West Ham United

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

Here are some of your comments:

Arsenal fans

Guy: Another good performance from Arsenal. A match like this we would've lost or drawn last season. We could've scored a few more but we kept a clean sheet which is important. Eberechi Eze and Declan Rice are phenomenal.

Chris: At last, Arsenal are showing what they can do and are creating a fully interchangeable squad capable of overcoming any injury issues. Let's fulfil the promise going forward.

Daniel: Professional job done against a weaker team in a transitional period. Worry about Rice and Martin Odegaard but we have strength in depth now so not as much of a worry as last season. Great to be top at international break but its a marathon not a sprint so staying grounded.

Paul: Brilliant performance by the lads. Bukayo Saka looked electric on the wing and Rice looked calm in the midfield. Unlucky that Odegaard got another injury but at least we have depth in that position. Overall, a good win to lead the Premier League.

West Ham fans

Rob: No miracles yet for the Hammers, but the team is playing a lot better under Nuno Espirito Santo's management and there are bigger games still to come with teams in and around the bottom half after the international break. A big three points is up for grabs in the next home game against Brentford.

Matthew: It was always going to be a difficult task for Nuno, so definitely can't judge him in that aspect. But we defended very resolutely, and under Graham Potter it would've been a cricket score. In Nuno we trust!

Michael: To be honest, you've got to be happy to come away from the Emirates with a 2-0 loss. It's disappointing but have to feel under Potter that would have been a lot worse. Now we've got to start picking up points in the next couple of games!

Simon: It was a loss, which is never nice, but it was expected. But the team looked like a team and the defence in particular looked a lot better than it has. I was very happy Nuno bought on the youngsters. I'm not convinced that Niclas Fullkrug is a Premier League striker.

West Ham are interested in signing Real Madrid striker Endrick on loan but will face competition from Valencia and Real Sociedad for the 19-year-old Brazil forward's signature in January. (Fichajes - in Spanish), external

Out-of-favour Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee, 24, will consider staying in the Premier League if he leaves Old Trafford, with West Ham and Everton touted as potential destinations. (Teamtalk), external

Finally, James Ward-Prowse, 30, is preparing for a permanent move away from West Ham in the winter transfer window, with the English midfielder falling down the pecking order following the appointment of manager Nuno Espirito Santo. (FootballInsider), external

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

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Chris Wise
Final Score reporter at Emirates Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

Nuno Espirito Santo has spoken about how his first full week in charge of West Ham was "hard work".

Hammers fans probably felt that way watching their team lose at Arsenal at the weekend, too.

Unlike in recent seasons at the Emirates, they couldn't lay a glove on the Gunners.

Nuno has inherited a messy situation. He's a very astute coach, but he's not got a magic wand to suddenly rid West Ham of all their worries.

But amid the difficulties of Saturday's London derby, there were positives.

Defensively, they were well structured for much of the game. Arsenal had almost 70% of the ball and the Hammers' back-line soaked up plenty. They dealt smartly with set-pieces too, which had been a massive problem under Graham Potter.

The return of Aaron Wan Bissaka was also significant. He probably didn't get enough praise last season for his performances. It got lost in the wider picture of West Ham's struggles.

This international break arrives at a perfect moment for Nuno. He's got time to breathe now, and to implement the style he wants.

The small signs of progress are there - but you've just got to dig a bit deeper to find them.

Pundits Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures and Friday's action.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

• Manchester United 2-0 Sunderland

• Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool

Alex Howell
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Nuno Espirito Santo may be without a win in his first two games in charge but there are positive signs of progress that West Ham can look to.

Despite having beaten Arsenal twice in their last two visits to north London, it was always going to be a big task for West Ham to take anything here, let alone the win.

The West Ham boss set his team up in an organised 4-2-3-1 formation and the former Nottingham Forest manager could be seen sending instructions out from his technical area as he tried to fine tune the strategy.

Niclas Fullkrug had an effort from a corner and Lucas Paqueta shot over as West Ham attempted to cause an upset in the first half.

