West Ham 0-0 Arsenal: Hammers build on win over Chelsea as they hold Arsene Wenger's side to a draw but remain in the Premier League relegation zone

  • Arsene Wenger opted to name Jack Wilshere and Olivier Giroud in Arsenal's starting line-up 
  • West Ham were attempting to build on their Premier League win over Chelsea at the weekend 
  • The Hammers had a goal disallowed when Marko Arnautovic appeared to score from an offside position 
  • Nacho Monreal cleared off the line in the second half from Arnautovic but a foul had already been given 
  • Javier Hernandez almost grabbed all three points for hosts but effort dropped on line and spun away to safety

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Arsene Wenger's travels in the East prompted him to divulge a deep admiration for the Japanese art of sumo wrestling on the eve of this derby.

In sumo, Wenger explained, the culture of respect for the vanquished prevents the victor from any act of celebration. Indeed, if a triumphant wrestler fails to honour this ancient code, he is stripped of his title.

In east London on Wednesday night, there was little chance of his celebrations boiling over as he watched two more points slip away and a dismal away record worsen in the cold and rain of the Olympic Park. Wenger's team have won only two of nine Premier League games away from the Emirates Stadium, scoring just nine goals. 


West Ham forward Javier Hernandez nearly grabbed all three points for his side when he found space in Arsenal penalty area

West Ham forward Javier Hernandez nearly grabbed all three points for his side when he found space in Arsenal penalty area

Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech was beaten and could only watch as the ball bounced down from the underside of his crossbar

Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech was beaten and could only watch as the ball bounced down from the underside of his crossbar

How did that stay out? Hernandez watches in agony as his late strike drops on the line and spins away to safety

How did that stay out? Hernandez watches in agony as his late strike drops on the line and spins away to safety

West Ham manager David Moyes reacts after watching Hernandez's right-footed effort hit the underside of Arsenal's crossbar

West Ham manager David Moyes reacts after watching Hernandez's right-footed effort hit the underside of Arsenal's crossbar

MATCH FACTS, LEAGUE TABLE AND MATCH ZONE 

West Ham (3-5-2): Adrian 6.5; Reid 7, Ogbonna 7.5, Cresswell 7; Zabaleta 6, Noble 6.5, Obiang 6, Lanzini 6, Masuaku 6.5; Antonio 6.5 (Hernandez, 82), Arnautovic 6

Subs not used: Carroll, Sakho, Collins, Ayew, Hart, Rice

Booked: Lanzini, Reid 

Manager: David Moyes 6.5 

Arsenal (4-3-3): Cech 6, Bellerin 6, Koscielny 6, Monreal 6, Maitland-Niles 6; Xhaka 6, Wilshere 6.5, Ozil 6; Iwobi 6 (Welbeck, 70), Sanchez 6.5 (Lacazette, 83), Giroud 6

Subs not used: Ospina, Chambers, Kolasinac, Coquelin, Elneny

Manager: Arsene Wenger 6 

Referee: Jon Moss (W Yorkshire) 

Attendance: 56,921

Season at a glance

  • Premier League
  • Premier League
  • Championship
  • League One
  • League Two
  • Scottish Premiership
  • Scottish Div 1
  • Scottish Div 2
  • Scottish Div 3
  • Ligue 1
  • Serie A
  • La Liga
  • Bundesliga

 

Marko Arnautovic produced a tireless display on Wednesday - here is his heat map from the game against Arsenal

Marko Arnautovic produced a tireless display on Wednesday - here is his heat map from the game against Arsenal

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His tactical tweak, starting with a back four for the first time since April, did nothing to shake this pattern and it might have been worse.

In the 90th minute, Laurent Koscielny launched a kamikaze pass across the edge of the Arsenal box, surrendered possession and Mark Noble slipped a pass to Javier Hernandez.

West Ham's best finisher whipped the ball — possibly via Petr Cech's fingertips — against the underside of the bar, down on to the line and it spun out. Like Geoff Hurst in the 1966 World Cup final but without the intervention of a Russian linesman.

David Moyes was denied a win he did not really deserve and Arsenal escaped with a point which did little to ease the pain of dropping to seventh in the table.

Wenger's team are drifting and hopes of a swift return to the Champions League are becoming more remote. The celebrations belonged to Moyes, who claimed another point in the fight against relegation. Whether it qualifies as the West Ham Way will be debated over time but in the short-term it is exactly what they need. 

Marko Arnautovic got the ball on target only for Nacho Monreal to clear off the line before a foul was awarded to Arsenal

Marko Arnautovic got the ball on target only for Nacho Monreal to clear off the line before a foul was awarded to Arsenal

Arnautovic thought he had put West Ham in front when he beat Cech before it was disallowed for offside

Arnautovic thought he had put West Ham in front when he beat Cech before it was disallowed for offside

West Ham forward Arnautovic goes to ground as Arsenal full back Monreal tries to win back possession

West Ham forward Arnautovic goes to ground as Arsenal full back Monreal tries to win back possession

West Ham goalkeeper Adrian jumps and claims the ball as Angelo Ogbonna also goes up to stop Alexis Sanchez

West Ham goalkeeper Adrian jumps and claims the ball as Angelo Ogbonna also goes up to stop Alexis Sanchez

Manuel Lanzini clips Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere as West Ham captain Mark Noble sprints to try and win the ball back

Manuel Lanzini clips Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere as West Ham captain Mark Noble sprints to try and win the ball back

West Ham's players, including Noble, appeal to referee Jon Moss before Wilshere got back to his feet

West Ham's players, including Noble, appeal to referee Jon Moss before Wilshere got back to his feet

SUPER STAT 

3 - Arsenal have failed to win three consecutive league games for the first time since April.

