Said Benrahma 5/10
SUBS: (Paqueta 33') Had a late chance to make it 3-0 from the penalty spot but Raya saved his spot-kick. Limited to mostly defensive contributions after coming on until his late chance from the penaltShow more
David Raya 6/10
ARSENAL PLAYER RATINGS: Saved Benrahma’s spot-kick to keep the score at 2-0. Couldn’t have done anything about the two goals. Reuters
Ben White 6/10
Failed to direct his header on target when he got on the end of Zinchenko’s cross in the 33rd minute. Solid defensively and tried to help out in attack. Getty Images
Oleksandr Zinchenko 4/10
Got involved in a mixup with Gabriel Magalhaes, which led to the Hammers’ opener. Looked shaky all through the game. EPA
William Saliba 6/10
Important block to stop Emerson’s cross in the second half. A calm presence in the Gunners defence. AP
Gabriel Magalhaes 4/10
Involved in the mix-up with Zinchenko that led to the Hammers opener. Beaten to the header by Mavropanos for the visitors' second goal. AFP
Declan Rice 6/10
Hit a good effort from range just after the restart, but it went just over. Conceded a late penalty with a foul on Emerson after a slip. Not the result he would have wanted against his former club. AFShow more
Martin Odegaard 7/10
Looked like Arsenal's best chance of creating or scoring a goal. Stung Areola’s palms with a fierce effort late in the game. Getty Images
Leandro Trossard 6/10
Made an absolute mess of a training ground free-kick routine in the 25th minute. Forced Areola into a good save in the 73rd minute. Reuters
Bukayo Saka 6/10
Called Areola into action with a glancing header half an hour into the game. Had the goal-post shaking with a ferocious effort close to the end of the first half. EPA
Gabriel Martinelli 4/10
Had a good chance to bring the home side level in the 36th minute, but he hit his effort wide. Another disappointing performance from the Brazilian who has struggled to replicate last season's sensatiShow more
Gabriel Jesus 6/10
Displayed good vision to pick out Saka behind West Ham's backline with a precise chipped pass in the first half. Got on the end of Trossard’s cross in the 64th minute, but he directed his header straiShow more
Reiss Nelson 5/10
SUBS: (Martinelli 64') Had a good chance from the edge of the penalty area in the 90th minute, but he failed to keep his shot on target. AFP
Eddie Nketiah 6/10
(Zinchenko 64') Attempted an overhead kick in the 89th minute but his effort was too weak to trouble Areola. Never stopped running and fighting for every ball. AFP
Emile Smith Rowe N/A
(Trossard 79') Hit a weak effort straight into the hands of Areola in the 86th minute. AFP
Alphonse Areola 8/10
WEST HAM PLAYER RATINGS: Made two saves to deny Saka and Trossard in quick succession in the second half. Provided a huge save to deny Odegaard late in the game. Reuters
Emerson Palmieri 7/10
Excellent interception to stop Odegaard from playing Saka through on goal with five minutes of the first half left to play. Won a late penalty, which wasn’t converted. Reuters
Vladimir Coufal 7/10
Important header to prevent Gabriel Jesus from getting on the end of Saliba’s glancing header towards the back post. Kept Martinelli relatively quiet and also dealt with the threat of Nelson. AP
Angelo Ogbonna 7/10
Made a crucial last-ditch tackle to disposes Odegaard before he could go through on goal just before halftime. Made several clearances and interceptions in the second half. AFP
Konstantinos Mavropanos 8/10
Impeccable at both ends of the pitch for the visitors. Doubled West Ham's lead with a ferocious header that went in off the bar in the 55th minute. AP
Tomas Soucek 8/10
Opened the scoring with a simple finish from close range in the 13th minute. Proved very crucial when dealing with the Gunners’ crosses into the danger area. AFP
Edson Alvarez 7/10
Put in a hardworking display next to Soucek at the base of midfield and was everywhere for the Hammers late in the game. EPA
Mohammed Kudus 6/10
Not one of the best nights of Kudus going forward. He didn’t get a chance to test Raya but did his part tracking back. EPA
James Ward Prowse 8/10
Had the visitors’ first chance with a shot from the edge of the box but failed to keep it on target. Created the second with a good corner-kick delivery for Mavropanos to head home. Reuters
Lucas Paqueta 6/10
Played a part in the opener but was subbed off later due to injury. West Ham will hope it's not too serious as the Brazilian has been superb this season. AFP
Jarrod Bowen 6/10
Earned the controversial assist for Soucek’s goal as VAR couldn't ascertain whether the ball had stayed in or out of play. Had a tough time holding up the ball for his teammates against the likes of SShow moreSaid Benrahma 5/10
SUBS: (Paqueta 33') Had a late chance to make it 3-0 from the penalty spot but Raya saved his spot-kick. Limited to mostly defensive contributions after coming on until his late chance from the penaltShow moreDavid Raya 6/10
