Arsenal 0-2 West Ham: summary, score, goals, highlights | Premier League 23-24

ARS 0-2 WHU

A loss at home to West Ham United was not in the script for an Arsenal side who had their sights on ending the night on top of the Premier League table.

Take nothing away from West Ham as David Moyes' men delivered a text book performance in absorbing pressure and striking on the counter and then offered a masterclass in defensive game management. 

Two goals from the Hammers in either half from Soucek and Greek defender Mavropanos silenced the Emirates as Arsenal simply ran out of ideas as they failed to find a way past the men in blue. 

Odegaard was immense for Arsenal but even the Norwegian's creativity wasn't enough to crack open West Ham with Mexican Alvarez a standout player for the Hammers. 

David Moyes finally gets a win at Arsenal after 20 defeats at Highbury and the Emirates as a coach and even the most ardent fans of the Gunners would concede that their team were outclassed this evening by the side from East London.

The whistle sounds and West Ham win.

A solid performance from the Hammers but a big loss for Arteta's men.

Benrahma to take.

The Algerian has his kick saved by Raya.

Rice fouls Emerson and it's a spot kick for the Hammers

Arsenal fans flocking for the exit now as they know that it's not to be their night.

Five minutes of time to be added.

Final minute of the 90 and it appears West Ham will make the short trip back to East London with all three points.

Mexican central player Alvarez has been excellent tonight for West Ham.

Last five.

Can Arsenal dig deep and salvage at least a point.

VAR however are taking a look and no penalty is the verdict.

Big call for a spot kick as Saka goes to ground in the box and the appeal is waved away by the match official.

Arsenal change

Trossard off and Smith-Rowe on

Saka shoots but fires the ball straight at Areola in the West Ham goal.

Final fifteen and it's difficult to see Arsenal getting anything from this game with West Ham impeccable in defence. 

Trossard shoots and Areola saves well to deny the Belgian.

Reiss Nelson carded as he clips Soucek.

Less than 20 minutes remain at the Emirates and time slipping away for an Arsenal side that seem to have run out of ideas.

Arsenal free.. Reiss Nelson takes but overhits and Mikel Arteta is furious. 

Gabriel Jesus misses a sitter as he heads over with the goal gaping.

wonderful play from Odegaard in the build up.

Martinelli and Zinchenko are off

Reiss Nelson and Nketiah on

Arsenal subs

Gabriel Jesus shoots and almost finds the top corner.

Arsenal still looking to play their way back into the game.

Hammers double lead at the Emirates

Rice has a shot from just outside the area but the effort is just inches too high.

The home fans raising their voice as the tempo of the match increases.

More than five gone in the second half and the game taking on the same pattern as the first 45....Arsenal with the ball as West Ham defend.

Trossard has fallen badly and seems to have sustained a problem with his wrist.

The sky opens in London and steady rainfall now falling on the Emirates pitch.

The Gunners still streets ahead when it comes to possession:

Arsenal 75-25 (%) West Ham

Off we go again in North London.

The sides are back on the pitch at the Emirates.

Can Arsenal find a way through?

An early goal is imperative for the Gunners if they aspire to end the night back on top of the Premier League table.

David Moyes will certainly be the happier of the two coaches at the interval as his side have been resilient in defence and have grown as the game evolves.

Arsenal look great in possession but just lack that cutting edge to break through the wall of blue.

The Hammers lead in North London

The whistle sounds and West Ham lead with their one and only shot on target.

Arsenal dominate in every department but trail by that 13th minute strike from Tomáš Souček.

Wonderful Arsenal play with Odegaard at the heart of the move but Martinelli handles and the Gunners are frustrated yet again.

We'll have five minutes of added time.

Saka crashes the ball off the post and West Ham survive. 

Into the final five of the half.

Arsenal still knocking on the door but West Ham are extremely impressive in defence and apart from the Saka header, have yet to really trouble Areola. 

Martinelli shoots as Arsenal fans appeal for a spot kick as Gabriel Jesus is clipped. Nothing going for Mr. Oliver and the game continues.

Paqueta is off with Benrahama on 

West Ham have Paqueta on the ground and seems to be in some distress.

The No. 10 leaves the pitch and seems to have a hamstring issue.

Great save from Areola as Saka heads well and produces a fine reflex stop from the French keeper.

Saka tries to curl one in yet again but fires wide with the aid of a deflection.

Corner for the home side. Well defended by West Ham.

It's been a different game since the opening goal.

Arsenal struggling to find way past the well drilled side in blue.