Ultimately, the Hammers were outclassed but with more time on the training pitch Nuno looks like he will be able to move his team up the table.

West Ham boss Nuno Espírito Santo, speaking to BBC Match of the Day after their defeat to Arsenal: "We've had two tough games away from home against very good teams.

"Now is the moment to analyse but with all the changes that has been happening I feel the players are responding and trying and that pleases me the most.

"The international break will be important for all of us especially for the players to be calm, there's been many changes and many noises around us. This is our priority - that we know each other as a group because it is basically our unity and fight for each other [that we need]."

Did you know?

• West Ham's four points from their opening seven games is their joint-worst return at this stage of a Premier League campaign, also having four in 2016-17 and 2022-23.

• West Ham have faced more shots on target than any other side in the Premier League this season (34, including five against Arsenal). Meanwhile, this was the first time the Hammers failed to register a shot on target in a league match themselves since January against Crystal Palace.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Arsenal's performance

What did you make of West Ham's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Arsenal starting XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Rice, Odegaard, Eze, Saka, Trossard, Gyokeres

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Nwaneri, Norgaard, Mosquera, White, Martinelli, Merino, Zubimendi, Lewis-Skelly

West Ham starting XI: Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Kilman, Mavropanos, Diouf, Magassa, Paqueta, Fernandes, Summervile, Bowen, Fullkrug

Subs: Hermansen, Scarles, Walker-Peters, Julio, Wilson, Guilherme, Rodriguez, Potts, Marshall

There are four games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Leeds United v Tottenham (12:30)

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

• Manchester United v Sunderland - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Chelsea v Liverpool (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Arsenal v West Ham" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Chelsea v Liverpool", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

West Ham have won on their past two visits to Emirates Stadium but I don't look at Arsenal at the moment and see a team that is going to drop points.

The Hammers grew into the game against Everton in Nuno Espirito Santo's first match in charge, but I am expecting the Gunners to be too strong for them.

Arsenal are a powerhouse at the moment and their squad depth is frightening. Defensively they are outstanding - they have conceded only three goals in six league games, the fewest in the Premier League - and this should be comfortable for them.

Sutton's prediction: 3-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here

West Ham may have had a poor start to the season, but they are chasing a third straight victory over Arsenal at Emirates Stadium. BBC Sport explores some of the key themes before Saturday's match.

Arsenal have only lost four of their past 42 home Premier League matches, but half of those have been inflicted by West Ham on their past two visits.

The Hammers are now looking to become only the second side to win three successive Premier League away games against the Gunners after Manchester City managed six from March 2018 to February 2023 - while Arsenal have won only two of their past six against their east London rivals, albeit 6-0 and 5-2 victories at London Stadium.

Both clubs have suffered vastly differing starts to the season. Arsenal's only defeat in nine matches was a narrow loss at Liverpool and they secured another victory against Olympiakos in midweek to make it two from two in the Champions League.

Mikel Arteta, who will be taking charge of his 300th Gunners game, made six changes from the side that beat Newcastle as he again showcased the squad depth he now has at his disposal.

Beleaguered West Ham began life under Nuno Espirito Santo with a creditable draw at Everton on Monday, despite their new boss having just two training sessions with his players. It was their first point in the Premier League since the end of August.

Despite a tumultuous run under Graham Potter, the Hammers have actually only lost one of their past five Premier League away games (W3, D1) and their last 10 top-flight points have all come on the road.

Much of the tactical battle in this fixture is expected to come down to corners as Arsenal, the set-piece kings, face the team that concede the most.

Nine of the Gunners' past 14 Premier League goals have been scored via seven corners, one free-kick and one penalty, and the record of Arteta's side stands alongside the past masters of the set-piece in Tony Pulis and Sean Dyche.

These stats must give West Ham fans sleepless nights given their well-documented struggles with corners this season, having let in eight, five more than any other top-flight club.

To further emphasis the gulf between these London rivals, Arsenal are undefeated in 31 of their past 34 league matches - and in that same period of games West Ham have lost exactly half their top-flight fixtures.

Thomas Tuchel has named his England squad for the upcoming international break.

