Arsenal 2-1 West Ham United: Eddie Nketiah’s late goal ensures Gunners maintain 100% start

Eddie Nketiah’s late goal ensured Arsenal maintained their 100% Premier League start as they condemned West Ham to a second successive defeat.

Despite Mikel Arteta’s team largely dominating possession West Ham slowly grew into the game.

The Hammers, who always looked dangerous on the counter-attack, levelled just before the interval when Michail Antonio bundled in Ryan Fredericks’ cross at the end of a sweeping move.

While Arsenal continued to enjoy more of the ball after the break, David Moyes’ side created the better openings in front of goal with Antonio heading against the bar and seeing a scuffed close-range effort saved by Bernd Leno.

However, Nketiah’s late tap-in from a Dani Ceballos pass ensured Arsenal continued their fine home record against the Hammers, having won 11 of the last 12 meetings at Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal eke out another win

While there have been considerable signs of improvement at Arsenal since Arteta took charge last December this performance appeared to fizzle out after Lacazette had registered his 50th goal in all competitions for the club.

The crispness of passing, swift attacking and solidity at the back were all noticeably missing and it allowed West Ham a route back into the encounter.

However, the pleasing aspect for the Spaniard will be that his team were still capable of eking out a victory from an under-par showing.

Nervy at the back throughout, Arteta’s side survived several close scares and struggled to break free of their lethargy despite the introduction of £72m winger Nicolas Pepe.

It took another substitute, Nketiah, to make the difference, with his tap-in coming eight minutes after he had come on to replace Lacazette.

More to follow.

Player of the match

NketiahEddie Nketiah

West Ham United

1. Squad number30Player nameAntonio

2. Squad number28Player nameSoucek

3. Squad number41Player nameRice

4. Squad number20Player nameBowen

5. Squad number26Player nameMasuaku

6. Squad number21Player nameOgbonna

7. Squad number24Player nameFredericks

8. Squad number1Player nameFabianski

9. Squad number23Player nameDiop

10. Squad number18Player nameFornals

11. Squad number7Player nameYarmolenko

12. Squad number3Player nameCresswell

13. Squad number22Player nameHaller

14. Squad number8Player nameFelipe Anderson