West Ham vs Arsenal LIVE RESULT: Imperious Declan Rice gets over boos to score once and assist twice in 6-0 win
ARSENAL had their way with West Ham at the London Stadium as Declan Rice enjoyed a scintillating return to his former club.
The Gunners' record signing was BOOED by home fans but certainly had the last laugh as he provided two assists and scored one of his own during a 6-0 rout of the Hammers.
Three of those goals came in a devestating five-minute spell just before half-time as Bukayo Saka, Gabriel and Leandro Trossard made it 4-0 at the break after William Saliba's opener.
Those goals prompted a huge number of West Ham fans heading for the exit and it didn't get much better from there.
Saka scored again before Rice rounded off the scoring with a lovely curling long-range effort to make it six.
- Match result: West Ham 0-6 Arsenal.
- West Ham XI: Areola, Coufal, Aguerd, Zouma, Emerson, Johnson, Álvarez, Soucek, Ward-Prowse, Kudus, Bowen.
- Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior, Rice, Odegaard, Trossard, Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.
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West Ham 0-1 Arsenal
35. Massive chance for Arsenal to double their lead.
Martinelli crosses into the box and perfectly picks out Saka.
The winger has a completely free header but puts it wide of the target.
West Ham 0-1 Arsenal
33. The ball is whipped into the back post.
West Ham's marking is attrocious and Saliba has a completely free header at the back post.
Areola cannot react and the ball is in the back of the net before he knows it.
Goal - William Saliba (Arsenal)
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
31. Arsenal force another corner as they look to cross.
They send up all the defenders hoping to capitalise.
West Ham are needing to deal with the aerial threat.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
29. David Moyes will be happy with the start his side have made.
Arsenal are flexing their attacking muscle but they have dealt with the threat.
If they can score on the break, the goal would really hurt Arteta's side and test their mental strength.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
27. Odegaard tries his luck from outside the box.
It deflects off Soucek and goes narrowly wide of the post.
Arsenal swing the corner in but Ward-Prowse heads clear.
Credit: AP West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
25. Arsenal come forward again but West Ham's defence holds firm.
The Hammers look to break on the counter-attack but give the ball away.
Both sides are just lacking that killer pass in the final third.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
23. Martinelli cuts the ball back from the byline.
He perfectly picks out Trossard who strikes it well on the volley.
Areola is equal to it as he brilliantly tips it over the bar.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
21. Arsenal are starting to see more of the ball in the final third.
Saka crosses and finds Trossard but he heads harmlessly over the bar.
The Gunners' need for a striker for all to see right there.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
19. Saka picks the ball up on the right and looks to cut inside.
The defender jockeys him from one wing to the other.
He tries to get a left-footed shot away but it trickles through to the keeper with no power on it.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
17. West Ham have a corner which Ward Prowse takes.
It is headed clear by Gabriel, West Ham claiming for a penalty.
The replay shows Odegaard did pull at Soucek but it is was not enough for the player to go to ground.
Credit: AP West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
15. The home fans are getting behind Moyes' side whenever they come forward.
Bowen is making runs into the channels, stretching the Arsenal defence.
Kudus also is looking a threat in the early stages of this game.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
13. West Ham are still looking to get a foothold in the game.
Coufal looked to whip a cross in but it is hacked clear.
The Hammers are starting to put some pressure on the visitors.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
11. Saka shoots from outside the box and it deflects off Aguerd.
Arsenal players claim for handball but there is no danger of that being given.
The defender had his arms by his side in a natural position.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
9. Arsenal win a free kick in the final third.
Chance for The Gunners to swing a cross into the box.
Rice swings the ball into the box, which Havertz meets, but Areola catches with ease.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
7. West Ham are not looking to press the visitors.
They are closing then down when they have the ball however.
Arsenal in their usual style are looking to utilise their wingers whenever they retain possession.
Credit: PA West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
5. It is a tentative start by both teams.
Looking to probe and find a weakness in their opponents defence.
Saka gets down the right wing and looks to cut a cross in from the byline but the flag goes up for offside.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
3. Bowen is threaded through on goal.
He aims for the top corner but Raya makes the save.
Eventually the flag goes up for offside, however it is a warning as to what The Hammers are capable of.
West Ham 0-0 Arsenal
1. The visitors look to knock the ball around, retaining possession.
Arsenal are looking to make West Ham chase the ball.
David Moyes' team are happy to sit deep and hit them on the counter.
Kick-off: West Ham vs Arsenal
We are underway at the London Stadium.
It is a full house for this derby in the capital.
Arsenal get the game started.
Gunners looking to end twenty years of hurt
For Arsenal fans, being in a title race is something they all crave.
It is now 20 years since The Gunners last won the Premier League title.
The 2003/04 season saw the North London outfit win the trophy, since then it has been something to elude them.
Victory is key today if they want to keep in the chase with Liverpool and Man City.
Defence is the best form of attack
Arsenal need to ensure that they are solid at the back this afternoon.
As Arteta's side have been seriously missing a striker this season, often their dominance in games is not justified by their goal return.
With that in mind, it is integral that the defence can keep teams out at the other end of the pitch.
Rice coming back to old stomping ground
Declan Rice is playing his first league game at the London Stadium since his £105m transfer to North London.
He has faced The Hammers twice since, losing on both occasions.
Rice will be keen to put in a performance this afternoon.
Hammers looking to bounce back
West Ham suffered a heavy 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford last weekend.
David Moyes will be looking to get back to winning ways this afternoon with fans concerned with the side's form.
Beating Arsenal this afternoon will make a big statement for The Hammers in their chase for European football.
Arsenal subs:
1. Ramsdale, 17. Cedric, 76. Walters, 40. Bandeira, 25. Elneny, 20. Jorginho, 24. Nelson, 63. Nwaneri, 14. Nketiah