West Ham United

James Jones
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

For two years in a row, West Ham have rocked up to the Emirates and put a huge dent in Arsenal's Premier League title hopes.

We have done it without conceding a single goal, too.

Last year, it was David Moyes who masterminded the victory but West Ham were sixth in the table at the time. It was a result that surprised many, but not everyone.

This year was different. West Ham have struggled all season. We have been better under Graham Potter but there are still many problems that need to be fixed. Home defeats by Crystal Palace and Brentford are evidence of that.

There would not have been many people who gave West Ham any hope against Mikel Arteta's side on Saturday - especially when the starting XI was announced and, like Arsenal, there was no recognised striker in sight.

Evan Ferguson is still getting up to speed and therefore was not risked from the start again.

But a goal and a victory was still achieved and while Arsenal will continue to rue their injury problems in attack, West Ham and Potter go on adapting and making do with what they have.

That has been the most impressive thing about Potter's early reign at West Ham. An injury crisis and a striker shortage has not prevented him from making progress. He has got the team playing well, is giving young players like Ollie Scarles the chance to shine and has an entire squad bought into to his plans.

What follows next is consistency. If Potter can oversee a run of positive results, starting with the visit of Leicester on Thursday, then it does not take a lot of imagination to wonder what might be possible with a full squad of fit players at his disposal.

That win at Arsenal proves West Ham fans can be excited about what is to come in the future with Potter at the wheel.

Find more from James Jones at We Are West Ham, external

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Arsenal and West Ham.

Here are some of your comments:

Arsenal fans

Amo: Another gutless performance with no answers to an opposing team that had been struggling. Poor show as once again we bottle it when fans could see the opportunity to narrow the gap on Liverpool. Not worthy of being champions at this rate.

AJ: There's no point in us being angry or upset. The harsh reality is that we got hit by bad luck. Getting a striker like Alexander Isak, another world-class player, and Bukayo Saka back will take us to the next level and the league title! I see good days ahead. We just need to stick together as Arsenal fans.

Richard: Dreadful performance! Poorest match this season. Lopsided midfield, lots of defenders... other clubs have injuries so we are not different. Having two shots on target is pathetic! Need a top coach to sort this out now or next season will be no different.

Stuart: If you persist at playing at walking pace for most of the game, then this is entirely predictable. Graham Potter could have handed out cups of tea to his defence. They had that much time! Arsenal's poorest display of the season by a country mile.

West Ham fans

Michael: Huge result and performance at Arsenal. You can see the effect Potter is already having on the team and our defence in particular. Last time out Arsenal scored five against us and now we get a clean sheet at Emirates Stadium. Aaron Wan-Bissaka proved once again he is one of the season's best signings. Delighted too for players like Ollie Scarles and Aaron Cresswell. Can't wait now for Evan Ferguson to get match fit and start scoring.

Monty: Excellent away perfomance as we limited Arsenals chances to one good save and then countered superbly. AWB again proving himself as this season's best signing for West Ham. Lets hope we take this performance on to Leicester - consistency is key!

Barry: Great display from the Hammers. Defensively strong, quick and direct attacks. Mohammed Kudus had one of his best games this season. Jean-Clair Todibo and Aaron Creswell were great at the back. Scarles and AWB had great games and James Ward-Prowse was excellent. We look like a team that knows what is expected of them under Potter.

Harry: Amazing performance. Defended brilliantly and took our few chances well. Now need to see how we operate when we are attacking rather than defending majority of the game. Excellent performance still and Scarles is a hero.

West Ham United are interested in 23-year-old Southampton centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis. (Sun - subscription required), external

Want more transfer news? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from Friday's game between Leicester and Brentford.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Arsenal 0-1 West Ham

• Aston Villa 2-1 Chelsea

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West Ham boss Graham Potter, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "Massive performance for us. Delighted for the players and the fans. Tactically very disciplined performance. Really good."

On Jarrod Bowen and the team as a whole: "Jarrod [Bowen] and Aaron [Wan-Bissaka] and Mo [Kudus] give us a counter-attacking threat. We defended with discipline and resilience but we carry an attacking threat as well.