 

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Signs of improvement under Moyes are clear. There has been an injection of desire, extra midfield bite and energy throughout. Crucially, there is greater resistance in the defensive unit.

Angelo Ogbonna and Winston Reid excelled in West Ham's back three and a crowded midfield stifled Arsenal's passing style. They frustrated the visitors and protected Adrian. The goalkeeper contributed with a flying save to keep out a free-kick from Alexis Sanchez as the clocked ticked down and the pressure increased.

In many ways, the possession-soaked football of Arsenal played to Moyes's strengths. No-one can question his safety-first tactics against teams chasing Champions League places. It did not make for great entertainment but this was one of those nights when it was all about the result.

Four points from games against Chelsea and Arsenal justifies the means for the new West Ham boss and, although they remain in the drop zone, confidence is building. Moyes thought his team had taken an early lead when Marko Arnautovic found the net with less than a quarter of an hour gone. 

Noble battled well for his side in the second half and demonstrates his strength here by getting past Ainsley Maitland-Niles

Noble battled well for his side in the second half and demonstrates his strength here by getting past Ainsley Maitland-Niles

Sanchez tries to use his quick feet to get beyond  Lanzini, who attempts to get close enough to make a tackle

Sanchez tries to use his quick feet to get beyond Lanzini, who attempts to get close enough to make a tackle

West Ham boss David Moyes shouts instructions to his players during a fairly open first half on Wednesday night

West Ham boss David Moyes shouts instructions to his players during a fairly open first half on Wednesday night

Arsenal forward Sanchez goes down early in the first half following a collision while in possession of the ball

Arsenal forward Sanchez goes down early in the first half following a collision while in possession of the ball

Arnautovic appeared unmarked at the back post to head in a cross from Arthur Masuaku. Moyes clenched both fists in celebration, unaware Arnautovic had drifted half a yard offside.

Up went the flag. Still, here was a warning for Arsenal.

Four recognised strikers huddled on the West Ham bench but wide-man Arnautovic and the ultimate utility-man Michail Antonio led the line with the midfield selecting their moments carefully to get forward in support.

It is more than a decade since Arsenal lost at West Ham and they were unfortunate to only score five on their first visit to the London Stadium, a year ago. Alexis Sanchez scored three that day and was the first to register an effort on goal, forcing a low save from Adrian, adding a second clean sheet in five days.

Another attempt from Sanchez was deflected over and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, making his Premier League debut, pulled a shot wide from the edge of the box.

Arsenal passed and probed but rarely opened up West Ham until Alex Iwobi collected a pass from Sanchez, late in the first half, made a yard inside the penalty and struck the foot of a post with a firm left-footer. 

Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil takes the ball past West Ham attacking midfielder Lanzini as he tries to spark an attack

Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil takes the ball past West Ham attacking midfielder Lanzini as he tries to spark an attack

Arsenal midfielder Wilshere was making his first Premier League start for Arsenal since May 2016

Arsenal midfielder Wilshere was making his first Premier League start for Arsenal since May 2016

Lanzini is brought down by Wilshere as the West Ham attacking midfielder advanced forward with the ball

Lanzini is brought down by Wilshere as the West Ham attacking midfielder advanced forward with the ball

Arsenal attacked with more purpose, more risk and a healthier tempo after the interval and it made for a more open 45 minutes.

Olivier Giroud headed wide and Granit Xhaka chanced his arm from long range before Mesut Ozil burst on to a ricochet and through on Adrian's goal. Ozil, normally so polished, somehow missed the target with the game's clearest chance.

Jack Wilshere skied another wonderful opportunity from a knock-down by Giroud.

Wenger could not resist mention of West Ham's defensive tactics. Similar to Southampton's on Sunday, said the Arsenal boss, and he grumbled about the fixture schedule which left his players with one day less to recover.

Whatever the reason, the visitors fell flat after the early exit of Sanchez and West Ham were on top as the game moved into stoppage time and Hernandez hit the bar. It would remain goalless.

The celebrations belonged to the home team but they are still in the relegation mire and nobody was gloating.

Central midfielder Mohamed Elneny warms up ahead of the Wednesday night Premier League clash at the London Stadium

Central midfielder Mohamed Elneny warms up ahead of the Wednesday night Premier League clash at the London Stadium

France international Olivier Giroud applauds the Arsenal supporters after being selected to start by boss Wenger

France international Olivier Giroud applauds the Arsenal supporters after being selected to start by boss Wenger

A West Ham supporter manages to get the attention of Hammers boss Moyes before taking a selfie

A West Ham supporter manages to get the attention of Hammers boss Moyes before taking a selfie

Two West Ham supporters try to stay warm ahead of kick-off on a cold night in east London before the Arsenal game

Two West Ham supporters try to stay warm ahead of kick-off on a cold night in east London before the Arsenal game