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Premier League
Apr 5, 2017 at 7.45pm UK
 
West Ham logo

3-0

Ozil (58'), Walcott (68'), Giroud (83')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Live Commentary: Arsenal 3-0 West Ham United - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live coverage of Arsenal's 3-0 victory over West Ham United in the Premier League.
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Arsenal have moved into fifth position in the Premier League table after recording a 3-0 victory over West Ham United.

After a goalless first half, Arsenal took the lead through Mesut Ozil before Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud added further strikes before full time.

As for West Ham, they have now lost five games in a row and Slaven Bilic and his side find themselves in a relegation scrap after Hull City's win over Middlesbrough.

Read below to see how the action unfolded at the Emirates Stadium


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Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match in the Premier League between Arsenal and West Ham United.

Last season, a match between Arsenal and West Ham United may have involved both teams holding lengthy unbeaten records before heading into a London derby, but that's not the case this evening. When you combine the last six games for both sides, there is just one win between them and it highlights that both teams are really struggling of form. That said, it should not make this contest any less of a spectacle. Both Arsene Wenger and Slaven Bilic require results for differing reasons and we expect both managers to instruct their players to go for the three points tonight.

We will hold off on the pre-match rambling for now. Let's take a look at the two teams.

ARSENAL XI: Martinez, Bellerin, Mustafi, Paulista, Monreal, Elneny, Xhaka, Walcott, Ozil, Sanchez, Welbeck

ARSENAL SUBSTITUTES: Macey, Mertesacker, Gibbs, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Iwobi, Giroud

WEST HAM UNITED XI: Randolph, Byram, Collins, Fonte, Masuaku, Kouyate, Noble, Antonio, Lanzini, Ayew, Carroll

WEST HAM UNITED SUBSTITUTES: Adrian, Nordtveit, Fernandes, Feghouli, Snodgrass, Sakho, Calleri

As you can see, numerous changes for both sides! We will start with Arsenal with Wenger making three alterations from Sunday's 2-2 draw with Manchester City. The main talking point is the inclusion of Emiliano Martinez, who replaces David Ospina after he picked up a knock on Sunday. Petr Cech remains sidelined, too. Laurent Koscielny has missed out as well, with Gabriel Paulista being handed a rare Premier League start. There is also a change in midfield, with Francois Coquelin dropping out altogether and Mohamed Elneny getting the nod over Aaron Ramsey, who returns to the squad alongside Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Olivier Giroud again has to make do with a place on the bench.

As for West Ham, Bilic is able to call upon Michail Antonio, who missed out against Hull City at the weekend. Mark Noble also takes his place in the centre of midfield, while Arthur Masuaku starts at left-back. A huge plus for the Hammers is the return of Diafra Sakho, who has not represented the East London outfit since netting against Manchester United at Old Trafford in November. If he gets on the pitch tonight, he will be making just his third appearance of the season.

We will keep on the subject of West Ham strikers because for all the criticism that Bilic is receiving at the moment, he has had little luck with his frontmen this season. Simone Zaza was a massive flop, so as Jonathan Calleri, while Andy Carroll has been limited to 16 appearances, scoring seven goals, which, in all fairness, is a decent return from the target man. Had Carroll and Sakho been fit for longer this season, I'm pretty sure they would be sitting higher up in the table.

HEAD TO HEAD! Tonight's match will represent the 135th time in which these two sides have met in a competitive fixture, with Arsenal claiming 62 wins in comparison to 34 victories for the visitors. However, the Hammers have an absolutely abysmal recent record against Arsenal, with just one success being recorded in 18 attempts. Arsenal have triumphed 14 times during that period...

The last game between the two teams came in December as Arsenal ran out 5-1 winners at the London Stadium. Heading into the final quarter of the match, Arsenal only led by the one goal but Alexis Sanchez and co ran riot during the closing stages. Click here to read the on-the-whistle report from that evening.