The Three Lions face Wales in a friendly on 9 October, before a World Cup qualifier against Latvia on 14 October.

Chelsea's Cole Palmer is absent after suffering an injury, while there is no place for Manchester City's Phil Foden or Jack Grealish, who is on loan at Everton from City.

Dan Roan
Sports editor

Image source, Getty Images

A decision on whether to scrap the Premier League's controversial Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and adopt an "alternative system" is "coming up", says chief executive Richard Masters.

The current regulations, introduced in 2015-16 to prevent clubs from overspending, allow losses of £105m over a three-year reporting cycle.

However, they have been criticised by several top-flight teams for limiting their ability to invest.

BBC Sport has been told a decision on any changes is likely to be made at a meeting in November.

In February, clubs chose to continue with PSR for the current season.

However a squad cost ratio (SCR) system of financial control was adopted by the Premier League on a shadowing, non-binding basis.

SCR is similar to Uefa's existing financial rules and allows clubs to spend up to a percentage of their total revenues on squad-related costs.

Nine of the league's 20 clubs already have to comply with Uefa's SCR as a result of qualifying for Europe. Both Chelsea and Aston Villa were fined by Uefa in July for breaching the rules.

Asked about SCR at the Leaders sports conference in London, Masters said: "We are talking to our clubs about an alternative system. That's not to say we don't think the PSR system works."

He added: "It's about closer alignment with European regulation, which is squad cost ratio, which is a revenue test. In Uefa, it's now set at 70%. Our system will be 85% because we always want our clubs to have the ability to invest.

"The Premier League has been built on the back of investment in which international capital flows [are] coming in. We don't want that to be to be stifled off."

Read more here

West Ham boss Nuno Espirito Santo has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• He described his first week in the job as "hard work", adding: "I think everyone at the club is making a big effort to help. We're getting things going, getting to know each other better."

• On team news: "Today, we worked with 22 players and tomorrow we make the decisions. Let's wait and see. [Jean-Clair] Todibo trained - he wasn't involved all of last week, now he is. With the exception of George [Earthy], all the players are available. I think it will be four to six weeks for him.

• On his long-term ambitions: "I'm thinking only about tomorrow for now!"

• He said he wants to bring the club and its fans closer together: "They were there in Liverpool and helped us and they'll be there on Saturday. It's up to us to give back to them. The issues [like fan protests] are too soon for me to go into - it is not up to me. I am worried about the bond with the team and the fans. When that's there, the players and everyone feels joy."

• He was asked about James Ward-Prowse, who he dropped from the squad in his first match in charge: "We are trying to know the players as soon as possible so we can make proper solutions. James was not involved. Let's see after more training sessions. It is about what the team needs and wants - it is going to be a long season."

• Opponents Arsenal are known to be strong from set-pieces, which Nuno accepted was a "big problem" for his side: "We have been working and I think we improved in the last game. There is still a problem with the second phase but it is something we are trying to address."

• Max Kilman, who Nuno has worked with before, is set to make his 200th club appearance and Nuno described the defender as an "important member" of the squad: "He can help in terms of relationships because he knows how we want to approach things, with our work ethic. He has been very helpful. I'm delighted for him."

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

Listen to full commentary of Arsenal v West Ham from 15:00 BST on Saturday on BBC Radio 5 Live

West Ham, Tottenham and Nottingham Forest are interested in Parma's 23-year-old Argentine striker Mateo Pellegrino, but the Italian club do not want to sell him before next summer. (TuttoSport via Parma Live - in Italian), external

Southampton are planning to offer West Ham midfielder James Ward-Prowse the chance to return to St Mary's in January. (GiveMesport), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

West Ham Under-21s went down to 10 men at Reading when Ezra Mayers was shown a red card after Callum Marshall had put them in front.

The Royals then made the most of their numerical advantage as Jacob Borgnis, Mark O'Mahony and Jeremiah Okine-Peters gave them a 3-1 victory.

Despite the defeat, the Hammers remain top of Southern Group D after two games, but level on points with Swindon Town who have a game in hand.

