Summary

  • Listen to 5 Live coverage at the top of this page

  • FT: Brighton 0-1 Wolves - Saiss with opener

  • FT: Crystal Palace 2-2 Southampton - Ayew levels for hosts

  • FT: Arsenal 2-0 West Ham - Martinelli and Smith Rowe for Gunners as Coufal sent off

  • Burnley v Watford postponed because of Covid outbreak among visitors' squad

  • Get involved via #bbcfootball

  1. Postpublished at 23:00 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2021

    That is all from us for tonight. Be sure to join us again tomorrow for three more Premier League games.

    Night all.

  2. 'We're a little bit undercooked'published at 22:56 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2021

    FT: Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

    West Ham United

    West Ham boss David Moyes, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "I'm more disappointed with how we performed as we can play much better. That is the biggest frustration - more than the decisions or anything else that went on. We have to play better than we did do. We had hung on in in the game and gave a really poor second goal. Even with 10 men we were staying in it and giving ourselves a chance of getting something from it.

    "Arsenal are in a good place at the moment. They have been playing well and in the main have a fully fit squad. We're a little it undercooked at the moment and are a little bit short up front and obviously with defenders right now. That wasn't the reason for the performance as we expect everyone to perform well. They showed more intensity and pressed us hard. We weren't quite able to deal with the pressure.

    "I was most disappointed with how the penalty came around. We missed a header and got into a mess in the back four. But Vladimir gave the referee a decision to make. I think it was an easy tackle to make, to toe-poke the ball away and knock it out or have a really good block. Because he only connects with the top part of the ball so his foot carries on he gives Anthony Taylor a decision to make.

    "We are looking around and seeing what we can do to freshen up. We are really short of defenders at the moment. We have players in the forward areas who we will give game time to in the games to come. But when you come to these games you look to the players who have been in form and done well for you to give you a good level of performance."

  3. 'We found solutions to win the game'published at 22:52 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2021

    FT: Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

    Arsenal

    Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "We played really high standards, with a lot of passion, energy and quality. We played the game we wanted to play against a team that is really complicated to control. They have a lot of solutions in attack and are really hard to break. Overall, the performance was merited to win the game.

    "When we found the solutions to attack them we had more control. Our counter-press was excellent today. We needed a bit more quality in the final third to finish more actions. We started the second half really good, really getting at them and being penetrative. We scored an excellent goal and had more chances. We have lots of solutions that can help us in games depending on what we have to do."

    On his side's missed penalties: "We are generating them and we have to put them to bed because the game changes completely at 10 men and 2-0. It is done."

    On the chance to build some momentum: "It is game by game and it is the Premier League. I think we have had consistency in performances. I think we play much better at Manchester United this year than lost year and lost the game. We want o Everton and lost but the team reacted and showed personality to change the situation."

  4. 'Referee Anthony Taylor got it right'published at 22:48 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2021

    FT: Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

    West Ham United

    West Ham boss David Moyes speaking to BT Sport: "We didn't play well, Arsenal played well tonight. We were right in the game for long periods though, we kept them out but we gave it away late on when we were down to 10 men and doing quite well at that point.

    "We just might have hit a period where we're suffering a little with injuries and we're just a bit short in our forward play. We have to improve on that if we can.

    "Before we started this game tonight we were in fourth so these players have done a great job in getting us there. When you get to this level then you require quality at different times and we've lacked that in the last few weeks. Generally we never really got up to the speed of the game tonight from the start and Arsenal showed real intensity."

    On the penalty decision: "Over the weekend we had some really soft penalty kicks and I think that [referee] Anthony Taylor might have got this one right. I think he did get the ball but Vladimir Coufal should have got better contact on the ball and maybe toe-poked it away or he needs to get fuller contact on it. I still feel the referee could have not given it because of the contact but the follow-through is probably more the reason for it. He should have toe-poked it away. I don't think it was that difficult a tackle to make."

  5. Stupid goal to concede'published at 22:44 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2021

    FT: Crystal Palace 2-2 Southampton

    Southampton

    Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl to BBC Sport: "It [the draw] feels at the moment OK. I'll have to look back and see if it's OK.

    "We showed a good response [to going behind] and the first half was completely for us.

    "The second half we tried but you could feel the opponents were coming up with emotions and the crowd. It was a stupid goal to concede, we had chances to clear.

    "It was hard to take but the response was good. We brought on a few offensive players. We had a few good moments to score again."

