Arsenal will be put for their first win in four matches with a tough trip to Upton Park to face West Ham in a London derby. Join us for live scores and commentary from 2.00am AEDT.
Monday night’s 0-0 draw at Chelsea came on the back of a 6-3 loss to Manchester City, after losing 2-0 at the Stadio San Paolo in the Champions League midweek prior to that.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is convinced his players remain on course in their English Premier League title challenge despite having picked up just two points from their past three games.
Wenger’s side will make the short trip across London to West Ham United on Thursday having drawn at home with Everton and Chelsea either side of a 6-3 thrashing at Manchester City.
Arsenal had been seven points clear at the end of November, but now find themselves behind leaders Liverpool – who visit City in Thursday’s late game – on goal difference.
Wenger’s men struggled to create chances against Chelsea in Monday’s 0-0 draw, but Wenger insists that the Gunners’ prospects are far healthier than they had appeared at the start of the season, when they lost 3-1 at home to Aston Villa.
“The spirit of the players is unbelievably focused and there is a great desire,” he said.
“We are going through a period where it is a bit more difficult, but with that spirit we will come out of that.
“Let’s be serious – after the first game, against Aston Villa, if I’d have told you we would be top of the league, you would have said I was absolutely mad, so let’s not go completely overboard.
“We are where we are. The last three games have been difficult, but we have played Everton, we have played Man City and we have played Chelsea.”
West Ham are struggling to stay out of the relegation places, but Wenger is nonetheless expecting a testing 90 minutes.
“In the Premier League we have have learnt that it is difficult everywhere,” he said.
Wenger will make changes to keep his starting line-up fresh and now has the option of using Lukas Podolski, the Germany forward, who has recovered from the hamstring injury that had sidelined him since August.
West Ham have managed only one win in their past 10 Premier League games and sit just one point and one place above the bottom three.
However, right-back Guy Demel believes that Sam Allardyce’s side have a chance of upsetting the Gunners.
“We all know Arsenal is a great side and a force this season, but we are at home, it is a London derby and if we can get our performance right … then we always give ourselves a chance,” he said.
Can the Hammers steal an unlikely three points? Find out from 2.00am AEDT.
– Preview compiled with AAP
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
Arsenal win for the first time in five games as they head back to the top of the table - at least until Manchester City play Liverpool - while, incredibly given their early season form a resurgent Crystal Palace are out of the relegation zone. If you're still with us, or are just waking up I will be live blogging the huge game at Eastlands between Manchester City and Liverpool which is kicking off in a few minutes. Thanks for reading - don't forget to tweet any opinions, rants, or riffs to the Roar or me @laythy29 - after the incredible attacking nature of the game at Upton Park I need to lie in a darkened room - but rest assured I won't until after City v Liverpool at any rate. Cheers.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
FULL TIME West Ham United 1 - Arsenal 3 Here are the scores in the other games on this dramatic Boxing Day set of fixtures. Aston Villa 0-1 Crystal Palace Cardiff 0-3 Southampton Chelsea 1-0 Swansea Everton 0-1 Sunderland Newcastle 5-1 Stoke Norwich 1-2 Fulham Tottenham 1-1 West Brom West Ham 1-3 Arsenal
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
90+4 FULL TIME West Ham United 1 - 3 Arsenal Carlton Cole 46', Walcott 68', 71' Podolski 79'. A massive win for Arsenal who were wobbling after a fired up West Ham came flying out of their traps in the second half after the Gunners missed a number of chances in the first period. Luckily for Arsenal fans the North Londoners held their nerve, weathered the storm and ultimately showed their undoubted class. Giroud, Gibbs and Podolski as sub were simply superb. Carlton Cole like many of his teammates battled gamely for spells but the fact is the Irons and Big Sam were outclassed by their visitors.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
90+2 mins 1-3 Arsenal are seeing the game out. With three goals in nine crazy second half minutes sees Arsenal go back to the top of the league after a pulsating and enthralling game that shows just why the EPL is the most exciting league in the world. West Ham for their part will be shaking their heads ruefully after their very real chance to be 3-0 ahead.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
90 mins 1-3 Bendtner showing his selfish side shoots across goal when pass to a lurking Walcott could have helped him get a hattrick.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
88 mins 1-3 Arsenal bossing the play. So Jose Mourinho thinks Arsenal are boring. Does anyone want to send him a DVD of this game?
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
86 mins 1-3 West Ham are looking for the final whistle. They have given their all but Arsenal have been rampant. Another useless stat, the type that I love: Walcott's second goal today was his 44th league goal for the Gunners - but his first with his head. There you go I told you it was a useless stat...
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
85 mins Bendtner on for the outstanding Giroud
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
81 mins 1-3 Arsenal push on again. For Arsenal's second, Walcott jumped for the header after the ball had taken a deflection it appeared - what reflexes! Will Podolski cameo today convince Wenger not to buy a forward in January? His power and directness certainly offers them another option. As does Giroud's work with his back to goal - the Frenchman it has to be said has been outstanding this afternoon as West Ham fans head for the exits in their droves.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
80 min 1-3 Arsenal sub - Ozil off, Flamini on.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
78 min: GOAL! West Ham 1-3 Arsenal Podolski ensures the Gunners are to win the game with a fantastic goal. The ball is played to Giroud around the penalty spot with his back to goal. He then holds off West Ham's defenders as he gives it Podolski who smashes it home from 18 yards. What a game, what a comeback from Arsenal - especially considering West Ham could have been 3-0 early in the second half.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
76 mins 1-2 What a turnaround - the West Ham players look out on their feet - if this was a boxing match they would have stopped it by now as Arsenal look utterly dominant. I'm looking for the Irons physio to throw in the towel.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
75 min 1-2 West Ham sub: Nolan off, Taylor on.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
73 mins 1-2 My word that could have been 3-1 to Arsenal. Cazorla plays in Podolski with a neat waft but Adrian smothers the shot. Arsenal are back at the top of the league ahead of Man City v Liverpool which I will be covering - once I recover from this amazing game!
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
71 mins GOAL! 1-2 Walcott Walcott nets again! A fantastic cross from Podolski on the left sees the ball headed home from Walcott eight yards out. This is scintillating stuff. Arsenal are showing their title credentials here as West Ham look shell-shocked. What a game - and it's not over by a long way yet.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
70 mins 1-1 There isn't time to breathe let alone think at the moment! Podolski cracks a snorter from 20 yards which just flies over.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
68 mins GOAL - 1-1 Walcott Walcott equalises with a shot that goes through two defenders and through the unsighted Adrian's body! The West Ham keeper will be distraught with that mistake.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
65 mins 1-0 What a comeback that would have been, with virtually his first touch Podolski has a shot blocked by Cole. This really is edge of the seat stuff.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
63 min 1-0 It's getting worse for Arsenal - player of the season for the Gunner's Aaron Ramsey appears to have tweaked his thigh. Podolski making his first appearance since August comes on.
Layth Yousif
Roar Guru
62 mins 1-0 West Ham sub: O'Brien off, Demel on.