Arsenal 1-0 West Ham United: Hits and Flops from the entertaining fixture at the Emirates| Premier League 2019-20

Arsenal FC v West Ham United - Premier League
Arsenal FC v West Ham United - Premier League

Arsenal kept their top-four hopes alive in the Premier League after securing a narrow, but crucial 1-0 win over London rivals West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium.

Alexandre Lacazette's tap-in finish in the 78th minute proved to be the difference between the two sides in this fiercely contested fixture, which was only allowed after intervention by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

West Ham would be kicking themselves for not converting their chances, especially in the first half and this defeat leaves them at 16th in the league standings with only the goal difference keeping them above the relegation zone.

The hosts have now gone eight games without a defeat in the Premier League this campaign, which is also the longest unbeaten streak in the division currently, after Liverpool's dream run came to an end last week.

So, as the Gunners continued their unbeaten run in the top-flight, here we take a look at the hits and flops from the game.


#1. HIT: Jarrod Bowen

Arsenal FC v West Ham United - Premier League
Arsenal FC v West Ham United - Premier League

West Ham's January acquisition Jarrod Bowen was one of the most impressive players for The Hammers in the fixture and showed glimpses of brilliance throughout the game.

He came close to scoring a goal for the visitors just 93 seconds into the game, only to find it hitting the frame after Bernd Leno got the faintest of touches to it.

His pace from midfield caught Arsenal's defenders flat-footed and he proved to be a nuisance for the home team players. His linkup play with his teammates was impressive and he showed purpose going forward.


#2. FLOP: Nicolas Pepe

Pepe has been wasteful in front of the goal for Arsenal.
Pepe has been wasteful in front of the goal for Arsenal.

Nicolas Pepe is a highly talented player, but he is yet to reach his full potential with Arsenal. In the fixture today, he appeared completely out of sorts and even failed to maintain his position on the right flank and drifted way too often into the middle of the pitch.

He failed to link up well with his teammates, especially Mesut Ozil, who is one of the top creative players of the side and tried to take on too many West Ham defenders on his own too often, failing miserably and was frustrating to watch at times.

Though he broke through opposition defence once or twice in the game, he was guilty of squandering possession in good positions that should have led to chances in either half.

#3. HIT: Alexandre Lacazette

Lacazette has scored all of his top-flight goals at the Emirates this season.
Lacazette has scored all of his top-flight goals at the Emirates this season.

Eddie Nketiah was named in the starting lineup ahead of Lacazette today, a surprising choice by Mikel Arteta, the youngster failed to make this opportunity count and was substituted in the 59th minute for the experienced Lacazette.

He tried to make an instant impact upon his arrival by infusing fresh energy into Arsenal's attacking third and stepping up in the game when top-scorer Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang remained a peripheral figure and Pepe lacked the cutting edge.

His efforts bore fruit as just 19 minutes after being brought in from the bench, he found the back of the net from a smart pass by Mesut Ozil and put the Gunners in front.


#4. FLOP: Michail Antonio

Arsenal FC v West Ham United - Premier League
Arsenal FC v West Ham United - Premier League

Michail Antonio impressed early on in the game with his pace and determination in the final third causing all sorts of problems for the Arsenal defence, but as the game progressed he made a couple of very costly mistakes and blew several chances to put his side ahead in the game.

In the first-half, he blew a clear 2-v-1 chance when his squared pass ended up behind the incoming Haller, and in the second half, he had a header from just five yards out and directed it right at Leno who was able to paw it away to safety.

#5. HIT: Bernd Leno

Leno made a string of crucial saves in the fixture to keep a clean sheet.
Leno made a string of crucial saves in the fixture to keep a clean sheet.

Bernd Leno showed why he deserves to be counted among the top goalkeepers of the division with a superb display between the sticks at the Emirates today as he managed a shutout in the game, withstanding a barrage of attempts from West Ham players.

He was forced into action just three minutes into the game when he just about managed to divert Jarrod Bowen's driven low shot from 20-yards out for a corner. He also made great saves in either half, particularly to deny Sebastien Haller and Michail Antonio.

He was kept very busy by the opposition frontline, who forced the German keeper to produce a string of saves, most of them were routine but some of them were top-class.

He made a couple of point-blank saves in either half of the game and was by far the best Arsenal player on the pitch today. Despite a brittle defence in front of him, he held his ground and refused to concede a goal.

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Edited by S Chowdhury