A seven-point lead atop the Premier League table will be Arsenal’s if they beat West Ham at the Emirates Stadium this Boxing Day evening. With Newcastle now occupying second place, perhaps temporarily, the first-placed Gunners can pick up where they left off with a convincing performance under the floodlights.
It has been a rollercoaster World Cup break for Mikel Arteta’s side, now shorn of Gabriel Jesus for potentially a couple of months following his knee injury. Eddie Nketiah leads the line as a result with William Saliba fit to start for Arsenal.
West Ham, meanwhile, are balancing injury issues up front themselves but do have Michail Antonio available after an injury. Only one point off the drop zone, the pressure is cranking up on David Moyes to send the Hammers up the table. Follow all the action live via Standard Sport’s match blog, with Malik Ouzia providing expert analysis from the ground!
Live updates
CHANCE ARSENAL!
34 mins: Dawson there again as Nketiah pops up in the box yet hesitates before a lay-off to Saka, who just loses out to Dawson as the defender nips in.
32 mins: Every West Ham player bar Paqueta is rushing around putting on the pressure as Arsenal pen them in.
Saka floats in a nice ball but Dawson nods out well.
29 mins: Arsenal knew they would be tested after the World Cup break but it’s come sooner than they’d have liked.
West Ham have been a real stodgy team to play when losing under Moyes, can he finally get one over the Gunners?
Malik Ouzia at Emirates Stadium
Well, talk about against the run of play. It’s been one way traffic but West Ham are ahead with a fine penalty from Benrahma.
As has become tradition here this season, conceding the first goal prompts a huge rallying call from the home crowd, whipped up by Mikel Arteta.
GGGOOOOOAAAALLLLL!!! Arsenal 0-1 West Ham | Benrahma
26 mins: Benrahma steps up…
DOWN THE MIDDLE!
PENALTY WEST HAM!
24 mins: Bowen goes down and Michael Oliver points to the spot!
Saliba just clipped the West Ham winger as he broke into the box. VAR is having a little look though…
Penalty given.
CHANCE ARSENAL!
23 mins: Saka fantastically heads on Partey’s deep cross and Odegaard is there to fire at goal – but Fabianski denies him!
21 mins: West Ham’s longest period of pressure yet with successive corners, the second landing for Benrahma on the edge of the box and Ramsdale plucks out his shot.
A quick play the ball sends Nketiah through on the counter but West Ham block his effort.
19 mins: Lovely football from Arsenal as Xhaka slides in a ball in behind for White to latch onto… a decent low cross is slid out for a corner.
Malik Ouzia at Emirates Stadium
Martin Odegaard’s first touch is just exquisite. That’s a few times now he’s found a bit of space between the lines but has had to receive the ball at awkward heights or with a bit too much pace on. It doesn’t seem to matter.
