Arsenal vs West Ham as it happened: Late Smith Rowe strike kills Hammers after Martinelli opener
Arsenal climb to fourth in the table after youngsters rise to the occasion in tight London derby
While we await the team announcement, some news from both clubs.
Coming into this game, Arsenal have collected six points from the last five games, both home and away. That's 1.2 points per game on average. The Gunners have scored eight times in those last five games.
West Ham appear to have an edge over the Gunners in midfield as Declan Rice's form continues to wow fans. He’s a classic box to box midfielder, and ranks second in the Premier League for distance carried with the ball this season (3,804m), only behind Allan Saint-Maximin.
Such is the age we live in, this showdown is certain to be of significance to the many overly-obsessed Fantasy Premier League managers out there. With that in mind, here are all the latest FPL stats about the key players in this evening's match:
And of course, you may fancy a wee flutter on tonight's game (gamble responsibly or FFT will no longer be your friend). The latest odds from Betfair:
Far more interesting, in our humble opinion, are the odds for finishing in the top four this season, which are as follows:
The teams are in and Arsenal first: It's a 4-2-3-1 for Mikel Arteta's side, with Alexandre Lacazette playing ahead of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli. The Norwegian attacking midfielder has been in fantastic form of late, scoring three goals and setting up one in his past three appearances. Classy.
West Ham match the Gunners' shape, with Michail Antonio playing the spearhead in front of Jarrod Bowen, Manuel Lanzini and Pablo Fornals. It's a nippy and creative trio, you have to say. Slightly deeper, the steel and energy of Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek should boss midfield.
Richard Jolly with a typically brilliant/weird stat (we'd say 'delete as appropriate' but we all know it's brilliant) relating to tonight's action! Where does he find this stuff?
From the biceps of one inconsistent Arsenal striker to another. Alexandre Lacazette has two goals and three assists in the Premier League this season. Should the Gunners expect more from their no.9?
Good grief, the Arsenal training gear us cool...
FFT's Mark White on David Moyes' failings... and why they're better than your own.
The immovable object vs the unstoppable force: Arsenal are second in the home-matches-only table, while West Ham are unbeaten in their last eight midweek league games. This game really could go either way.
1' - Peeeeeeep! We are under at the Emirates. Hold onto your hats.
A quiet start to the game gives us an opportunity to share a graphic showing Arsenal's past nine captains. There are some fine players here, but none of these have been a total success have they? Even the sublime have forced moves away to rivals. Oh for the days of Patrick Vieira...
7' - Granit Xhaka lined up a free kick in a good position just outside of the West Ham box but hammers it (no pun intended) straight into the wall. When was the last time Arsenal had a set piece taker that could regularly ping one in from 25 yards? Not a dig, of course – it's an art. But FFT is curious...
10' - This has been a good start for neither team. Lanzini tries some clever footwork on the edge of the box and gets clobbered. Arsenal whack a long ball forward and it's headed away to nobody. These are two teams that pride themselves on their quality football, btw.
Alexandre and Declan will be dancing the Charleston to Take That's Let it Shine this evening...
14' - A vicious looking corner from Lanzini is thundered into the Arsenal box and Ramsdale parries it to safety... just. It's the closest either side have come to a chance so far.
18' - While not a London derby you'd consider a real classic (north London or West Ham vs Millwall being the benchmark) this certainly does has started with the caginess of a proper big city ding dong. A proper physical battle.
23' - As we were just saying. In the space of a minute, Partey lines up a rocket launcher on the edge of the area but is bunded over by Masuaku. Fornals then races up the other end and is upended by Xhaka. Lovely stuff.
27' - A searching ball finds Saka with space on the right wing. He wriggles past two players and feeds Tomiyasu on the edge of the area. The Japan international's left-footed cross is cleared but not far enough.
30' - Arsenal very much dictating the tempo now and getting some joy down the right. Odegaard at the centre of things as Saka, Tomiyasu and, eventually, Partey try and force a breakthrough on the byline. Positive stuff but just a little sloppy from Arteta's side in the final third. West Ham are struggling.
33' - Has Soucek just done a big fat dive? It looks that way as the referee judges Lacazette to have pulled the Czech midfielder back by the right hand corner flag. Lanzini swings the dead ball in and it's headed out to Fornals on the edge of the area.
Very much the story so far...
38' - A proper goal mouth scramble ensues after Saka and Odegaard exchange some neat passes down the right flank. Saka tees up Xhaka but his shot is weak. It's punted away but only as far as a rampaging Tierney, who smashes it over the bar left back style. The game is starting to open right up now.
