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Arsenal vs West Ham LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction tonight

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Arsenal host West Ham United on Wednesday night in a key fixture among the race for European spots. The Hammers head into the game in fourth, with the Gunners just two places and two points behind - but with Mikel Arteta’s team also hit by off-field distractions this week, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang stripped of the captaincy and excluded from the squad after a disciplinary breach.

The boss must now appoint a new skipper and he’s clear about the traits that person needs, and where Aubameyang fell short. “We believe that he has failed to be committed at the level that we all expect and agreed, as simple as that,” Arteta said. “What I expect from any person in this football club is passion and that he gives absolutely 100 per cent, that he puts the club in front of any personal interests and is able to do anything to fulfil the badge we have on the chest.”

For the Hammers, it’s a chance to open up a gap down to Manchester United in fifth, but Arsenal can go fourth with a win of their own. Follow all the team news and live updates from Arsenal vs West Ham below:

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Arsenal vs West Ham

  • Match shown on BT Sport channels, website and app

  • Arsenal: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney, Thomas, Xhaka, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Lacazette.

  • West Ham: Fabianski, Coufal, Dawson, Diop, Masuaku, Rice, Soucek, Fornals, Lanzini, Bowen, Antonio.

  • Half-time: Goalless at the break despite Arsenal pressure

  • 48 min: Gabriel Martinelli slots the Gunners in front

  • 69 min: Coufal sent off before Fabianski saves Lacazette penalty

  • 87 min: Smith Rowe comes off bench to add Arsenal’s second

Arsenal 2 - 0 West Ham

21:50 , Michael Jones

90+3 mins: Arsenal win the ball in the middle of the pitch and carry it towards goal. Granit Xhaka is encouraged to shoot from the Arsenal faithful and obliges them with a shot from range. He leans back on the shot though and smokes it well over the crossbar.

Arsenal 2 - 0 West Ham

21:47 , Michael Jones

90 mins: Five minutes of added time to play at the Emirates. Arsenal should get the job done now.

GOAL! Arsenal 2 - 0 West Ham (Smith Rowe, 87’)⚽️

21:46 , Michael Jones

87 mins: Benrahma gets dispossessed deep in Arsenal’s half and the Gunners fly forward on the overlap. Saka brings in up the pitch and passes it to Emile Smith Rowe - who’s just come on for Arsenal - he carries it into the final third, cuts inside from the right, then threads a shot in between the legs of Diop and guides it into the bottom right-hand corner.

Arsenal 1 - 0 West Ham

21:43 , Michael Jones

84 mins: Xhaka blocks a cross from Soucek and the ball goes out for a throw in. West Ham are bringing the pressure and Nketiah has to get back to head another cross out of the box. The visitors are pushing for the equaliser.

Arsenal 1 - 0 West Ham

21:39 , Michael Jones

81 mins: The goalscorer Gabriel Martinelli is taken off by Mikel Arteta and on comes Eddie Nketiah for the final 10 minutes or so. There’s still time for West Ham to find an equaliser but with only 10-men they’re up against it.

Arsenal 1 - 0 West Ham

21:37 , Michael Jones

78 mins: Chance! Bukayo Saka comes so, so close to doubling Arsenal’s lead. Martinelli drives down the inside left and squares a pass into the box. He picks out Saka who takes a first time shot only to be denied by a block from Issa Diop. The ball deflects off him and bounces wide of the left-hand post.

Arsenal 1 - 0 West Ham

21:33 , Michael Jones

75 mins: Saka swings a corner into the box for Arsenal. It’s flicked on by a West Ham defender but there were no Arsenal players around to tap the ball in as it bounces past the back post.

The Gunners recover the ball and win another corner. Martinelli picks out Gabriel in the box and the defender attempts a spectacular volley but puts his effort wide of goal!

Arsenal 1 - 0 West Ham

21:30 , Michael Jones

72 mins: Antonio tries to weave his way around Martinelli on the right wing for West Ham and eventually wins a throw in. The ball is sent to Dawson who classes with Lacazette and comes away with the ball.

Diop sends a long ball into the box and Tomiyasu attempts to head it back to his goalkeeper. Ramsdale is out of position though and has to scramble back towards goal to bring the ball under control.

