Arsenal 3-1 West Ham United: Premier League leaders extend advantage to seven points

Arsenal underlined their title credentials by producing a second-half fightback to beat West Ham and move seven points clear at the top as the Premier League returned after the World Cup.

West Ham took the lead against the run of play when Jarrod Bowen was judged to have been clipped in the box by William Saliba, allowing Said Benrahma to smash a confident penalty down the middle.

There was a mood of frustration among the home fans until Bukayo Saka converted from close range after collecting Martin Odegaard's mis-hit shot.

The equaliser gave added impetus to the Gunners and another home goal looked increasingly likely.

Five minutes later, it duly arrived. Gabriel Martinelli put the hosts ahead, catching out West Ham's former Gunners keeper Lukasz Fabianski by tucking inside the near post from a tight angle when he looked more likely to cross.

The points were sealed when Eddie Nketiah - starting in place of the injured Gabriel Jesus - spun sharply in the box before firing into the opposite bottom corner.

Arsenal extended their lead at the top over Newcastle, who moved second by beating Leicester earlier on Monday.

Reigning champions Manchester City - who go to Leeds United on Wednesday - are now eight points behind the Gunners.

West Ham are 16th and just a point above the relegation zone after their fourth league defeat in a row.

Arsenal show progression on Arteta anniversary

Arsenal fans are starting to believe their side can genuinely maintain their push for the club's first title since Arsene Wenger's Invincibles in 2004.

And on a night where legendary manager Wenger watched from the Emirates Stadium stands for the first time since leaving in 2018, Arteta's young side added further encouragement to those who are dreaming of a long-awaited triumph.

The match came on the third anniversary of Arteta's first game as Arsenal manager, and significant progress has been made since then.

When the former Gunners midfielder took over, they were closer to the relegation zone than the top four.

Their current position - and mood around the club - is a stark measure of how they have come.

The Spaniard has built a new team in the past three years which bears little resemblance - in style and substance - to the one picked for his first game at Bournemouth in 2019.

Arteta will not be getting carried after this win over West Ham, especially with several significant fixtures - not least against Manchester City - on the horizon.

But the Gunners sent a message with a clinical second-half performance and the omens are also in their favour.

The team who topped the Premier League table on Christmas Day have gone on to be champions in 10 of the past 13 seasons.

Nketiah takes chance as West Ham struggle in front of goal

One of the key questions as the Premier League returned was how the Gunners would cope without key striker Jesus.

The Brazil international had knee surgery after being injured in Qatar and is expected to be out until late February, fuelling talk the Gunners might need to sign some cover.

But against West Ham, a first Premier League start of the season was handed to Nketiah - and the 23-year-old delivered.

After stretching the Hammers defence and creating space with his sharp movement, he capped an impressive all-round performance with a fierce finish and staked his claim to be Jesus' replacement.

"Gabby will be a big miss but we all believe in Eddie," Saka told Amazon Prime. "That's all he needs, us to keep supporting him and we will keep encouraging him.

"Everyone in the team is chipping in [with goals] and everyone will be important."

In contrast to the leaders, West Ham are struggling in front of goal.

They have been better than their league position suggests, according to their expected goals statistics, with converting chances being their main problem.

Few opportunities came against Arsenal, although the game might have panned out differently had Michail Antonio not been denied by Aaron Ramsdale shortly after the restart at 1-0.

Hammers manager David Moyes said before the match he has not been feeling pressure because of results, instead urging for perspective and togetherness across the club.

But a fourth straight league defeat leaves West Ham as one of the cluster of teams packed tightly together in the bottom half.

Player of the match

ØdegaardMartin Ødegaard

West Ham United

Squad number20Player nameBowen

Squad number22Player nameBenrahma

Squad number41Player nameRice

Squad number9Player nameAntonio

Squad number15Player nameDawson

Squad number11Player nameLucas Paquetá

Squad number1Player nameFabianski

Squad number3Player nameCresswell

Squad number24Player nameKehrer

Squad number5Player nameCoufal

Squad number28Player nameSoucek

Squad number72Player nameMubama

Squad number8Player nameFornals

Line-ups

Arsenal

Formation 4-3-3

1Ramsdale

4White12Saliba6Gabriel3Tierney

8Ødegaard5Partey34Xhaka

7Saka14Nketiah11Martinelli

Substitutes

West Ham

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Fabianski

5Coufal15Dawson24Kehrer3Cresswell

28Soucek41Rice

20Bowen11Lucas Paquetá22Benrahma

9Antonio

Substitutes

Live Text

Match ends, Arsenal 3, West Ham United 1.

Second Half ends, Arsenal 3, West Ham United 1.

Substitution, Arsenal. Mohamed Elneny replaces Thomas Partey.

Corner, West Ham United. Conceded by Aaron Ramsdale.

Attempt saved. Pablo Fornals (West Ham United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Saïd Benrahma.

Attempt missed. Lucas Paquetá (West Ham United) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Declan Rice following a corner.

Corner, West Ham United. Conceded by Ben White.

Foul by Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal).

Divin Mubama (West Ham United) wins a free kick on the right wing.

Substitution, Arsenal. Fábio Vieira replaces Gabriel Martinelli.

Granit Xhaka (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Foul by Declan Rice (West Ham United).

Substitution, West Ham United. Divin Mubama replaces Michail Antonio.

Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Lukasz Fabianski.

Attempt saved. William Saliba (Arsenal) header from very close range is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Bukayo Saka with a cross.

Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Craig Dawson.

Attempt blocked. Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Bukayo Saka.

Attempt missed. Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.

Foul by Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal).

Vladimír Coufal (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

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