Despite all the neat passing play around the edge of the box, the Gunners just lacking that final ball to open the West Ham padlock.

West Ham playing so much better now with the goal giving the side in blue a major boost in confidence.

The Hammers now controlling the action and it's Arsenal's turn to chase the game.

Twenty gone in North London and West Ham lead very much against the run of play.

The Hammers go ahead

The goal stands

A really tricky call for the officials with the camera angle obscured by the West Ham player. 

VAR just taking a look to see if the ball was out of play as Bowen sent it back to the Czech player.

Trossard shoots after more patient work from Arsenal.

79-21 (%) possession in favour of the home side so far.

West Ham pegged deep inside their own half and it's really been one way traffic so far as Arsenal continue to dominate.

First corner of the night goes Arsenal's way.

A ring of boos emerges from the West Ham fans each time Declan Rice touches the ball.

Electric start from Arsenal as Odegaard and Saka work the ball well and the Gunners No.7 dinks into the box and Areola has to clip the ball away.

Saka shoots but the effort is straight at Areola in the West Ham goal.

The home side enjoying the better of the opening minutes as they pass the ball around crisply.

West Ham start the action.

A reminder of the tean news as kick off is just minutes away.

A packed house awaits the 22 players.

Arsenal in their home kit and West Ham sporting their blue third kit tonight.

Declan Rice facing the Hammers for the first time tonight since his big summer move to the Emirates.

The teams are in the tunnel and the good news from a West Ham perspective is that Paqueta is starting having overcome that brief scare in the warm-up.

Moyes yet to win on his previous 21 visits to Arsenal.

Injury concerns pre game for West Ham as Lucas Paqueta is getting treatment on the Emirates pitch.

Not what Hammers fans want to see.

Arsenal-West Ham: match weather

It's a fresh December night in then UK capital with a temperature of 11C-51F at kick-off.

No doubt we'll see a gloved player or two in action tonight.

Premier League clash: match official

Michael Oliver has been named the referee for West Ham United's trip to Arsenal at the Emirates with the match official being one of the best known in the league.

The 38-year-old was involved in the 2022 World Cup and also oversaw the 2022 UEFA Super League final as Real Madrid faced Eintracht Frankfurt in Helsinki.

The teams have undertaken their warm up drill at the Emirates as fans continue to make their way into the stadium.

A capacity crowd expected tonight.

Brighton have taken the lead in the other Premier League game of the night.

Hinshelwood bagging the opener for the Seagulls at the Amex against Spurs.

Hammers XI confirmed

David Moyes names his team for the Emirates clash.

Bowen leads the line as part of a 4-2-3-1 system.

Arsenal XI announced

Mikel Arteta has named his side ahead of the clash against West Ham.

Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus will provide the attacking threat for Arsenal.

In the corresponding fixture in the Premier League last season, Arsenal ran out 3-1 winners with the contest also played around the festive period.

Benrahma opened the scoring for West Ham before the home side took control with Saka, Martinelli and Nketiah netting for the Gunners.

West Ham fitness concerns

Both Antonio and Nayef Aguerd are late fitness concerns for David Moyes.

Arsenal absentees for Hammers clash

For the game at the Emirates tonight, Arsenal boss Arteta has to contend with a series of key absentees as Takehiro Tomiyasu, Fabio Vieira, Thomas Partey and Jurrien Timber all still ruled out injured. Added to that is the void left by suspended Kai Havertz, a player who has struggled to convince fans of the Gunners (similar to the rejection at Chelsea) but has come into some form of late and is nailing down a place for Arteta.

West Ham to sport blue away jersey

Given the slight colour clash between both teams shirts, the Hammers will sport their blue third kit tonight at the Emirates with the Gunners in their iconic red and white.

Barring a blip at Anfield in the Carabao Cup, David Moyes' West Ham are on a solid run and have also progressed in Europe as they topped Group A in the Europa League losing just once in the group stage.

Arsenal are on a solid run of form and have bounced back from the recent defeat to Aston Villa who are very much the surprise package in the Premier League this season.

The Gunners are also into the next stage of the Champions League and will face FC Porto in the Round of 16.

West Ham will also be desperate to secure three points in the London derby as they hunt a fifth placed finish which would guarantee a place in Europe next season.

Arsenal currently sit in second position, two points behind Liverpool and a win over the Hammers would be enough to propel Mikel Arteta's side back to the Premier League summit. 

Kick-off in North London is at 3.15 p.m. ET / 12.15 p.m PT.

Hello and welcome to our live Premier League coverage as Arsenal face West Ham United in the penultimate round of fixtures of the year.