Arsenal v West Ham LIVE: As it happened – Unai Emery gets first win - Premier League 2018-19

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Joe Krishnan25 August 2018

Arsenal 3-1 West Ham
Premier League 2018-19
Emirates Stadium
Kick-off: 3pm (BST)

Unai Emery recorded his first win as Arsenal manager, but that milestone was somewhat overshadowed by the absence of Mesut Ozil.

Both the Gunners and West Ham were searching for their first points with successive defeats for new bosses Emery and Manuel Pellegrini having raised eyebrows after a summer of expectancy from both respected fanbases.

Changes were made by both managers, with Aaron Ramsey selected ahead of Ozil – whose omission from the matchday squad entirely sparked reports of a bust-up with his new manager – while Pellegrini made four changes to his.

And when Marko Arnautovic fired home in the first half to put the Hammers ahead, it appeared that Emery’s Arsenal were set for another difficult afternoon.

But the Gunners pulled themselves level through a somewhat unlikely source, as fullback Nacho Monreal scored the equaliser five minutes later.

Arsenal would complete their comeback through fortuitous circumstances with Issa Diop scoring the crucial own goal, before Danny Welbeck added a third to hand the Hammers their third-straight defeat.

Relive the action, and all the reaction, with Standard Sport…

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Unai Emery was dealt a tough hand for his first two games in the English top flight; home to champions Manchester City and away to Chelsea.

Only three other teams have endured a worst start to the season than the Gunners. One of those is West Ham.

Five of Manuel Pellegrini’s new signings started as the Hammers were taken apart by Liverpool in their opening game of the season, throwing away a one goal lead at home to Bournemouth as they fell to another defeat last Saturday.

Team news

Ainsley Maitland-Niles is set for six weeks on the sidelines after suffering a small stress fracture in his left leg in the season opener against Manchester City. Sead Kolasanic is also not expected back in training until October after picking up a knee injury in the summer, with Laurent Koscielny continuing his recovery after Achilles surgery.

Nacho Monreal was back in the starting XI against Chelsea after recovering from a knock while Lucas Torreira will be hoping for his first starting appearance after another week of full training with his club.

Emery has resisted starting both Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the same starting XI with the former settling for a spot on the bench so far this season, but the Spaniard could be tempted to start the pair in attack against the Hammers.

West Ham are likely to be without skipper Mark Noble, who has not trained due to a back problem this week. He joins long-term absentees Andy Carroll, Winston Reid and Manuel Lanzini on the sidelines.

Lucas Perez and Issa Diop meanwhile are still awaiting their club debuts but Manuel Pellegrini suggested they could be in contention to play some part.

Declan Rice, Ryan Fredericks and Michail Antonio were all dropped from the match day squad on Saturday, despite all starting the opening game of the season against Liverpool.

Possible starting XIs

Arsenal XI: Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Mustafi, Papastathopoulos, Monreal, Guendouzi, Xhaka, Mkhitaryan, Ramsey, Iwobi, Aubameyang.

Substitutes: Elneny, Lacazette, Torreira, Lichtsteiner, Holding, Leno, Welbeck.

West Ham XI: Fabianski, Fredericks, Balbuena, Diop, Masuaku, Sanchez, Wilshere, Felipe Anderson, Snodgrass, Antonio, Arnautovic.

Substitutes: Zabaleta, Adrian, Obiang, Hernandez, Yarmolenko, Lucas Perez, Rice.

25 August 2018

Some analysis from Jack Rosser on what we can expect from West Ham today.

West Ham's approach here will be telling. They went with a high line at Anfield and were crucified for it.

After playing a rigid 4-4-2 against Bournemouth, Felipe Anderson should offer more than Javier Hernandez did alongside Marko Arnautovic. The Brazilian is playing in a more withdrawn role meaning it's more of a 4-4-1-1 this afternoon.

25 August 2018

KICK OFF

We are underway here at the Emirates Stadium

25 August 2018

Last meeting

The Gunners won this fixtures 4-1 last season with a double from Alexandre Lacazette sealing a comfortable win for Arsene Wenger's side.