    "Broja's goal was fantastic, Prowse's was amazing. Two goals should be enough in an away game for three points.

    "The young lads are good and becoming better. They have a good effort. We are working hard with them."

  6. 'I am happy with a point'published at 22:38 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2021

    FT: Crystal Palace 2-2 Southampton

    Crystal Palace

    Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira speaking to Match of the Day: “I am happy with a point, we played against a really good team who put a lot of pressure on us.

    "We started well and we stopped playing, stopped respecting the game and they scored two goals – we came back in the second half with a better desire to compete because in the first half they wanted it more than us.

    “We came back with more determination, more competitiveness. The point was a good result because of the way we played, it is the process we may have to go through, to learn when we score first we have a chance to score the second one, when you don’t take those chances it is difficult.

    “Everything was then about them, half-time came at the right time to put two or three things in place that allowed us to compete more.”

    On Jordan Ayew's goal: “I am really pleased for him, there is not one player who works as hard as him for the team, the only thing he needed was a goal and he managed to do it today.”

  7. 'We will discuss it in near future'published at 22:36 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2021

    FT: Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

    Arsenal

    More from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to BT Sport on any distractions following Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's captaincy being stripped this week:

    "They were fully focused. They wanted to show how strong we are as a team. The performance, the attitude and the commitment they showed today is exactly what we are as a club.

    "I expect it from every player - to stick to our values. We will talk about that another day. Today I want to talk about the game."

    On whether Aubameyang will be considered for the next game: "He wasn't eligible for this game and that's it. This game is gone. We will discuss it in the near future."

  8. 'It was a statement'published at 22:32 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2021

    FT: Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

    Arsenal

    Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to BT Sport: "Really pleased with the performance, the quality, the energy, the passion and the crowd. We had some really good moments. It was a really difficult team to play against. They have a lot of solutions and are a threat in many, many ways. I think we controlled them pretty well so credit to the boys.

    "It was a great first goal. That's what Gabriel [Martinelli] can do. He is always a threat and this pace is really good for him to exploit. The second one was good on the counter-attack. It's a shame we miss a penalty in that moment as it would have given us more time to relax because you can't against this team. They can score a goal in any action.

    "It was a big game for us to obviously have the capacity to go above them and move fourth. It was a statement. We had been pretty strong at home so we needed to put a good performance in against a good team and I think we did that."

  9. 'We deserved it'published at 22:28 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2021

    Brighton 0-1 Wolves

    Wolves

    Wolves manager Bruno Lage, speaking to BT Sport, said: "I'm happy. They did well and we played against a strong team.

    "Brighton started well, better than us in the first 20 minutes and we lost the ball in some situations. After that the game started to be balanced, we started to have the ball and we scored our goal.

    "In the second half we started better than they did, we created chances and could've scored one or two more goals. In the end we deserved it, we created the better chances and it's three good points for us."

  10. 'No excuses'published at 22:24 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2021

    Brighton 0-1 Wolves

    Brighton & Hove Albion

    Brighton manager Graham Potter, talking to BT Sport, said: "We were not at our best. We huffed and puffed and in the first half we were slightly the better team, then they scored a disappointing goal from our perspective.

    "In the second half they [Wolves] had opportunities. It has been a difficult week and we weren't good enough to get the three points. There's no excuses, I believe in the guys on the pitch and it has been a difficult week for lots of teams.

    "We need to recover quickly and we have to play at 12:30 on Saturday. The Premier League is always challenging and it brings a certain challenge because of what's going on outside of football and you have to do your best and adapt."

  11. 'Half-time came at the right time'published at 22:20 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2021

    FT: Crystal Palace 2-2 Southampton

    Crystal Palace

    Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira: "I don't think we did enough. We started well but they put us under pressure. We couldn't build from the back.

    "At the end of the first half they were the better team. They wanted to win more than we did.

    "We came back in the second half with better ambitions to compete. We managed to get the goal. The draw was good for us.

    "I'm disappointed in the first half because we stated well. We stopped playing when we scored and then they got momentum and believed.

    "Half-time came at the right time. In the dressing room we needed to improve the competitiveness we didn't have.

    "We knew the quality on set-pieces. It's difficult for Jack [Butland] to stop it [James Ward-Prowse's free-kick]. He's one of the best in the country. We knew we needed to avoid conceding free-kicks in that area."

    On following the Everton win up by dropping points: "That's how we are. That will happen to us because we're still building. This team need to suffer so we can learn from it.

    "The maturity in this team is improving but it's not constant yet.