We can't get through this build-up without mentioning Wenger, whose future remains up in the air. The general feeling is that he will sign a two-year extension to his existing deal, but he is going to have to put together a few wins to justify that decision. For the first time in a while, the Gunners have a huge fight on their hands to finish in the top four of the Premier League table so if they don't make improvements over the next seven weeks, it will be as if the club's hierarchy are rewarding failure. Europa League football will not go down well with a set of supporters who only have two FA Cups to show for the last decade.

Europa League football was a possibility for West Ham at the start of this season but their move to the London Stadium effectively cost them a few memorable nights away from the domestic scene. They have never really recovered from losing out to Romanian side Astra Giurgiu and despite the club's public backing of their manager, Bilic knows that he cannot continue for much longer without registering another win. A trip to Arsenal is not what you want on the back of two draws and four defeats.

As well as this game, we are covering many others which could have a direct impact on Arsenal and West Ham. Fourof the five teams above Arsenal are all in action, which the Gunners having to cheer on Chelsea against Manchester City, while at the bottom, the fixture involving Hull City and Middlesbrough could have ramifications for West Ham. A win for Hull and defeat for the Hammers leaves a margin of just three points.

PREDICTION! We haven't spoken about the desire shown by Arsenal in their draw with Manchester City, but their fans will be optimistic that it was the start of something much better from their side. West Ham aren't at full strength in defence or midfield, and we are backing Sanchez and co to lead their team to a dominant victory. Arsenal to prevail by a 4-1 scoreline.

The two teams have made their way out in North London. The home fans seem to have given their side a positive reception, which is a good start.

West Ham get us underway.

We have not seen much for either side yet, but Arsenal are getting having more of the possession. Sanchez is lining up on the left so far with Welbeck down the middle.

There's already been a goal at the KCOM Stadium and it hasn't gone the way you would think. Middlesbrough have taken the lead against Hull City thansk to a goal from Alvaro Negredo. That's good news for West Ham.

West Ham are having the better of this match so far. They've won a couple of free kicks in and around the penalty area and the second - taken by Lanzini - was directed just wide of the post.

It wasn't a full house at the Emirates ahead of kickoff, but it is getting that way. Allegedly, some fans were waiting until the 13th minute before entering the stadium as they protest Wenger not winning a Premier League title for 13 years. Sigh...

SHOT! Another chance for West Ham, this time for Noble, but the Hammers skipper drags his shot from 25 yards wide of the post. There's been another goal at Hull, who have equalised against Middlesbrough through Lazar Markovic.

SHOT! Arsenal hit back through Bellerin and Walcott, but Walcott fires straight at Randolph after their neat play had alerted West Ham.

BOOKING! The first yellow card of the evening goes to Bellerin, who is cautioned for hauling down Antonio. The Spanish full-back is probably still annoyed with being outpaced by Leroy Sane at the weekend.

SHOT! Antonio is causing Arsenal all kinds of problems. After first winning a free kick, the ball fell to him from Lanzini's free kick, but he could only volley wide of the post. Arsenal are second best so far.

CHANCE! Arsenal should be ahead. A free kick from Sanchez falls to the feet of Welbeck but when he looks favourite to score, he completely fluffs his shot! That hasn't gone down well at the Emirates...

There have been more goals elsewhere. Hull now lead against Middlesbrough - which is bad news for West Ham - while Chelsea hold the advantage against Manchester City - which is good news for Arsenal. Bournemouth hold a shock lead at Liverpool. Are things looking up for Wenger...

CHANCE! West Ham nearly ruin their good start by gifting Arsenal a goal. Collins's pass was wayward and it gave Walcott the chance to get a shot on goal. Fortunately for the Hammers, the attacker sent his shot way off target.

Another goal for Hull, who now lead Middlesbrough by a 3-1 scoreline. With Swansea City winning as well, West Ham really cannot afford to fall behind in this game. They are second best now after initially posing Arsenal a few problems.

