Barclays Premier League

FIVE STAR ARSENAL STUN HAMMERS

It took Arsenal 45 minutes to really get going but they demonstrated just what they are capable of at the start of the second half with four goals in twelve minutes. Jack Collison had put West Ham in the lead with a fine volley, only for Lukas Podolski to hit an immediate reply with a sweet left foot shot. However, it would take until after the break for the home side to really come to life as Olivier Giroud struck with a left foot volley. Santi Cazorla made it three with a neat finish after more good work by Podolski and Theo Walcott got in on the act when he nearly broke the net with his finish. Giroud capped the scoring with a fine finish from a Podolski cross. The game was overshadowed when Daniel Potts was stretchered off with a nasty injury and that meant the game ended on a quiet note.

FULLTIME

The referee blows the final whistle.

WEST HAM POSSESSION

The away side finally manage to get some time on the ball, but that comes to an end when Guy Demel tries to beat a player too many.

JUST WIDE

Santi Cazorla plays a one-two from a corner and fizzes a great shot just past the post.

GREAT BLOCK

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain sprints past James Tomkins and the ball drops nicely for Theo Walcott, but Joey O'Brien heads away the forward's shot.

ANOTHER CHANCE

Jussi Jaaskelainen clearly doesn`t think Arsenal have scored enough so he hands Theo Walcott a chance by passing him the ball. However, the winger spurns the chance by hitting the ball straight back at the keeper.

INJURY TIME

There will be twelve minutes of time added on to the 90.

LATE TACKLE

Mohamed Diame tries to work something on the edge of the box, but Per Mertesacker nicks the ball away and Diame brings his foot down on the ankle of the defender. That looked painful.

QUIET SPELL

As you would imagine following that injury, the game has rather dropped off as the players look to regain their focus. Reports are that Daniel Potts is still unconscious and is on his way to hospital.

GOOD SAVE

West Ham stand off Arsenal and they work the ball to Jack Wilshere. The midfielder doesn`t catch his shot that well, but it still forces a decent save by Jussi Jaaskelainen.

APPLAUSE FOR POTTS

The injury to Daniel Potts looks serious and the Emirates stands to applaud the youngster as he is stretchered from the field.

POTTS STRETCHER OFF

Some concern around the ground as young Daniel Potts is in a bad way and will have to be stretchered off the pitch whilst receiving oxygen. Let's send the defender our best wishes. West Ham will have to play on with ten men as all their substitutes have been used.

ARSENAL SUBSTITUTION

Daniel Potts goes down with what looks like a nasty head injury. Whilst the youngster is getting treatment Arsene Wenger makes his final change. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain replaces Olivier Giroud, so the big man won`t be scoring a hat-trick today.

WEST HAM SUBSTITUTION

Mohamed Diame replaces Ricardo Vaz Te.

ARSENAL SUBSTITUTION

Andre Santos comes on for Lukas Podolski and Guy Demel breathes a sigh of relief.

THREE ON ONE

Oh Theo, that's why you aren`t world class. Arsenal work the ball brilliantly and West Ham are badly exposed. If Theo Walcott can pick out the pass then the home side are sure to score, but the winger delays and flicks the ball straight at the one West Ham defender.

POOR DEFENDING

Daniel Potts plays a hopeful ball down the line, but Per Mertesacker is sleeping and allows Carlton Cole to race on to it. The defender has to be a lot stronger there.

WEST HAM SUBSTITUTION

Jack Collison and Winston Reid make way for Daniel Potts and Alou Diarra as West Ham try to plug several leaks.

IT'S ALL ARSENAL

West Ham just don`t know what to do. Arsenal are suddenly buoyant with confidence and all that ability has come flooding back to them. The Hammers are stuck in their own half and Sam Allardyce needs to do something before his side concede a lot more.

ARSENAL SUBSTITUTION

After seeing his side stretch to a four goal lead, Arsene Wenger opts to rest Thomas Vermaelen and bring on Laurent Koscielny.

GOOAALL!!

Guy Demel is caught out as Jack Wilshere plays the ball inside him for the run of Lukas Podolski. The forward crosses for Olivier Giroud, who makes no mistake with a great finish.

GOOAALL!!

West Ham just don`t know what has hit them. Lukas Podolski sprints down the right and rolls a wonderful ball across for Theo Walcott, who smashes the ball into the back of the net for Arsenal's fourth.

GOOAALL!!

First, Santi Cazorla picks out Theo Walcott's run. The winger's cross is intercepted, but Arsenal continue to attack. Lukas Podolski plays a one-two with Olivier Giroud and then picks out Santi Cazorla, who rolls the ball into the empty net with a neat flick.

GET THE CROSS IN!

West Ham do well to release Jack Collison down the right and the midfielder has acres of space to pick out a cross. However, he decides to take on Bacary Sagna and loses out. Arsenal go on the counter.

GOOAALL!!

Arsenal are ahead. Olivier Giroud gets across James Tomkins and diverts the corner into the net with a left foot volley. Jussi Jaaskelainen could do nothing.

GREAT DEFENDING

And what a start as Theo Walcott races clear down the right and crosses for Jack Wilshere. However, James Tomkins gets back to knock the ball out for a corner.

SECOND HALF

We are back under way.

DEADLOCK AT THE EMIRATES

West Ham drew first blood against Arsenal when Jack Collison struck a sweet volley past Wojciech Szczesny and for a few moments it looked like the upset was on. However, Arsenal had other ideas and raced up the other end where Lukas Podolski hit a sweet shot into the corner after a nice pass by Jack Wilshere. As you would expect the home side dominated possession, but West Ham have caused some problems with early balls delivered into the box. However, as the game goes on you have the feeling that Arsenal are going to make their quality tell.

HALF TIME

The referee brings an exciting half to a close.

GREAT SAVE

Santi Cazorla wins a free kick on the right edge of the West Ham box. The midfielder gets up and curls a shot that is heading for the top corner until Jussi Jaaskelainen gets his hands to it. Fine goalkeeping.

COLE ISOLATED

Arsenal have now pinned West Ham back in their own half. Carlton Cole is ploughing a lone furrow up front and there is no one for him to knock the ball down to.

YELLOW CARD

Petulant from Ricardo Vaz Te. The striker is given offside and then kicks the ball away in disgust at the decision. The referee shows Vaz Te a yellow card.

OFF THE LINE!

Another early cross is poorly dealt with by Bacary Sagna and Carlton Cole has a chance to put West Ham ahead. The striker flicks the ball over Wojciech Szczesny, but Aaron Ramsey gets back to hack it off the line.

TERRIBLE PASS

Another bizarre pass from Aaron Ramsey. Guy Demel gets caught coming forward and Arsenal have a really good chance to break, but the midfielder tries to hit a Hollywood pass for the run of Theo Walcott.

FANATASTIC FOOTBALL

A stunning piece of play from Arsenal as they cut their way through West Ham. Kieran Gibbs powers forward and plays in Lukas Podolski, who sees his shot cleared off the line.

GREAT BLOCK

Olivier Giroud flicks the ball into the path of Santi Cazorla, who runs at the West Ham defence and looks to have eased past Joey O'Brien until the defender gets his body in the way of the cross.

WILSHERE BUSY

Jack Wilshere has been everywhere so far tonight. The midfielder has been quick to tackle and is desperate to get on the ball and make something happen for his side.

NAUGHTY KICK

The ball is seen out by Per Mertesacker as Ricardo Vaz Te chases and the West Ham winger has a nasty kick at the defender. Vaz Te can think himself lucky not to be in the book for that.

GOOAALL!

Well West Ham didn`t make it hard enough. Jack Wilshere flicks a pass to Lukas Podolski. Guy Demel stands off the striker and Podolski hits a sweet shot into the corner to equalise.

LONG GAME AHEAD

West Ham fans will be overjoyed with that goal, but it isn`t in favour of the neutral fan as the away side will now get every man behind the ball and make it difficult for Arsenal.

GOOAALL!!

Arsenal continue to concede silly free kicks and it allows West Ham to toss the ball into the box. The away side win a corner and the ball drops to Jack Collison, who volleys into the corner. Great goal.

POOR PASS

Aaron Ramsey is looking well off the pace at the moment. The midfielder tries to pick out Kieran Gibbs, but plays it too far in front of the full back. That is the third time that Ramsey has given the ball away.

GOOD DEFENDING

West Ham are playing long high balls into the box at every opportunity, but on this occasion Per Mertesacker deals with Carlton Cole and the ball is cleared.

WILSHERE DOWN

Jack Wilshere is on the receiving end of a robust but fair challenge by Jack Collison and goes down clutching his ankle. Worrying times for Arsene Wenger, but the Arsenal midfielder is soon up and on his feet.

WALCOTT ESCAPES

Great run from Theo Walcott as he sprints on to a through-ball and shrugs off Joey O'Brien. However, the forward panics and tries to cross too quickly when he had time to look up. West Ham clear with ease.

POOR TACKLE

Aaron Ramsey gets frustrated after he gives the ball away and goes in late on Mark Noble. The referee should book the Arsenal man there.

KICK OFF

We are under way.

WEST HAM TEAM NEWS

Sam Allardyce rings the changes with Carlton Cole and Ricardo Vaz Te coming into attack, whilst Matt Taylor and Jack Collison come into midfield. Joe Cole steps down to the bench.

ARSENAL TEAM NEWS

A couple of changes for Arsenal as Abou Diaby is out with an injury, so Aaron Ramsey comes in whilst Francis Coquelin is replaced by Lukas Podolski.

IMPORTANT NIGHT FOR ARSENAL

Suddenly tonight's game between Arsenal and West Ham begins to take on a new importance. Arsene Wenger has not been convincing anyone this week and it is hardly what his confidence bereft squad require. The Arsenal manager has been talking about his team not being able to win big games and that suddenly makes tonight's match against West Ham one of those ‘big games'. If the Gunners do indeed feel the pressure then expect West Ham and Sam Allardyce to revel in the misery of the home side by causing something of an upset.

ARSENAL NEED CONFIDENCE AND A WIN

It is a massive night for Arsenal as they get the chance to close the seven point gap between them and Spurs, who sit in fourth. Arsene Wenger's men come off the back of two losses to Chelsea and Man City with their confidence in pieces. Will the Gunners get their groove back or continue their suffering?

TOUGH BATTLE FOR HAMMERS

West Ham have not been in the best of form of late with losses to Sunderland and Manchester United, whilst they could only draw against QPR. It is difficult to see the Hammers getting anything from their London rivals tonight, but Sam Allardyce has often enjoyed his battles with Arsene Wenger and has the ability to pull off a win against his old rival.