ARSENAL PLAYER RATINGS: Saved Benrahma’s spot-kick to keep the score at 2-0. Couldn’t have done anything about the two goals. ReutersBen White 6/10
Failed to direct his header on target when he got on the end of Zinchenko’s cross in the 33rd minute. Solid defensively and tried to help out in attack. Getty ImagesOleksandr Zinchenko 4/10
Got involved in a mixup with Gabriel Magalhaes, which led to the Hammers’ opener. Looked shaky all through the game. EPAWilliam Saliba 6/10
Important block to stop Emerson’s cross in the second half. A calm presence in the Gunners defence. APGabriel Magalhaes 4/10
Involved in the mix-up with Zinchenko that led to the Hammers opener. Beaten to the header by Mavropanos for the visitors' second goal. AFPDeclan Rice 6/10
Hit a good effort from range just after the restart, but it went just over. Conceded a late penalty with a foul on Emerson after a slip. Not the result he would have wanted against his former club. AFShow moreMartin Odegaard 7/10
Looked like Arsenal's best chance of creating or scoring a goal. Stung Areola’s palms with a fierce effort late in the game. Getty ImagesLeandro Trossard 6/10
Made an absolute mess of a training ground free-kick routine in the 25th minute. Forced Areola into a good save in the 73rd minute. ReutersBukayo Saka 6/10
Called Areola into action with a glancing header half an hour into the game. Had the goal-post shaking with a ferocious effort close to the end of the first half. EPAGabriel Martinelli 4/10
Had a good chance to bring the home side level in the 36th minute, but he hit his effort wide. Another disappointing performance from the Brazilian who has struggled to replicate last season's sensatiShow moreGabriel Jesus 6/10
Displayed good vision to pick out Saka behind West Ham's backline with a precise chipped pass in the first half. Got on the end of Trossard’s cross in the 64th minute, but he directed his header straiShow moreReiss Nelson 5/10
SUBS: (Martinelli 64') Had a good chance from the edge of the penalty area in the 90th minute, but he failed to keep his shot on target. AFPEddie Nketiah 6/10
(Zinchenko 64') Attempted an overhead kick in the 89th minute but his effort was too weak to trouble Areola. Never stopped running and fighting for every ball. AFPEmile Smith Rowe N/A
(Trossard 79') Hit a weak effort straight into the hands of Areola in the 86th minute. AFPAlphonse Areola 8/10
WEST HAM PLAYER RATINGS: Made two saves to deny Saka and Trossard in quick succession in the second half. Provided a huge save to deny Odegaard late in the game. ReutersEmerson Palmieri 7/10
Excellent interception to stop Odegaard from playing Saka through on goal with five minutes of the first half left to play. Won a late penalty, which wasn’t converted. ReutersVladimir Coufal 7/10
Important header to prevent Gabriel Jesus from getting on the end of Saliba’s glancing header towards the back post. Kept Martinelli relatively quiet and also dealt with the threat of Nelson. APAngelo Ogbonna 7/10
Made a crucial last-ditch tackle to disposes Odegaard before he could go through on goal just before halftime. Made several clearances and interceptions in the second half. AFPKonstantinos Mavropanos 8/10
Impeccable at both ends of the pitch for the visitors. Doubled West Ham's lead with a ferocious header that went in off the bar in the 55th minute. APTomas Soucek 8/10
Opened the scoring with a simple finish from close range in the 13th minute. Proved very crucial when dealing with the Gunners’ crosses into the danger area. AFPEdson Alvarez 7/10
Put in a hardworking display next to Soucek at the base of midfield and was everywhere for the Hammers late in the game. EPAMohammed Kudus 6/10
Not one of the best nights of Kudus going forward. He didn’t get a chance to test Raya but did his part tracking back. EPAJames Ward Prowse 8/10
Had the visitors’ first chance with a shot from the edge of the box but failed to keep it on target. Created the second with a good corner-kick delivery for Mavropanos to head home. ReutersLucas Paqueta 6/10
Played a part in the opener but was subbed off later due to injury. West Ham will hope it's not too serious as the Brazilian has been superb this season. AFPJarrod Bowen 6/10
Earned the controversial assist for Soucek’s goal as VAR couldn't ascertain whether the ball had stayed in or out of play. Had a tough time holding up the ball for his teammates against the likes of SShow moreSaid Benrahma 5/10
SUBS: (Paqueta 33') Had a late chance to make it 3-0 from the penalty spot but Raya saved his spot-kick. Limited to mostly defensive contributions after coming on until his late chance from the penaltShow moreArsenal v West Ham player ratings: Odegaard 7, Martinelli 4; Soucek 8, Bowen 6
Hammers secure a 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium as the Gunners miss the chance to move top
Olankunle Afolabi
December 29, 2023