"The win brings confidence and belief. This result is really big for us and hopefully, it allows us to move forward in a positive way."

On Myles Lewis Skelly's red card for fouling Mohammed Kudus: "From where I saw it, I thought it was a red card and Mo would have been away and 1v1 with the keeper so it would have been a tricky one for the referee not to give it."

Matthew Howarth
BBC Sport journalist

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West Ham had not won in the Premier League since defeating Fulham in mid-January, but they produced a near-perfect performance to claim a second straight victory at Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The Hammers had conceded five in their previous meeting with the Gunners but defended magnificently on this occasion, restricting Mikel Arteta's side to only two shots on target.

Jarrod Bowen could have broken the deadlock before his 44th-minute opener but displayed the kind of attacking instinct Arsenal were lacking when he nodded home Aaron-Wissaka's cross - after starting the move on the edge of his own box.

Myles Lewis-Skelly's second-half sending off - for a professional foul on Mohammed Kudus - helped the Hammers comfortable see out the game to move 13 points clear of the relegation zone, and level on points with Manchester United in 15th.

Struggling Leicester City's visit to London Stadium on Thursday provides an ideal opportunity for Potter's team to claim back-to-back wins in the league.

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Jarrod Bowen's opener was his 50th Premier League goal, he is just the second player to reach this milestone for West Ham after Michail Antonio (68).

Graham Potter became the second manager to beat Arsenal at Emirates Stadium with three different clubs in all competitions (also with Ostersunds FK and Brighton), after Carlo Ancelotti (Chelsea, Everton, Bayern Munich).

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Have your say on Arsenal's performance

What did you make of West Ham's display?

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Midfielder Mikel Merino is the main man for Arsenal up front now after two such important late goals against Leicester last week.

With Liverpool dropping points against Aston Villa on Wednesday, Arsenal have them in their sights and it will be really interesting to see how Gunners boss Mikel Arteta approaches this game.

If they beat West Ham, Liverpool's lead at the top is down to five points and the Hammers don't seem to be in the kind of form to stop them.

West Ham have not got going at all under new boss Graham Potter. Like Manchester United, they are not getting relegated, but their fans have not had much to smile about all season.

Arsenal won 5-2 at London Stadium in November, with all the goals coming in the first half. There won't be quite as many this time, but I still think Arsenal's intensity will see them end up convincing winners.

Sutton's prediction: 3-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

There are seven Premier League games on Saturday, and we will bring you every moment.

• Everton v Manchester United (12:30)

• Bournemouth v Wolves

• Ipswich v Tottenham

• Southampton v Brighton

• Arsenal v West Ham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Fulham v Crystal Palace

• Aston Villa v Chelsea (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live (coverage will start on 5 Sports Extra)

Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all the action and reaction here

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Earlier, we asked how well you remembered West Ham's opening Premier League game of the season.

The match against Aston Villa ended in a 2-1 defeat, with John Duran scoring Villa's winner after Lucas Paqueta's penalty for the Hammers cancelled out Amadou Onana's opener.

West Ham played Aston Villa in their opening Premier League game of this season - what was the final score and who found the net?

Answer will be revealed at 17:00 GMT

West Ham boss Graham Potter has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game away against Arsenal (15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Potter said Lucas Paqueta "had a bit of a collision" in training and will miss Saturday's trip to North London and "probably" the visit of Leicester on Thursday.

• He added that "apart from that it's pretty much as we were" with the game coming "probably too soon" for Vladimir Coufal, while Crycensio Summerville is unlikely to return until after the March international break.

• Potter said he is "loving" his time at West Ham so far, adding: "There's always more work to do, and always room for improvement. I realised before, and now, that it's a huge club with great support, ambition and infrastructure. There's loads going for it, and obviously we've had a tricky situation with changing manager, the results and everything else."

• When asked what has improved since his arrival, he added: "I think day-to-day it's been really good, and actually one of the biggest disappointments of Brentford [the 1-0 defeat last weekend] is that we maybe didn't see that. There's been a change in intensity and behaviour in how we play, which has been positive. Clearly though, results-wise we need to improve."

