Matchday LIVE: Arsenal jump into top four with win over West Ham

A very good day of football, especially for Arsenal.The Gunners are back in the top four tonight after taking down West Ham in an impressive performance. The young star stepped up as the Gunners seemingly but the Aubameyang controversy behind them with a win.Plenty more games on the horizon, with Leicester vs Tottenham, Chelsea's clash with Everton and Newcastle's visit to Liverpool on the agenda tomorrow.We'll be back for all of the fun tomorrow, so catch you then!

That's all from us

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">All over. Arsenal 2-0 winners and up to fourth in the Premier League. Excellent performance. The players (and a couple of pitch invading fans) celebrate at full-time. <a href="https://t.co/9SmKSnvAYL">pic.twitter.com/9SmKSnvAYL</a>— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) <a href="https://x.com/charles_watts/status/1471237882027331585?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The celebrations at the Emirates

All done in London as Arsenal leave with all three points and a spot in the top four.Goals from Martinelli and Smith Rowe will surely leave Arteta happy as Arsenal's youngsters stepped up in a big way.The Gunners were able to survive Lacazette's penalty miss, taking down 10-man West Ham in what certainly is a statement victory, especially given the recent Aubameyang controversy.

Final at the Emirates!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Saka to Smith Rowe... And Arsenal are going into the top four 👊 A lovely placed finish from the edge of the area! <a href="https://t.co/y6YSuamku0">pic.twitter.com/y6YSuamku0</a>— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) <a href="https://x.com/footballontnt/status/1471235385904693249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Smith-Rowe gets the insurance goal and Arsenal are up 2-0 late in the London Derby! <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/ARSWHU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARSWHU</a> <a href="https://t.co/Q1ErWsrvZu">pic.twitter.com/Q1ErWsrvZu</a>— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) <a href="https://x.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1471235560018698249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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WATCH: Smith Rowe makes it 2-0

Arsenal have doubled their lead and will finish tonight in the top four.Substitute Emile Smith Rowe is the man with the goal, as the young Arsenal midfielder finishes after a determined run forward. He has options to this left, but Smith Rowe places a shot from the top of the box that leaves Fabianski helpless. And so it's 2-0 as the Gunners now have a deservedly comfortable lead.

GOAL ARSENAL!

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Gabriel Martinelli hit the Thierry Henry finish 💫 <a href="https://t.co/HtwHEPZzgL">pic.twitter.com/HtwHEPZzgL</a>— GOAL (@goal) <a href="https://x.com/goal/status/1471226713304715272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Henry-esque

The two earlier games are all finished as Wolves have won 1-0 on Saiss' goal.Southampton and Crystal Palace, meanwhile, have finished level at two apiece.

Wolves win as Southampton draw Palace

Arsenal are up a man, and still up only one goal.Fabaianski pushes away Lacazette's shot as it remains 1-1 Arsenal.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Fabianksi guesses right and it's a comfortable save. Massive chance gone for Arsenal.— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) <a href="https://x.com/charles_watts/status/1471230113559851011?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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MISSED FROM THE SPOT!

And it's a controversial one...Coufal has been sent off for West Ham with a second yellow card, although it looked like he got a bit of the ball on his slide tackle.Regardless, the call stands as Arsenal will have a chance to go 2-0 up from the spot.

PENALTY TO ARSENAL!

All final in the Bundesliga, with Dortmund blowing past Greuther Furth in the day's big game. Haaland with two goals and Malen with another to lead the way in the 3-0 win. RB Leipzig, meanwhile, struggled once again in a 1-1 draw with Augsburg while Leverkusen held on despite going down to 10-men in a 2-2 draw with Hoffenheim. Union Berlin, finally, finished level with Freiburg in a 0-0 draw.

All done in Germany

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Lacazette with the assist, Gabriel Martinelli with the finish 🙌 Perfect placement to give the Gunners the lead vs West Ham! <a href="https://t.co/nz2Yy57dti">pic.twitter.com/nz2Yy57dti</a>— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) <a href="https://x.com/footballontnt/status/1471225788527779850?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Gabriel Martinelli breaks the deadlock! 📺: NBCSN <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/ARSWHU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARSWHU</a> <a href="https://t.co/mRr6032jZe">pic.twitter.com/mRr6032jZe</a>— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) <a href="https://x.com/NBCSportsSoccer/status/1471225831905239040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Watch: Martinelli gives Arsenal the lead

MARTINELLI!There's your breakthrough, and it comes just moments into the second half.An absolutely lovely finish from Martinelli, who fires all the way to the far post past Fabianski to give Arsenal the lead.A massive, massive goal for the Gunners, who are deserved leaders at this point after looking more dangerous in the first half.

Will there be a breakthrough in this battle of top four contenders?We'll see in the next 45 minutes.

Back underway at the Emirates

2-2!Been a wild one at Palace, with Jordan Ayew levelling the game in the 65th minute. A tap-in for the Palace forward as he finishes off after Connor Gallagher sees his shot saved.Lots of goals in this one and, the way its going, there very well could be a few more!

GOAL PALACE!

A very, very tight half of football.Few clearcut chances, with those falling to Arsenal, but a very tense 45 minutes between the Gunners and West Ham.Plenty at stake in this game, and both teams sure are playing like it.

Halftime at the Emirates

Some big chances from Arsenal towards the end of the half, with the best coming as Tierney hits the bar.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">😨 So. Close. 💥 What a goal that would have been from <a href="https://x.com/kierantierney1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kierantierney1</a> <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/ARSWHU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARSWHU</a> <a href="https://t.co/w7GuT73BAY">pic.twitter.com/w7GuT73BAY</a>— Arsenal (@Arsenal) <a href="https://x.com/Arsenal/status/1471219076060094474?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Arsenal getting close...