He does seem to have taken ion cult status remarkably quickly at the Emirates doesn't he?
43' - BIG CHANCE! Saka cuts in from the right and pings a ball into Lacazette, free on the edge of the West Ham box. The Frenchman gets it out of his feet and hits a powerful daisy-cutter at Fabianski. The Pole parries but only into the path of Martinelli, who pokes wide of the right hand post when he should score.
45' - Peeeeeep! That's the half. Arsenal were far likelier to score in the opening period, with nine shots to West Ham's three and 57% of the ball. Arsenal lose this to a late set piece. Mark our words!
Some half time stats to keep your belly full...
46' - Here we go again – the second half gets underway in north London. Arsenal the better of the two in the first half but lacking a bit of bite in the final third. We've been here before.
48' - GOAL! Arsenal take the lead immediately after the break and it's a beautifully simple goal. Gabriel Magalhaes plays a smart ball through midfield into Lacazette's feet. Arsenal's skipper for the night turns and threads a perfect pass through to Martinelli, who takes a touch inside the West Ham box and slots it low and into the far corner. Great movement from the wondered but it's Lacazette's pass that deserves the credit.
55' - Antonio lucky to get away with one there. The West Ham striker chases a long ball over the top and meets Ramsdale in a 50-50. The Arsenal 'keeper wins it, but Antonio flies in with his foot in the air. The home fans call for punishment but referee Anthony Taylor calms things and awards a free kick.
57' - Odegaard is dragged down just outside the Hammers' box and takes the resulting free kick. Its low and vicious but Fabianski deals with it well. The game has come alive in the second half and you wouldn't bet against a few more goals (famous last words).
62' - Crikey, stick an armband on Lacazette and watch the man go! The Frenchman is absolutely bossing this game, picking little pockets and turning with menace time and again. West Ham are really struggling to deal with his movement and passing. He'll hurt them soon unless they get tighter.
65' - West Ham go close! Lanzini picks Partey's pocket on the edge of the Arsenal man's area and feeds Antonio down the right. The striker smashes a low cross into the box and finds Bowen, who can't steer his smash on target.
65' - West Ham go close! Lanzini picks Partey's pocket on the edge of the Arsenal man's area and feeds Antonio down the right. The striker smashes a low cross into the box and finds Bowen, who can't steer his smash on target.
68' - PENALTY AND RED CARD! Coufal is shown a second yellow by Anthony Taylor after being deemed to have chopped Lacazette just inside the area. It looks a little harsh, in FFT's eyes. Yes, it was a strong tackle, but he got more than a bit of the ball.
69' - PENALTY SAVED! Well this is dramatic. Lacazette takes the penalty himself and hits it low and to the right, but Fabianski gets a big paw to it and parries it away. It was a half decent effort but the height helped the 'keeper. Massive chance to potentially kill the game squandered.
72' - Ramsdale is shown a yellow card for time wasting as FPL managers across the globe collectively roll their eyes in annoyance.
75' - Tierney has just swung an absolute dream of a ball into the box but there isn't a poacher worth his salt in there to meet it. If Aubameyang had a wrist watch, it'd be 2-0 right now.
Leeds, (A), Norwich (A) and Wolves (H) up next for the Gunners, who would make it two on the bounce with a win tonight. The games look more than winnable. Could Arsenal be in the top three by New Years Eve? Probably not...
West Ham, meanwhile, face Norwich (H), Southampton (H) and Watford (A) next. Not bad either. Nicking a point (or more) tonight could be a massive for their confidence going into the festive season.
82' - Goalscorer Martinelli is replaced by Eddie Nketiah for the final throes. The Brazilian has been excellent tonight, and in the most encouraging way possible for Gunners fans – he's been a proper thorn in West Ham's side and even had a bit of a scuffle with Fabianski earlier.
87' - GOAL! Arsenal kill the game and it's a massive moment for Emile Smith Rowe, who's only just come on as a sub for Odegaard. It'd been all West Ham for the past five minutes, as you'd expect. The Gunners had been sitting in deep, absorbing pressure, and looking to break with caution.
93' - It's West Ham on the back foot now, the Hammers visibly broken by Smith Rowe's late strike. Moyes' side have given everything tonight but look low on energy after playing three games in the past week.
95' - Peeeeeep! Game over, as Arsenal run out 2-0 winners to climb above their opponents into the top four. It wasn't a vintage Gunners display, but their fans might be more satisfied with that if anything. They dug deep and - despite a squandered Lacazette penalty - scored when it mattered most. Mature.
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