West Ham "are completely devoid of identity", said The Observer's Rory Smith on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"They look like they have thrown a bit of money around and there is no common sense thread to it.

"But also, all the stuff that made them West Ham has gone. They have a soulless stadium that the fans hate and it doesn't have the same hostility feel as Upton Park.

"There are no real local players in the team any more, so it doesn't have that representative feeling of east London and there is no style of play.

"There is nothing to hang on to if you are a West Ham fan, or make you think there can be long-term success.

"They strike me as the club who are struggling with their identity the most in the Premier League."

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton added: "They have brought Nuno Espirito Santo in to stop them getting relegated, but there are still 33 games left and they are in that mindset.

"At the moment, the club is a real mess."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

We asked for your thoughts after Monday's 1-1 draw at Everton in Nuno Espirito Santo's first game in charge of West Ham.

Here are some of your comments:

West Ham fans

Rob: A very good second-half performance. El Hadji Malick Diouf and Crysencio Summerville were fantastic down the left and really stretched the defence. A solid start from Nuno. We looked so much more effective then under Graham Potter - quick and decisive in our turnovers and aggression in tackles. Positive start and hopefully the start of things to come.

Richie: An honest effort. With Potter in charge we would have lost that game. Still going to be a long old season though... Arsenal away next.

Jamie: Definite signs of improvement. Clear issues defending set-pieces, but a huge shift in mentality. We were the much better team after conceding, which is a huge change from every other game. Good signs.

Matt: Really enjoyed the second half and the return of the counter-attacking football that made us so fun to watch in the 2021 Jesse Lingard season. Let's hope our fans wait at least a few years this time before forgetting how bad we were and whinge about our football not being the 'West Ham way'.

Kevin: Better but early days and still a very poor goal conceded.

James: Promising considering Nuno has only had a few days to work with the players. Summerville was excellent and Jarrod Bowen delivered as always. Good to see Freddie Potts get some minutes too.

Ian: It's good to see some technical know-how and effort from the lads, you could see the enjoyment within the players.

• Not a West Ham fan? Follow your Premier League club on BBC Sport

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo, speaking to BBC Sport: "We did a lot of good things. We competed well but there is a lot of work to be done. We started the second half on the front foot - the desire was there."

On the character his side has: "We have to build on that. Now it is about keeping it simple and trying to give the boys a good identity. We will get there in terms of identity and character, but now it's keeping it simple. The clear message was how we have to approach the game. It is a tough place to come and Everton are a good team in a good moment."

On the players he has: "It's too soon. It is three days, we are in the process of knowing each other."

On being back in management: "It's nice. It's what we live for - to compete."

West Ham captain and goalscorer Jarrod Bowen, speaking to Sky Sports: "It's a big point for us. We had chances to win the game. They had chances as well so, on reflection, it's probably a fair result. It speaks to the character of the team after going down 1-0.

"We've got a really good group here that really want to work hard and change our fortunes, and I think you saw that. We've had Nuno for two days and I thought we put in a really good performance. It's about time, putting the work in and listening to the new gaffer. We're heading in the right direction and tonight's a good start."

Did you know?

• West Ham have conceded eight goals from corners in the Premier League this season, as many as they did in the whole of 2024-25. They have also conceded seven headed goals, more than twice as many as any other side in the competition.

• Bowen has now been involved in 11 goals in his past 12 league games (eight goals, three assists).

Adam Millington
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Nuno has taken over a West Ham side in the middle of a horrible run of form, having lost four of their first five games, and he will hope this draw marks the start of an improved new era.

While West Ham's build-up play was often underwhelming, forward Crysencio Summerville and left-back El Hadji Malick Diouf were bright sparks down the Hammers' left.

Dutchman Summerville carried the ball well and looked to stretch the Everton back-line out of position, while Diouf was too much for Toffees right-back Jake O'Brien to handle at times and his cross led to Jarrod Bowen's equaliser.

West Ham's goal immediately made them much more threatening as they took the game to Everton, picking up their first points in the Premier League since the end of August.