SAVED! Fabianski denies Lacazette

21:27 , Michael Jones

Arsenal 1 - 0 West Ham

69 mins: Vladimir Coufal can feel hard down by with the red card and penalty. He clearly won the ball and had nowhere else to go in the follow through and clipped the Arsenal captain.

Lacazette steps up to take the penalty... it’s saved! He sends it to Fabianski’s left and the goalkeeper guesses correctly, leaps across and parries it wide of the post!

Penalty to Arsenal! Red card for Coufal!

21:24 , Michael Jones

Arsenal 1 - 0 West Ham

66 mins: This is interesting! The ball is played into the box for Lacazette to chase down. Coufal comes across and slides at the ball. He wins it and takes out Lacazette in the follow through.

Anthony Taylor takes his time over the decision and then points at the spot. He then pulls out a yellow card for the tackle, it’s Coufal’s second of the night and he has to depart!

Arsenal 1 - 0 West Ham

21:22 , Michael Jones

63 mins: Chance! Antonio has drifted out wide since Arsenal went in front and West Ham seem to be getting more joy from this slight change. He receives the ball and drives a low pass in towards the near post. Bowen meets it but can’t hit the target with a shot on the spin and the ball goes wide.

Arsenal 1 - 0 West Ham

21:19 , Michael Jones

60 mins: Coufal brings the ball up the right side for West Ham. He sends it wider to Antonio who swings a decent cross into the middle but can’t find a teammate. The ball hits Tomiyasu and Arsenal clear their lines with a pass up to Lacazette. He carries the ball towards the box before laying it off to Partey. He shoots from range but has the effort blocked.

Arsenal 1 - 0 West Ham

21:15 , Michael Jones

57 mins: Arsenal win a free kick right on the tip of the ‘D’. Lacazette and Odegaard are both over the deadball but it’s the former who takes the shot. He whips a left-footed effort wide of the wall and towards the back post but Fabianski has it covered and smothers the ball low to his left.

Arsenal 1 - 0 West Ham

21:11 , Michael Jones

54 mins: Save! Martin Odegaard gives the ball away with a wayward pass along the front edge of his own box. Jarrod Bowen collects the ball and dinks a shot towards the top left corner only for Ramsdale to leap across and push it wide of the post.

The corner comes in to Declan Rice who flicks it towards the back post. It goes over Michail Antonio and Arsenal manage to work it clear.

Arsenal 1 - 0 West Ham

21:08 , Michael Jones

51 mins: Arsenal have been the more threatening team, they deserved that goal. Kieran Tierney brings the ball down the left wing and cuts a pass into the box but Soucek is there to intercept it this time.

GOAL! Arsenal 1 - 0 West Ham (Martinelli, 48’)⚽️

21:05 , Michael Jones

48 mins: Lovely goal! Gabriel brings the ball up the pitch and sends it into the feet of Lacazette. Martinelli makes a fantastic run off the ball and Arsenal’s captain slides it into the box for him. Martinelli opens up the far bottom corner and curls his shot around the goalkeeper sinking the ball in off the far post!

Second half: Arsenal 0 - 0 West Ham

21:04 , Michael Jones

Kick off: Arsenal get the match back underway and attack immediately through Lacazette. He drives towards the box before laying the ball off to Saka. Saka cuts inside and takes a shot but fires his chance over the crossbar.

Arsenal 0 - 0 West Ham

21:01 , Michael Jones

As things stand West Ham will hold on to fourth place until the weekend at least. If neither team scores in the second half Arsenal will remain sixth but they’ll have drawn level with Manchester United on 27 points.

Can someone find a winning goal in the second half? The players make their way back out onto the pitch.

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20:55 , Michael Jones

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Arsenal 0 - 0 West Ham

20:52 , Michael Jones

Nothing to separate the teams at half-time. It’s been scrappy at times with plenty of work for the officials to do. Who’s going to get the first goal in this goal? It feels as though there’s going to be one.

