Arsenal substitute Eddie Nketiah struck late to give Arsenal a 2-1 victory over a stubborn West Ham United.

Despite creating twice as many goal attempts as the Gunners, the Irons were left to rue an inability to turn dangerous positions and chances into goals and.

Arsenal had just three shots on target and scored from two of them – Alexandre Lacazette scoring with their first meaningful attempt and substitute Eddie Nketiah winning it with five minutes to play – while West Ham repeatedly tested Bernd Leno and his defenders, but had just Michail Antonio’s equaliser on the stroke of half-time to show for it.

The visitors could have been ahead inside five minutes, but Angelo Ogbonna stooped to nod straight at Leno from six yard out, when arguably a volley would have served the Italian better.

With Arsenal struggling to find any sort of rhythm, the Irons continued to work their way into dangerous positions.

After Declan Rice had seen a free-kick deflected wide and Antonio’s cross-shot had been saved by Leno low to the goalkeeper’s left, Bowen went down under a challenge from Arsenal’s summer signing Gabriel inside the penalty area, but neither Michael Oliver nor VAR official Chris Kavanagh deemed it a foul.

Having created nothing in the opening 25 minutes, Arsenal then scored with their first chance. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang beat the offside trap and crossed for the unmarked Lacazette, who headed into the roof of the net from eight yards.

West Ham levelled on the stroke of half-time after Ryan Fredericks’ low cross was tucked in by Michail Antonio.

The Hammers striker then headed against the crossbar as the dominant visitors pushed for a second goal.

But Nketiah tapped in with five minutes remaining following neat build-up play by Bukayo Saka and Dani Ceballos to secure a hard-fought win.

Photo Credit: premierleague