Re 18:49, for those of you who can't get the image of Andy Carroll in only a bib out of your minds, a festive treat...

Image source, Empics

West Ham's Ashley Fletcher meets an Alvaro Arbeloa cross with his head but it's too far out and loops into Petr Cech's hands.

Dimitri Payet's spiral downwards from brilliance to just decent continues as he tries a trick on the left wing and manages to stick it out for a goal-kick.

There is movement on the West Ham bench... a tracksuit is being peeled off.

Wait... that's not Big Andy Carroll. It's Andre Ayew...

West Ham's Ashley Fletcher plants a boots down on Laurent Koscielny's foot while trying to skip past the defender. It's a painful one and he goes into the book.

Right. I should have kept my powder dry earlier... Andy Carroll is still in his little pink bib and not looking like he'll come on imminently. (He's wearing other clothes, not just a bib... shudder).

Arsenal defender Gabriel has blood coming from his head after a collision with Arthur Makuanu.

Image source, AFP

Bradley Allen
Ex-QPR striker at London Stadium for BBC Radio London

Payet and Lanzini combined well to break into the box, but there just wasn't a Hammers player in there to get on the end of it. 

It was excellent defending by Laurent Koscielny to intercept it, but should a West Ham player have gambled and bust a gut to burst into the box? 

Anyway, that interplay has lifted the home supporters.

Image source, PA

Arsenal are almost punished immediately.

Dimitri Payet drives the ball towards Manuel Lanzini down the left side of the Arsenal area and the low cross is brilliantly dealt with by Laurent Koscielny, with Ashley Fletcher looming behind him.

And moments later Fletcher comes alive, cutting in from the right and smashing a shot just wide.

Bradley Allen
Ex-QPR striker at London Stadium for BBC Radio London

West Ham haven't come out of the traps at the start of this second half. Arsenal are seeing almost all of the ball and are trying to camp themselves inside the Hammers' half.

I feel for journalistic balance, after implying Anthony Masuaku was a bit pants in mid-week, that, I should point out the left-back is having a decent game.

Anyway, Arsenal see another chance pass them by.

Alexis Sanchez slips in Theo Walcott but the first touch is not great and Edimilson Fernandes gets back to snuff out the danger.

West Ham are furious that a free-kick is given for a coming together between Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Anthony Masuaku.

And they would have been furious had Theo Walcott nodded Mesut Ozil's cross from the right into the net - instead he puts it over.

Another Gunners chance goes begging.

Image source, AFP

Gabriel has rarely looked like a centre-half playing at right-back today.

He's in a forward position and slips a ball to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but the forward can't pick out a team-mate in the box.

Meanwhile, Andy Carroll is being de-robed.

Tom

Image source, PA

I've seen the word "vigorous" used more than once in relation to Andy Carroll's half-time warm-up. That tells you all you need to know: vigour = off the bench early doors (surely?).

West Ham, sans Big Andy Carroll, are back out of the tunnel.

Arsenal are already there. Let's get the second half under way... Arsenal do just that.

He's here, he's there... talk about a free role.

These are all the positions Mesut Ozil has popped up in with the ball for Arsenal today.

Image source, Opta

Hammers fans. Andy Carroll, in tracksuit top, is currently warming up on the London Stadium pitch.

An early introduction in the first half?

Bradley Allen
Ex-QPR striker at London Stadium for BBC Radio London

Arsenal have had the better of the play and clearly have the better players on the pitch - they should really be more in front. But they have been rather wasteful, to be honest.

West Ham have had their moments but ultimately they've been disappointing, only looking at most half-threatening. 

The Hammers have to bring Andy Carroll on if they are to turn this around, but of course it'll be a risk. It's a decision that will earn Slaven Bilic his wage tonight.

Image source, Getty Images

Matt Hatton

For me, West Ham had the feel of a side down to 10 men in that first half, particularly after their reshuffle for James Collins' injury.

Plucky, hard working, lacking a bit of shape and happy for any chances they can cobble together.