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
Arsenal striker Gabriel Martinelli (L) vies with West Ham’s Vladimir Coufal (Getty)
Arsenal striker Gabriel Martinelli (L) vies with West Ham’s Vladimir Coufal (Getty)
 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Half-time: Arsenal 0 - 0 West Ham

20:47 , Michael Jones

45+1 mins: As 0-0s go this have been very enjoyable. Arsenal have been the more threatening team with the Hammers relying heavily on last ditch defending to keep them out. Alexandre Lacazette has been good, Kieran Tierney has hit the crossbar but Bukayo Saka is causing the most trouble out on that righ wing. For West Ham Craig Dawson is having a blinder at centre-back and Lukasz Fabianski has made a few good saves. Goalless at the break .

Arsenal 0 - 0 West Ham

20:45 , Michael Jones

42 mins: Martinelli knocks a short pass into Lacazette who spins into the box but loses the ball. He goes down hoping for a free kick but play goes on as Rice carries the balll away. He has his pocket picked by Martinelli and Arsenal come at West Ham again.

Saka comes inside from the wing and squares a pass to Lacazette. He shoots and forces Fabianski into a leaping save to his left. The ball comes loose and Martinelli pokes it wide of the near post under pressure from Dawson!

Arsenal 0 - 0 West Ham

20:42 , Michael Jones

39 mins: Chance! Chances! How are Arsenal not in front?! The Gunners work the ball down the right side and give it to Saka. He drives into the box and plays a one-two with Lacazette to create a yard of space. He gets the bal back and squares it to Xhaka who shoots but has his effort blocked by Dawson.

The ball comes out to Tierney who blasts a left-footed shot from range. The ball is heading just underneath the crossbar by Fabianski jumps across and tips the ball onto the bar where is bounces clear!

Arsenal 0 - 0 West Ham

20:38 , Michael Jones

36 mins: It’s West Ham’s turn now to have time on the ball. They string together a number of passes before Dawson puts it out of play with an ambitious pass down the right wing.

The Hammers win it back quickly though and a cross from the right comes to Lanzini in the box. He chooses not to shoot and instead slides a pass to Masuaku arriving on the left side of the box. He meets the ball and takes a first time shot at goal but spanks it over the crossbar.

Arsenal 0 - 0 West Ham

20:35 , Michael Jones

33 mins: Soucek brings the ball down the right wing for West Ham. Lacazette sprints back and dangles a leg in front of Soucek. He withdraws his foot before making contact but Soucek goes down and wins a free kick. The set piece is swung into the Arsenal box where Ben White heads the ball out to Fornals. He rolls the ball onto his right foot and curls an effort wide of the back post!

Arsenal 0 - 0 West Ham

20:31 , Michael Jones

30 mins: The Gunners’ penalty shout is turned dwon by the referee and VAR doesn’t see any reason to overturn the decision. Arsenal have turned up the heat here though. West Ham are firmly on the back foot as Saka and Tomiyasu combine on the right. Tomiyasu slides a short pass into the box but Saka can’t stop it running out of play.

Arsenal 0 - 0 West Ham

20:30 , Michael Jones

27 mins: Saka takes on Masuaku and shimmies past him only to be met by a back-tracking Lanzini. He slots the ball back to Takehiro Tomiyasu who flicks a cross into the box. Lacazette brings it under control and takes it wide before slotting a pass into the box for Odegaard. A one touch pass plays in Martinelli but he’s tackled. The loose ball comes back to Lacazette who attempts to shoot but it met with a lunging Dawson. He goes down and Arsenal want a penalty.

Arsenal 0 - 0 West Ham

20:25 , Michael Jones

24 mins: Slick one-touch play from Arsenal to work the ball up the pitch. The ball is switched over to Saka on the right side and he brings the ball under control before darting inside. He curls a cross over to Lacazette on the opposite side of the box and his header back into the middle is cleared by Tomas Soucek.

Arsenal 0 - 0 West Ham

20:22 , Michael Jones

21 mins: Gabriel Martinelli wins the ball off Vladimir Coufal in the middle of the pitch and passes it back to Thomas Partey. Michail Antonio is on top of him quickly and the two players come together. There’s a little tussle as both players try to take control of the ball and Partey’s elbow strikes Antonio on the back of the head. The West Ham forward goes to ground but he’s fine.

Arsenal 0 - 0 West Ham

20:19 , Michael Jones

18 mins: Jarrod Bowen swings a corner into the box for West Ham and attempts to pick out Michail Antonio in the six-yard box. Aaron Ramsdale comes to claim the ball but can’t get around the West Ham forward. Ramsdale drops the ball and wants a free kick but Anthony Taylor lets play go on much to Mikel Arteta’s annoyance.