    "I'm glad Jordan [Ayew] scored that goal. He fully deserved it because of the way he's working for the team."

  12. 'It was a logical result'published at 22:13 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2021

    FT: Crystal Palace 2-2 Southampton

    Southampton

    Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl: "From two teams always drawing this season, it was a logical result. I think they had one chance in the second half and scored. We didn't have big chances in the second half.

    "How we came back was absolutely good to watch with the horrible start. The reaction was fantastic.

    "We had a very young team. We scored twice. Normally it should be enough for three points.

    "We had 20 minutes in the second half we were struggling. After the goal we played brave and tried to make the third goal.

    "In the end we take the point. Slowly but surely we are coming into more points.

    "I didn't see it [James Ward-Prowse's free-kick]. The last time I didn't watch was Newcastle away and that was also a goal.

    "We absolutely deserved a point minimum. Lyanco was good, he had a very good game. It was nice to watch the young lads up front. They are brave."

  13. Postpublished at 22:10 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2021

    FT: Crystal Palace 2-2 Southampton

    Southampton (52) are the first team to concede that many top-flight away goals in a single calendar year since West Brom (also 52) in 1985.

  14. 'I'll tune into Match of the Day!'published at 22:09 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2021

    FT: Crystal Palace 2-2 Southampton

    Southampton

    James Ward-Prowse speaking to Match of the Day: "It is a good point having started the game so slowly we knew we had a mountain to climb - it is a tough place to come and we knew we had to quieten the crowd, I don't think we did enough to win the game.

    "As soon as the free-kick was awarded I fancied my chances, Jack Butland and I have done a few free-kick practices over the years.

    "We want to be looking up the table, it is still very tight, it was important to bounce back after a disappointing game against Arsenal. I think I wil tune in (to Match of the Day) tonight!"

  15. 'We are together'published at 22:05 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2021

    FT: Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

    Arsenal

    Arsenal goalscorer Gabriel Martinelli speaking to BT Sport: "It was a very good game. The win was so important for the team. We know the potential we have. It was a great victory. I am so happy.

    "We like to see the fans like that and cheer us on. We knew it was going to be a very difficult game but we have a very good group.

    "They were defending well and we were waiting for the moment. Thank you Laca [Alexandre Lacazette] for the assist! I want to play every time.

    "We are a team. We are together. It's up to Mikel [Arteta] and the whole team to decide who will be captain."

  16. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 22:01 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2021

    #bbcfootball or text 81111 (UK only - texts will be charged at your standard message rate)

    Daniel Cheng: Smith Rowe and Martinelli showing us we don't need Auba.

    Saqub Sheikh: Superb performance by Arsenal in beating a strong West Ham 2-0. Well done. Top 4 was not realistic this season but this new young team are playing with passion and skill. Anything is possible now!

  17. Postpublished at 21:59 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2021

    FT: Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  18. 'I don't use my right foot'published at 21:56 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2021

    Brighton 0-1 Wolves

    Wolves

    Wolves goalscorer Romain Saiss, talking to BT Sport: "It was an important win and we're happy with the performance. Brighton is a good team so let's recover for the next game.

    "I'm always happy to score goals and I was close to scoring a second well and that's something I'm trying to improve. Every season I get a lot of chances so I'm happy to score.

    "I've known Ruben [Neves] very well for a lot of years and it was a fantastic pass but I deserve credit for the finish with my right foot - I never use my right foot.

    "It was important to score before the end of the first half and we tried to play from the back but in the first half we didn't create a lot of chances."

  19. Postpublished at 21:54 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2021

    FT: Brighton 0-1 Wolves

    Brighton are without a win in any competition since beating Swansea in the League Cup back in September, whilst their now 11-game winless run in the Premier League (D8 L3) is the Seagulls’ longest wait for a top-flight victory in the club’s history.

    BrightonImage source, Getty Images
  20. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 21:53 Greenwich Mean Time 15 December 2021

    #bbcfootball or text 81111 (UK only - texts will be charged at your standard message rate)

    CM: I'm not sure Arsenal have any business being in the top 4. It feels like we've put on a fake moustache and followed some VIPs into a club. I mean look at the disparity I goal difference with the other top 4... not that I'm complaining. Just a bit shocked I suppose.

    Andy: I know it's Arsenal away but Moyes, our owners and our new billionaire investor have serious work to do next month - we've forgotten how to score, let alone win. Top 4 finish? I'd take top half right now.