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

Image source, Reuters

A great ball broke the Arsenal defensive line. Manuel Lanzini tried to negotiate his way to goal but was forced wide and his shot could only hit the side-netting. An excellent opening.

And out of nowhere West Ham almost take the lead.

Dimitri Payet cuts Arsenal open with a sublime ball through the middle to Manuel Lanzini.

Lanzini holds off two defenders in the area but has to go wide and Petr Cech pushes the effort round the post.

Image source, PA

Arsenal so close again. 

Corner comes in, Shkodran Mustafi flicks on and Laurent Koscielny's outstretched boot leather feels the whistle of the ball go past with the goal gaping at the back post.

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

It feels like a matter of time until Arsenal break through. As soon as they find a quality player or play that precise pass they'll fashion themselves an excellent opportunity. 

Arsenal are a side that often eventually break you down, because they enjoy the lion's share of possession and the sparkle they have gets them goals.

Millimetres from being 1-0 Arsenal.

Alexis Sanchez slips Nacho Monreal down the left channel of the area and his pull-back looks destined to fall to a yellow Gunners shirt, only for the toe of Winston Reid to pinball it out the way.

West Ham's Alvaro Arbeloa seems to have no idea if he's playing right-back in a back four or as a right-sided central defender in a back five.

It seems the Hammers have gone to a back four - somebody had better tell their defenders.

Alexis Sanchez, with barely 10 minutes on the clock, is already looking potent.

He plays a lovely ball around the corner for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, whose through ball to Theo Walcott is over-hit.

I'm trying to work out how West Ham have reshuffled since the substitution - I'm not sure the players know where they're supposed to be playing right now.

Edimilson Fernandes, in particular, looks a tad confused.

Nacho Monreal takes a throw-in deep on the West Ham right and gets it back in his path from Alexis Sanchez.

The Arsenal full-back gets to the by-line but the pull-back is lacking.

Plenty of Gunners possession so far, though.

And it didn't last long.

James Collins hobbles off for West Ham and is replaced by Alvaro Arbeloa.

Image source, Reuters

Terrible news for West Ham.

Already depleted by injuries, defender James Collins is doing that twirly hand motion to say he needs to come off.

He might have pulled something... he's received treatment and is going to try and carry on. Don't think it will last long.

Almost a nice bit of one-touch work from Arsenal, as Alexis Sanchez clips the ball to Theo Walcott on the right side of the area. The England man dabs it back to Gabriel who looks to drive the ball across goal - but it's cleared.

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

Arsenal are into their rhythm already, knocking the ball all across the pitch. 

West Ham maintaining their shape will be vitally important tonight, because with this slick playing surface under the lights Arsenal's players could really enjoy themselves.

Image source, Getty Images

Kyle: West Ham have bought poorly and with plenty of injuries they have suffered. They are lacking a top drawer striker.

BH: Don't care how they come, but 3 points a must for the Gunners

Theo Walcott tries to get down the Arsenal right early on.

Maybe he's thinking about putting the frigtheners up West Ham left wing-back Arthur Masuaku - the Frenchman got a bit of stick for looking like he didn't fancy coming off the bench to replace Aaron Cresswell in the midweek EFL Cup loss to Manchester United.

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

Mark Noble spoke earlier in the week about this being a London derby, and in his opinion there's more of an edge when the Hammers play Chelsea. But ask Sir Trevor Brooking that question, a man who scored a glancing header against the Gunners in a certain 1980 FA Cup Final...

Image source, Empics

And away we go, with West Ham taking kick-off.

Image source, Getty Images

Impeccably observed. Arsenal's Brazilian defender Gabriel looked particularly moved.

Here's a reminder of your line-ups...

Image source, .

Image source, .

The teams are out and there will be a minute's silence in memory of the players of Brazilian team Chapecoense who died in a plane crash earlier this week.

Image source, Getty Images

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