Arsenal 0 - 0 West Ham

20:16 , Michael Jones

15 mins: Rice covers the box again for West Ham and heads an Arsenal corner clear this time before encouraging his teammates to calm things down a little. It’s been a frantic few minutes for the visitors as Arsenal have threatened their 18-yard box.

Arsenal’s high press is working well. Issa Diop and Arthur Masuaku in particular are struggling to play through it, instead both defenders are choosing to boot the ball long which inevitably gives the ball back to the home side.

Arsenal 0 - 0 West Ham

20:13 , Michael Jones

12 mins: Vladimir Coufal gets the first yellow card of the match for a swinging arm to Kieran Tierney’s face. The Arsenal left-back bombs forward on the left side and looks to drive around the West Ham defender into the box but takes the arm to the face. Martin Odegaard fires a flat free kick into the penalty area but Declan Rice is there to head it clear.

Arsenal 0 - 0 West Ham

20:11 , Michael Jones

9 mins: Down in West Ham’s final third Granit Xhaka plays a pass up to Alexandre Lacazette who carries it towards goal. Declan Rice gets back and clips Arsenal’s captain bringing him down outside the penalty area. Xhaka takes the free kick and blasts his effort straight into the West Ham wall.

Arsenal 0 - 0 West Ham

20:08 , Michael Jones

6 mins: Manuel Lanzini goes on a nice run down the left side for West Ham. He weaves past Bukayo Saka, shifts away from a Martin Odegaard challenge and finally gets stopped by Thomas Partey. West Ham win a free kick and Pablo Fornals plays it inside to Masuaku. Declan Rice makes a run into the box, receives the ball and cuts it back to Craig Dawson who shoots from range and fires his effort wide of goal.

Arsenal 0 - 0 West Ham

20:03 , Michael Jones

3 mins: Close! Lukasz Fabianski takes a big gamble as a pass back comes to the West Ham goalkeeper. He brings the ball under control and looks to play it out from the back. He can’t pick out a quick pass though and almost gets caught on the ball by a pressing Alexandre Lacazette but manages to boot it out of play over on the right wing.

Arsenal 0 - 0 West Ham

20:01 , Michael Jones

Kick off: West Ham kick off David Moyes’ 600th Premier League game as a manager. They send the ball over to the left side and Arthur Masuaku’s ball down the line is sent straight out of play.

Arsenal vs West Ham: Almost time for kick off

19:55 , Michael Jones

The warm-ups are over at the Emirates Stadium. Tonight’s match is a battle for fourth place whoever claims all three points will finish the day in the top four. West Ham currently hold the spot but the Gunners will leapfrog them if they win this evening.

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(Getty Images)
 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Arsenal vs West Ham: Gunners unchanged again

19:50 , Michael Jones

Arsenal vs West Ham: Arteta on West Ham

19:47 , Michael Jones

In his pre-match press conference Mikel Arteta spoke about Arsenal’s opponents tonight and said that West Ham are ‘one of the best’ teams in the Premier League. When asked whether David Moyes’ side impressed him Arteta said:

Very much, and for me one of the best teams in the league. This period... the understanding that they have, the clarity in what they want to do and how much they are able to hurt teams with the way they play has been impressive and they have been really really consistent.

“It’s a big game because of the position they are in, and the position we want to be in. We have the opportunity at home, in front of our people to do that. That would be a big, big boost.”

Arsenal vs West Ham: Antonio’s goal involvements

19:42 , Michael Jones

Only Mohamed Salah has been directly involved in more Premier League goals in 2021 than Michail Antonio, who has scored 13 and provided nine assists.

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Arsenal vs West Ham: Lacazette versus West Ham

19:37 , Michael Jones

Alexandre Lacazette has scored a joint-career best five Premier League goals against West Ham, including goals in each of the last three meetings.

