trial here. We may earn commission from some of the links in this article, but we never allow this to influence our content. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.

Good evening!

14:55 , Ben Fleming

Hello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the Premier League fixture between Arsenal and West Ham from the Emirates. The festive schedule continues thick and fast as Mikel Arteta’s side look to avenge a Carabao Cup defeat against West Ham earlier in the season and move back to the top of the table.

West Ham, meanwhile, picked up an impressive 2-0 home win against Manchester United before Christmas and will hope to claim another impressive scalp away at the Emirates - a place they haven’t won at since 2015.

Stay with us here for all the build-up, team news and match action to follow!