BOOKING! The referee evens up the score as far as bookings are concerned. Lanzini goes in late on Bellerin and he is deservedly cautioned. Still all of the attacking coming from Arsenal now.

CHANCE! Without going over the top, West Ham could do with half time here. After Collins deflects a shot over the crossbar, a header from Welbeck is well claimed bu Randolph.

CHANCE! Another chance for the Gunners. They can't handle the pace of Walcott but after he got clear of the West Ham defence, he was denied by a decent block from Randolph.

There will be two minutes of added-on time.

HALF TIME: Arsenal 0-0 West Ham United

The half-time whistle goes at the Emirates Stadium and we remain goalless. It's the only goalless game in the top flight. They have been flying in elsewhere so get checking out our live scores section!

We are back underway at the Emirates. Antonio has been replaced by Robert Snodgrass. I'm assuming that is injury-related.

Arsenal have picked up where they left off before the break. Ozil and Sanchez link up before a late tackle from a Hammers defender stop Ozil getting a shot away.

Slight bit of controversy at the Emirates. West Ham have the ball in the net thanks to a volley from Carroll but Byram has been adjudged to be offside. That may very well be a talking point at the end of the game because you can guess what has gone and happened now...

GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 West Ham United (Ozil)

He has come in for his fair share of criticism in recent months but this is the real Mesut Ozil. The German benefited from Sanchez allowing the ball to go past him but it's a fine effort from the playmaker, who curls the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

CHANCE! You sense that West Ham are there for the taking now. Just three minutes after the goal, Randolph is back in the action to deny Welbeck, who received the ball off Walcott before being denied by another save from the Hammers goalkeeper. Arsenal could have been out of sight by now.

BOOKING! Mustafi becomes the second Arsenal man to go into the book after fouling Snodrgrass on the edge of the penalty area.

SUBSTITUTION! Interesting change from Bilic, who decides to introduce Sakho for Carroll.

Arsenal have had a couple of half-chances over the last few minutes but nothing as clear-cut as earlier in the match. Welbeck fired into the side-netting before Elneny sent a a tame header straight at Randolph.

GOAL! Arsenal 2-0 West Ham United (Walcott)

I'd say that is game over at the Emirates. Ozil advances down the left before turning provider for Walcott, who applies a calm finish inside the penalty area. Arsenal are going to be returning to winning ways in the Premier League and as it stands, results are going their way.

CHANCE! Bellerin nearly adds a third but he sent his shot from the right just wide of the post. This is turning very ugly for Bilic.

SUBSTITUTION! Arsenal make their first change of the night as Olivier Giroud comes on for Welbeck.

SAVE! Emiliano Martinez hasn't had much to do between the sticks for Arsenal but he remains alert to stop Lanzini from pulling a goal back for the Hammers after he had taken the ball past a couple of players.

BOOKING! Byram is booked by the referee for a trip on Sanchez as he threatened to run in behind. That's called taking one for the team.

SUBSTITUTIONS! Changes for both sides. For West Ham, Edimilson Fernandes is on for Noble, while for Arsenal, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Aaron Ramsey replace Elneny and Walcott.

GOAL! Arsenal 3-0 West Ham United (Giroud)

Wenger will be delighted with this. Giroud hasn't scored in the Premier League for some time but he gets on the scoresheet with a curling effort past Randolph after being teed up by Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur have scored goals which could take the shine off Arsenal's win tonight. Liverpool now lead, and Spurs have netted twice in three minutes to now lead at Swansea City!

FULL TIME: Arsenal 3-0 West Ham United

The full-time whistle goes at the Emirates and Arsenal have eased to a 3-0 victory over West Ham. It took until the 58th minute for the deadlock to be broken but Arsenal were fully deserving of a convincing win. West Ham must now regroup because relegation will be a possibility should they now end this winless streak.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this game. Thank you for joining us this evening and we hope to see you again soon. Goodbye for now.

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