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Arsenal vs West Ham: Kieran Tierney would give Arsenal direction and identity as Mikel Arteta’s new captain

19:33 , Michael Jones

In a tense and occasionally awkward press conference, Mikel Arteta’s torment was plain to see. Hours earlier a terse club statement had announced the end of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s Arsenal captaincy due to his “latest breach of discipline”, and now Arteta was reliving the hardest conversation of his coaching career. “If I had to choose, I wouldn’t like to be here talking about it,” he said. “[Our relationship was] really, really good, that’s why it’s painful.”

But as the dust settles, removing Aubameyang from the captaincy appears like a ruthless but sensible decision.

Disciplinary problems have offered the manager a chance to put his own stamp on the role and whoever comes next must now embody everything Arteta wants his team to become. Yet choosing Aubameyang’s replacement will not be easy, and it is a choice which could come to define the Arteta era.

Kieran Tierney would give Arsenal identity as Mikel Arteta’s new captain

Arsenal vs West Ham: Moyes reaches 600

19:29 , Michael Jones

West Ham manager David Moyes will become the fourth manager to take charge of 600 Premier League games, emulating Arsene Wenger, Sir Alex Ferguson and Harry Redknapp when he takes charge of the Hammers tonight.

Despite his longevity Moyes has failed to win away at Arsenal in all 17 attempts in the Premier League - the longest run of any manager against a single club without ever winning.

 (Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

Arsenal vs West Ham: West Ham in London derbies

19:25 , Michael Jones

The Hammers are unbeaten in their last eight midweek league games and they can win three consecutive league London derbies for the first time since January 2019, when the third contest came against Arsenal.

Arsenal vs West Ham: Wednesday night joy for Arsenal

19:22 , Michael Jones

Arsenal have lost just two of their 36 Premier League home matches played on a Wednesday but one of those defeats was against West Ham in February 2006.

The Gunners have lost two of their four Premier League London derbies this season - with one win and one draw - having been defeated in just one London derby in total last season.

Arsenal vs West Ham: Highs for the Hammers

19:18 , Michael Jones

West Ham have recorded one win in five Premier League fixtures following a run of four straight victories. However, they have equalled their highest points tally of 28 after 16 matches of a Premier League season.

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(Getty Images)

Arsenal vs West Ham: Gunners strong at Emirates

19:13 , Michael Jones

Arsenal are undefeated in seven home league matches, winning the last four in a row. They have never won five in a row at the Emirates under manager Mikel Arteta.

If they keep a clean sheet tonight the Gunners would win four successive league games at the Emirates without conceding for the first time since May 2017. The fourth victory in that sequence came against David Moyes’ Sunderland.

Arsenal vs West Ham: Thierry Henry claims ‘something is not right’ over Mikel Arteta treatment of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

19:10 , Michael Jones

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry claims there is ‘something not right’ about manager Mikel Arteta’s treatment of captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after the striker was substituted during their 3-2 defeat to Manchester United.

With the visitors needing a goal to level things up at Old Trafford on Thursday night, the Gabon international was taken off by Arteta in the 79th minute and replaced by Alexandre Lacazette.

And Henry, who was on punditry duties at the game, could not make sense of the decision during his post-match analysis.

Thierry Henry questions Mikel Arteta’s treatment of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Arsenal vs West Ham: Team changes

19:05 , Michael Jones

Mikel Arteta names an unchanged team to the one that started against Southampton at the weekend. Gabriel Martinelli and Alexandre Lacazette lead the line with Emile Smith Rowe starting on the bench.

David Moyes meanwhile makes just one change to the West Ham starting XI. Pablo Fornals returns as Said Benrahma drops to the bench.

Arsenal vs West Ham: Line-ups

19:01 , Michael Jones

Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney, Partey, Xhaka, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli, Lacazette

West Ham XI: Fabianski, Coufal, Dawson, Diop, Masuaku, Rice, Soucek, Fornals, Lanzini, Bowen, Antonio

Arsenal vs West Ham: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is fighting a losing battle with Mikel Arteta

18:55 , Michael Jones

When Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang traipsed on for the final five minutes against Everton, with the frown of a man parachuted barefoot into a field of thorns, it didn’t require any great oracle to decipher what would happen next. And so, when Mikel Arteta ceremonially kicked off Arsenal’s weekend by publicly ostracising his captain for a “disciplinary breach”, any semblance of shock was at best subdued.

