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Result: Declan Rice strike earns West Ham United win over Arsenal

Declan Rice's first Premier League goal secures West Ham United a 1-0 win over Arsenal at the London Stadium, as the Irons climb to eighth in the table.

Declan Rice's maiden Premier League goal secured West Ham United a 1-0 win over Arsenal at the London Stadium this lunchtime.

The homegrown midfielder struck three minutes into the second half to earn the Hammers their first home win over their capital rivals in 13 years.

West Ham midfielder Declan Rice celebrates scoring with teammates during his side's Premier League clash with Arsenal on January 12, 2019© Reuters

A sixth victory from nine takes Manuel Pellegrini's side to eighth in the table, and it is now only one win in four top-flight matches for the Gunners.

Michail Antonio showed West Ham's attacking ambition early on with a 60-yard run down the right wing, with his pass inside eventually leading to a chance for Mark Noble who scuffed his 20-yard effort straight at Bernd Leno.

West Ham United's Michail Antonio is chased by Arsenal's Granit Xhaka during their Premier League clash on January 12, 2019© Reuters

Otherwise it was Arsenal who started the stronger, with Alexandre Lacazette forcing a 13th-minute save out of Lukasz Fabianski with a low shot, after his driving run from Alex Iwobi's pass had taken him beyond the penalty spot.

The Frenchman had another sight of goal moments later but could not keep his header down from a cross from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who would have had a shooting opportunity himself with a better pass from Matteo Guendouzi.

West Ham grew into the game after the opening 20 minutes, with new signing Samir Nasri instrumental in much of their attacking play. The playmaker had a chance to score against his former club when he dragged wide following a one-two with Marko Arnautovic.

Nasri's layoff teed up Felipe Anderson for a piledriver which had Leno beaten but flew just wide, and Guendouzi came equally close for Arsenal at the other end on 35 minutes, rustling the side-netting with a shot from 25 yards out.

Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi in action during his side's Premier League clash with West Ham on January 12, 2019© Reuters

The best chance of the first half fell to Rice, who glanced a header from Anderson's corner wide of the far post, but he did not have to wait long to make amends with his first Hammers goal within three minutes of the restart.

Arsenal failed on several occasions to clear from a set piece and were made to pay as Rice showed admirable technique and composure to bend the ball beyond Leno from 15 yards out, Nasri registering the assist on his first Premier League appearance since August 2016.

West Ham midfielder Declan Rice celebrates scoring during his side's Premier League clash with Arsenal on January 12, 2019© Reuters

The Hammers had not kept a top-flight clean sheet at home since September's stalemate with Chelsea and their defence suffered a couple of nervy moments in the aftermath of the goal, a slack pass from Pablo Zabaleta gifting the ball to Guendouzi who shot wide from the edge of the box.

Fourteen-goal top-scorer Aubameyang was on the periphary for much of the game but did have a couple of chances just after the hour mark, heading over from Aaron Ramsey's back-post cross and blazing high after being released into the box by Sead Kolasinac's infield pass.

Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in action during his side's Premier League clash with West Ham on January 12, 2019© Reuters

Arsenal did enjoy a 10-minute period when they were knocking on the door for an equaliser, as Iwobi fired a left-footed shot just past the post and Guendouzi had another go from distance, albeit straight into the safe hands of Fabianski.

Nasri enjoyed an impressive debut, linking up well with West Ham's forward line, but he may not be teammates with Arnautovic for long, with the Austrian appearing to wave goodbye to the home fans as he was substituted in the second half, amidst talk of a move to China.

West Ham forward Marko Arnautovic waves goodbye during his side's Premier League clash with Arsenal on January 12, 2019© Reuters

The Gunners did have the ball in the net twice in the second half, but both efforts were disallowed for clear offsides against Kolasinac, and they largely went down with a whimper as they failed to score for the first time in 20 league games.

Unai Emery's side could be six points adrift of the top four if Chelsea beat Newcastle United this evening.

WEST HAM (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Zabaleta, Ogbonna, Diop, Cresswell; Rice, Noble; Antonio (Obaing 82'), Nasri (Snodgrass 71'), Anderson; Arnautovic (Carroll 71')

ARSENAL (3-4-1-2): Leno; Sokratis, Koscielny, Mustafi (Ramsey 59'); Maitland-Niles (Bellerin 69'), Guendouzi, Xhaka (Torreria 59'), Kolasinac; Iwobi; Lacazette, Aubameyang

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Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City1713224093141
2Liverpool16114145123337
3Chelsea16113238112736
4Arsenal179262322129
5West Ham UnitedWest Ham178452821728
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd168352624227
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs148151617-125
8Wolverhampton WanderersWolves177371314-124
9Leicester CityLeicester166462727022
10Aston Villa177192325-222
11Crystal Palace174852424020
12Brentford165562122-120
13Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton164841417-320
14Everton165382028-818
15Southampton173861626-1017
16Leeds UnitedLeeds173771732-1516
17Watford1641112131-1013
18Burnley151861421-711
19Newcastle UnitedNewcastle161781734-1710
20Norwich CityNorwich172411834-2610

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