• On the atmosphere at London Stadium: "From my perspective we want to play well at home, and entertain the home fans. It's fair to say we haven't done that as much as we would've liked, but that's one of our challenges."

• Potter is pleased with the impact so far by January loan signing Evan Ferguson: "He did really well, and had an impact. We just need to be careful with him - 90 minutes is a bit of a step up. He's training well and has fitted into the group well. I think we can all see his quality, but we just have to take the right steps."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Graham Potter had a couple of positive results when he first came in at West Ham, but it has been really difficult for him since then and I am surprised there has not been more of a 'new manager bounce' reaction.

You could see how they were performing under Julen Lopetegui was not great and fans were not happy, but I do think it is very difficult for managers that come in part way through a season.

When you take over a team mid-season that have been coached in a certain way, you are then trying to then put your philosophy in place, trying to understand players and trying to build your own system and it can be difficult.

Potter is a fantastic manager. We saw that when he was at Brighton and you have to give him time. They do have injuries, they do not have an out and out recognised striker at the moment.

They brought in Evan Ferguson, which I think will help if they can get him fit because we saw what he could do at Brighton when he was playing. They certainly miss that focal point. Bowen has been playing all over the place under both managers and that has probably not helped as he has not really been able to get that form we saw last season.

It is about timing for managers.

Apart from Ferguson, Potter was not really able to bring anybody in so now it is about getting through the season and seeing what you can do in the summer in terms of identifying where they want to take the club. Clear communication against an objective from the club and the owners is what the manager and fans want and will help the team.

It is difficult at the moment but I do think with time that Potter can be the right fit for West Ham.

I believe he will get that time and I think he deserves that time too.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Nicola Pearson

West Ham fan Holly Turbutt says the supporters are positive about Graham Potter's tenure so far, despite the poor run of results.

"It's going to be more of a marathon than a sprint to get us back performing at our best," she told BBC Sport. "A lot of us are seeing this as a season for stabilising things and expecting next season is when we push on.

"We can already see what Potter is trying to do - we're seeing more organisation and our pressing looks a lot better. He is building a feel of togetherness."

Find more from Holly Turbutt at West Ham Network, external

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Arsenal have won 37 Premier League games against West Ham - only beating Everton (38) more often in the competition. It is the most defeats the Hammers have suffered against a side.

West Ham won 2-0 at Emirates Stadium last season - they last won at Arsenal in consecutive campaigns in 2005-06 and 2006-07, when they became the last team to beat the Gunners at Highbury and then the first to do so at the Emirates.

James Jones
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

There have been so many head-scratching things at West Ham this season - but the main one has to be: what has happened to Mohammed Kudus?

The Ghanaian had a superb debut campaign, scoring 14 goals and assisting another six in 45 Hammers appearances. One of his goals, that one against Freiburg, was nominated for the 2024 Fifa Puskas Award. He averaged a goal involvement every 2.25 games. He was electric.

But this season, Kudus' impact has stagnated so much that there are many fans out there who are questioning who in their right mind would even consider activating the winger's reported £85m release clause this summer.

Only a few months ago it was simply accepted that it would happen. Now? We would be lucky to break even on the £38m we paid Ajax for him.

How can a player with so much talent regress so much? He is now averaging a goal involvement every 4.6 games and, most notably, is just not as electric or effective as he once was.

I have a theory, and it is one only Graham Potter and Kudus can address.

His form and success last season was the result of opponents simply not knowing how to handle a player like him. He was quick, strong, skilful, direct and clinical.

He has been all of those things this season, too. The difference is that teams have worked him out.

They double up on him in every game, sometimes even triple up on him. It leads to Kudus not having the time or space to really get into his flow, which leaves him either being dispossessed quickly or running into trouble.

The best players in the world have this problem all the time. But they remain the best players in the world because they adapt their game to deal with the additional attention.

This is what Kudus needs to do, and Potter needs to help him. Perhaps a tweak in his position is needed, or work on his positional play.

If Kudus is to rediscover his form and live up to the £85m valuation, he has to prove he can adapt.

Find more from James Jones at We Are West Ham, external

Image source, PA Media

We asked for your views on Graham Potter and how you think his first few weeks as West Ham United manager have gone.

Here are some of your comments:

Tony: Potter has started well generally, with a much more fluid style and being less open. Recent performances have deserved a better points return. But the Brentford game was a step back. It was the same slow build-up, poor progression in midfield and openness in defence that were the hallmarks of Lopetegui's team.

M: I hope for patience when it comes to Potter. We won't be in the bottom three come end of the season but it might come close! He needs time to rebuild and embed his style of play in the team. We were left depleted by Steidten and Lopetegui, moved on some players who should have stayed and kept some who should have gone. I hope the board don't get too twitchy and back Potter to turn us around.

Andy: Potter is known for being a project manager and things won't happen overnight during his tenure. We are not at the start of the season and opportunities were missed in the January transfer window. My concern with the squad is that there is a lack of strength and depth in each position, along with the bad habits the players have taken on board under Lopetegui. Some simply aren't good enough! We then have the issue of Potter trying to shake off his Chelsea experience, which has undoubtedly scarred him. As each defeat goes by, his last job will become more of a reminder. Wins under his belt need to be achieved and soon to stop us getting sucked into a relegation battle.

Rob: We aren't in a relegation fight. Potter walked into a mess, had key players injured and Ferguson has only been in the door for five minutes. I have far more confidence in Potter than Lopetegui. This season is now about preparing for next season. Kudus can go in the summer. He plays in the same position as Bowen and he will not replace him. Get a decent sum and use it wisely.

Gavin Ramjaun
Final Score reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Graham Potter's start at West Ham is not going to plan.

They couldn't find a way past Brentford this weekend, and that's with some big names back (Paqueta, Alvarez) - plus the returning James Ward-Prowse on the bench, and Evan Ferguson now in the ranks.

There seems to be a missing link. Damsgaard, Schade, Mbeumo and Wissa were all in tune going forward for Brentford. Why is the 'click' factor missing for West Ham? The fans were booing at full time. What needs to change? Kudus has hardly scored this season. Bowen wasn't firing too. How much time does Potter get? And is it a guarantee the Hammers stay up?

West Ham fans, how has Potter started? Tell us what you think needs to be tweaked

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between West Ham and Brentford.

Here are some of your comments:

West Ham fans:

Hamed: No game strategy evident. No tactical adjustments evident. Disinterested players, most making not much effort. Graham Potter is clearly at a loss as to what to do. If we had lost 5-0, that scoreline would have flattered us. We are relegation fodder. Are those who whined to get rid of David Moyes happy with their handiwork? I am not.

Mark: The disappointment is the amount of time we have had to prepare for this game. Brentford could have been 4-0 up in the first half. That's not an exaggeration. Evan Ferguson came on in the second half and he andJames Ward-Prowse got us on the front foot. A draw was the minimum expected from this game.

Madge: Strange selection by Potter. Senseless to play Lucas Paqueta up front when Jarrod Bowen can do it better and we were overloaded on the right flank. That said, atrocious first half. As poor as it has ever been. Brentford could and should have been four up! The changes immediately helped but Mohammed Kudus' miss sums it all up. We could have played all year and not scored. Glad Ward-Prowse is back though. We almost had a midfield in the second half!

Simon: Two weeks of training to serve up the same old slow sideways nonsense first half. The high line against quick forwards was never going to end well. They could have been three up at the break.

Brentford fans:

Peter: Great first-half performance, but failed to put away a number of excellent chances, giving West Ham something to chase in the second half. A solid defensive display allowing us to keep a clean sheet and earn a third consecutive away win.

Philip: Brilliant to get three away wins in a row for the first time! Come on you Bees!

Highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from Friday's game between Brighton and Chelsea.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Man City 4-0 Newcastle

• Crystal Palace 1-2 Everton