After all, there has always been something of a doomed cycle between Arteta and Aubameyang: a friction that grates during periods of bad form and culminates in one of Arteta’s schoolmasterish citations. It played out to a familiar tune in March, when Aubameyang was dropped for the North London derby, and it kept to much the same rhythm this weekend as Arsenal coasted past Southampton.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is fighting a losing battle with Mikel Arteta

Arsenal vs West Ham: Aubameyang stripped of captaincy

18:50 , Michael Jones

Mikel Arteta says he stripped Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of the Arsenal captaincy to ‘defend the interests’ of the club. The Gunners released a statement earlier this week announcing that Aubameyang, 32, had been removed as captain following his latest disciplinary breach.

The statement also said Aubameyang will not be considered for Wednesday’s game against West Ham.

“We have made this decision that unfortunately is a really tough one,” said Arteta. “If I had to choose I wouldn’t like to be sitting here talking about it, but we had to do it.

“When we have to make that decision, it’s because it’s the right one to defend the interests of the football club.”

Arsenal vs West Ham: Head-to-head

18:46 , Michael Jones

Arsenal have won 10 of their last 11 home league games against West Ham and the Hammers have triumphed in just two of the last 28 meetings in all competitions.

West Ham’s tally of 32 Premier League defeats in this fixture is a club record against a single opponent.

Arsenal vs West Ham: Recent results

18:43 , Michael Jones

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have hit a stumbling block after a run of eight Premier League fixtures without defeat. Since their 4-0 loss to Liverpool on 20th November they have won two and lost two of their four league matches. Last time out they comfortably defeated Southampton 3-0 at the Emirates and Mikel Arteta will be hoping for a repeat performance from his players tonight. If they win the Gunners will move ahead of West Ham and claim a spot in the top four.

West Ham have also lost a bit of their early momentum in recent weeks. Back-to-back defeats - to Wolves and Manchester City - were followed with a 1-1 draw at home to Brighton. they got back to winning ways with a great 3-2 victory over Chelsea at the start of December but last time out were held to a 0-0 draw against Burnley. David Moyes will be hoping to pick up all three points this evening against a top four rival and show just how far his team has come this season.

Arsenal vs West Ham: What are Premier League’s new Covid guidelines for fans going to matches?

18:34 , Michael Jones

The Premier League have issued new Covid guidance for fans to follow when attending top-flight matches.

This comes amid the new Omicron variant taking a hold in the UK with the government bringing in so-called plan B measures to tackle the virus.

Outbreaks have already affected league clubs with Manchester United’s match against Brentford off and Tottenham’s fixture with Rennes postponed as well as this evening’s Premier League game between Burnley and Watford.

What are Premier League’s new Covid guidelines for fans?

Arsenal vs West Ham: No Aubameyang for Gunners

18:30 , Michael Jones

Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is not being considered for selection for tonight’s match against West Ham after he was stripped of the captaincy by manager Mikel Arteta.

Bernd Leno and Sead Kolasinac are also unavailable for the Gunners but there’s good news for David Moyes’ West Ham as Aaron Cresswell is back in contention after a four game absence due to a lower back issue.

Arsenal vs West Ham latest live news

14:36 , Karl Matchett

West Ham boss David Moyes admits he is perplexed at some of the criticism Mikel Arteta has endured during his two years in charge of Arsenal

Arteta, who played under Moyes at Everton won the FA Cup and Community Shield within months of taking the reins at the Emirates Stadium but presided over an underwhelming eighth-placed finish last season

They were rock-bottom of the Premier League after three games this term before an upturn in fortunes that has put them two points behind West Ham in fourth ahead of their showdown in north London on Wednesday evening.

Arteta is back under the microscope following his decision to strip Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of the Arsenal captaincy but while Moyes would not be drawn on the news, the Scot is incredulous at some of the barracking his former midfielder has had to contend with.

Moyes said: “It was incredible Mikel won a couple of trophies. I thought he started his career really well with an FA Cup and Charity Shield, not a bad start to your managerial career.

“He’s having to readjust, change things around, get it the way he wants it and he’s in that process. He has a good team at the moment, they’ve bought some good young players.

“I didn’t quite agree with a lot of the criticism that was about, about Arsenal.” Full report:

West Ham boss David Moyes perplexed by criticism of Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta