Arsenal dropped 8 points from Man City

Arsenal's comeback took place in just the first 16 minutes of the second half, on the day the Premier League returned after a six-week hiatus because of the 2022 World Cup.

In the 53rd minute, captain Martin Odegaard's weak shot accidentally created an assist for Bukayo Saka to catch the ball in the penalty area. Facing goalkeeper Lukas Fabianski, the Arsenal winger leaned to the right but put his heart to the left to score a 1-1 equalizer. With this goal, Saka became the first Arsenal player to score in three consecutive Boxing Day games since Thierry Henry (2002, 2003, 2004). Two seasons ago, he scored against Norwich City (2021) and Chelsea (2020).

Five minutes later, receiving the ball from midfielder Granit Xhaka, the winger opposite Saka - Gabriel Martinelli took another lead and then unexpectedly shot his left foot into a tight corner to beat Fabianski - who appeared to be about to catch a pass. . This is the Brazilian striker's fifth goal in all competitions this season, equal to Gabriel Jesus, Saka and only six behind Odegaard. In the stands, former manager Arsene Wenger smiled contentedly as he returned to the Emirates Stadium for the first time since leaving Arsenal in 2018.

The last dish of the Emirates Stadium owner's party was presented in the 69th minute. After a volley of the ball like an artist, right-back Ben White passed it to Odegaard. The ball was then pushed down so that Ed Nketiah - the main striker who replaced Jesus with a knee injury - turned to eliminate the defender accompanied by Thilo Kehrer and then sank his right foot diagonally, sealing a 3-1 victory. This is the England striker's 11th goal from 16 shots on target in his last 11 starts for Arsenal in all competitions at the Emirates.

This result helps Arsenal to hold the top of the table with 40 points, ahead of Newcastle - the team that won Leicester 3-0 in the early game to rise to second - seven points and Man City eight points. West Ham continues to be 16th with 14 points.

Before the explosion, "Gunners" experienced a difficult first half. Arsenal dominated with 72 per cent possession, six shots – twice as many as their opponents, but West Ham benefited from a sharp counter-attacking defence. In the 24th minute, referee Michael Oliver gave the away team a penalty when determining that center-back William Saliba had fouled Jarrod Bowen. On the spot, left winger Said Benrahma shot into the center of the goal, while goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale dropped to the left.

Before that, Mikel Arteta's army found West Ham's net in the 5th minute with Saka's close-range finish. However, VAR stepped in and determined Nketiah was offside before hitting his heel to assist his teammate. In the third minute of this period, referee Oliver awarded Arsenal a penalty when it was determined that a West Ham player had blocked Odegaard's shot with his hand. But after VAR intervened and then went to the border to watch the video, he changed his mind.

The two teams have one match left in 2022, when West Ham return home to meet Brentford on the evening of December 30, and Arsenal are Brighton's guests a day later.

Arsenal: Ramsdale, Gabriel, Saliba, Tierney (Zinchenko 73), White, Partey (Elneny 90), Xhaka, Odegaard, Nketiah, Martinelli (Scalloped 88), Saka.

West Ham: Fabianski, Kehrer, Dawson, Cresswell, Coufal, Paqueta, Rice, Soucek (Fornals 78), Antonio (Mubama 87), Benrahma, Bowen.