The second half is underway in the two early games with Wolves up 1-0 against Brighton while Southampton lead Crystal Palace 2-1.

Second half underway in the early PL games

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Such a tight game this. Good intensity from both sides. No real chances yet at either end. Some good pressing from the Arsenal forwards.— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) <a href="https://x.com/charles_watts/status/1471215293733253126?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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A tense start at the Emirates...

Today's four Bundesliga matches are all at halftime, with Dortmund leading Greuther Furth at the half.Erling Haaland with the goal for Dortmund, with the Norwegian star scoring from the penalty spot.Elsewhere, RB Leipzig lead Augsburg on a goal from Andre Silva while Patrik Schick has Bayer Leverkusen ahead 1-0 against Hoffenheim.Union Berlin and Freiburg, finally, remain scoreless. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Nothing but love between Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham 😘 <a href="https://t.co/l9XLgYmiq7">pic.twitter.com/l9XLgYmiq7</a>— GOAL (@goal) <a href="https://x.com/goal/status/1471211950172512269?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Halftime in Germany

Just moments before halftime, Wolves are ahead at Brighton.The goal comes in the first minute of stoppage time, with Romain Saiss volleying home an assist from Ruben Neves.

GOAL WOLVES!

Southampton have scored a pair of quickfire goals to take the lead against Palace.After conceding just two minutes in, Southampton are now up 2-1 as James Warde-Prowse scored in the 32nd minute with Armando Broja scoring just four minutes later.

TWO GOALS FOR SOUTHAMPTON

We're underway at the Emirates as Arsenal host West Ham!

Kickoff at the Emirates!

Heading into today's match, Arsenal sit sixth in the Premier League, just two points behind Wednesday's opponents West Ham. The Hammers currently sit fourth, having emerged as one of the Premier League's big surprises to start the season.With a win, West Ham can put a four-point gap between themselves and Man Utd, who saw their most recent game postponed due to positive Covid tests.

What's at stake for Arsenal and West Ham?

The Gunners announced on Tuesday that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had been stripped of the captain's armband after his latest disciplinary breach.Arsenal correspondent Charles Watts took a look at what's gone wrong for the star forward, and what's next for the club amid this recent decision.<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/captain-outcast-how-aubameyang-lost-way-arsenal/blt470fb418d2006bfd" target="_self">Read the full story on GOAL!</a>

From captain to outcast...

Just two minutes into the match, Palace are in the lead!Wilfred Zaha with the goal, as Palace have surged in front at home against Southampton

GOAL PALACE

If you haven't yet seen, one of today's matches was called off due to positive coronavirus tests in the Watford team.Those positive tests forced the Premier League to cancel today's clash between Watford and Burnley, making it the third recent match to be postponed due to the coronavirus.<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-us/news/burnley-v-watford-called-off-hours-before-kick-off-after/blt3d691a6297540043" target="_self">Read all about it on GOAL!</a>

ICYMI: Burnley vs Watford called off

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">COME ON YOU PALACE<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/CPFC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CPFC</a> | <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/CRYSOU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CRYSOU</a>— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) <a href="https://x.com/CPFC/status/1471185945613389824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🇧🇷 <a href="https://x.com/Lyanco?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Lyanco</a> at the back 🇮🇪 @WSmallbone in midfield 🇦🇱 <a href="https://x.com/armandobroja9?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@armandobroja9</a> up top How <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/SaintsFC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaintsFC</a> will line-up against <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/CPFC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CPFC</a>: <a href="https://t.co/eV4l0lKSt7">pic.twitter.com/eV4l0lKSt7</a>— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) <a href="https://x.com/SouthamptonFC/status/1471185829640945665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Team news: Crystal Palace vs Southampton

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">One change tonight ⚒ Here's how we're lining up at the Emirates...<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/ARSWHU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARSWHU</a> | <a href="https://x.com/betway?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@betway</a> <a href="https://t.co/acPiZ4YQbv">pic.twitter.com/acPiZ4YQbv</a>— West Ham United (@WestHam) <a href="https://x.com/WestHam/status/1471193342096539655?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Our line-up to face <a href="https://x.com/OfficialBHAFC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@OfficialBHAFC</a>! <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/BHAWOL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BHAWOL</a> 🐺📋 <a href="https://t.co/ktyUSGiHhD">pic.twitter.com/ktyUSGiHhD</a>— Wolves (@Wolves) <a href="https://x.com/Wolves/status/1471185865254871048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Team news: Brighton vs Wolves

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🚨 <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/ARSWHU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARSWHU</a> team news 🚨 👊 We’re unchanged from the team that beat Southampton at Emirates Stadium on Saturday— Arsenal (@Arsenal) <a href="https://x.com/Arsenal/status/1471193525295407105?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">One change tonight ⚒ Here's how we're lining up at the Emirates...<a href="https://x.com/hashtag/ARSWHU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ARSWHU</a> | <a href="https://x.com/betway?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@betway</a> <a href="https://t.co/acPiZ4YQbv">pic.twitter.com/acPiZ4YQbv</a>— West Ham United (@WestHam) <a href="https://x.com/WestHam/status/1471193342096539655?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
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Team news: Arsenal vs West Ham

Hey all, and welcome back for another busy day of games today across Europe!Wednesday's action is headlined by games in the Premier League, with Arsenal taking on West Ham in the main event of the day. Elsewhere, Southampton are set to face Crystal Palace while Brighton take on Wolves.There are also some big games in Germany, with Dortmund taking on Greuther Furth and RB Leipzig facing Augsburg.So take a seat, strap in and lets get started for what should be a fun evening of football!

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