Now there's a new man in the dugout - Unai Emery - who would love a similar result today after two consecutive defeats in his first games as Arsenal manager.

25 August 2018

We have Jack Rosser at the Emirates Stadium today and as he reports below, there are some questions over the absence of Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil.

Photo: Reuters 

Here's the latest on the German playmaker:

It comes as a surprise to everyone that Mesut Ozil has been dropped from the squad for today's game, but there remains confusion as to why.

There are suggestions that the playmaker is ill, but that would seem convenient given the criticism from Unai Emery in recent weeks. If, as expected, he has simply been dropped, it comes as a significant power-play from the new Gunners boss.

25 August 2018

Emery keeps faith in struggling Gunners

Arsenal boss Unai Emery has made one change to his side for the London derby clash against West Ham at the Emirates Stadium.

Photo: Getty/Arsenal FC 

Midfielder Aaron Ramsey replaces Mesut Ozil, who is reported to be suffering from illness, and the Welsh playmaker will slot into the German's No 10 role.

It is the sixth time Ozil has missed a game through illness since the start of the 2016-17 season and his absence will be a blow for the Spanish coach.

The Gunners boss is still searching for his first Premier League victory after back-to-back defeats against Manchester City and Chelsea.

In goal, Petr Cech is preferred once again over Bernd Leno, the £22 million summer arrival from Bayer Leverkusen. The backline remains unchanged with Laurent Koscielny still out, although the Frenchman has returning to training.

There is still no place in the starting line-up for £25 million summer signing Lucas Torreira, as Granit Xhaka and Matteo Guendouzi continue their central midfield partnership.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang continues to lead the line despite his failure to score in either of Arsenal's opening games, while Alex Iwobi keeps his place on the right-wing after an impressive showing against Chelsea.

25 August 2018

Pellegrini rings in the changes

Michail Antonio, Ryan Fredericks and Declan Rice have all been recalled to the West Ham squad as Manuel Pellegrini makes four changes for the trip to Arsenal.

Photo: Getty 

All three were dropped from the matchday squad for the home defeat to Bournemouth last weekend, having started on the opening day at Liverpool, but both Antonio and Fredericks reclaim their starting berths at the Emirates, while Rice is named on the bench.

Summer signings Carlos Sanchez and Issa Diop come in to make their debuts as Mark Noble, who has suffered a back niggle, and Angelo Ogbonna drop out.

Further forward Javier Hernandez’s poor showing against the Cherries see him axed from the starting XI with Felipe Anderson set to start behind Marko Arnautovic, who wears the captain’s armband in Noble’s absence.

Neither West Ham or Arsenal have claimed a point in the Premier League so far this season, and former Gunner Jack Wilshere will be hoping to ensure the Hammers come away with something upon his first visit to the away dressing room at the Emirates.

25 August 2018

Arsenal team news

Starting XI: Cech; Bellerin, Mustafi, Sokratis, Monreal; Guendouzi, Xhaka; Iwobi, Ramsey, Mkhitaryan; Aubameyang

Subs: Leno, Holding, Lichtsteiner, Elneny, Torreira, Welbeck, Lacazette

25 August 2018

West Ham team news

Starting XI: Fabianski; Fredericks, Balbuena, Diop, Masuaku; Sanchez, Wilshere; Antonio, Snodgrass, Anderson; Arnautovic (c)

Subs: Adrian, Rice, Zabaleta, Obiang, Yarmolenko, Lucas Perez, Hernandez

25 August 2018

Both sets of fans are gathering in north London for what should be a fascinating game of football.

Kick-off is just over an hour away and we'll have all of the team news shortly.

Photo: Getty/Arsenal FC 

25 August 2018

Good afternoon and welcome to Standard Sport's LIVE coverage of the London derby between Arsenal and West Ham at the Emirates Stadium.

We'll have all the team news, build-up and live updates for the 3pm kick-off. 

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