West Ham United 0-1 Arsenal Player Ratings: Leandro Trossard's Strike Secures a Narrow Victory for the Gunners To Keep The Title Race Alive

A tense, attritional battle at the London Stadium finally broke Arsenal's way, as they snatched a late 1-0 victory over a resilient West Ham United.

For much of this Premier League contest, it felt like a stalemate was inevitable. Both sides were defensively rigid, cancelling each other out in a dogged midfield scrap.

The game was a classic tactical chess match. West Ham United, organised and deep, frustrated the visitors for long periods, with Konstantinos Mavropanos putting in a heroic defensive display. Yet, Arsenal's persistence paid dividends. After hitting the woodwork twice in the first half, it was the ever-dangerous Leandro Trossard who provided the moment of magic from a Martin Odegaard assist in the 83rd minute.

His decisive goal was a gut punch to the Hammers, who had chances of their own but couldn't find the clinical finish. Callum Wilson scored in the 94th minute, but his goal was ruled out for a foul on Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya.

The result keeps Arsenal's ambitions alive while plunging West Ham deeper into trouble. It was a game decided by the finest of margins, a single moment of quality in a ninety-minute war of attrition.

Here are the West Ham vs Arsenal Player Ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Arsenal had the most possession (64%), with an xG of 1.36, but West Ham came close with an xG of 1.34.
• Mateus Fernandes won the most ground duels in this game (7).
• Bukayo Saka recorded the most key passes in this match (3).

West Ham Player Ratings vs Arsenal

Have a look at the West Ham Player Ratings from the West Ham vs Arsenal Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Mads Hermansen - 6.0: A frustrating afternoon for the keeper. He made a crucial save from a Trossard header but was ultimately beaten for the goal. What stood out to us was his distribution, which was quite poor. Completing only 35% of his passes put his team under unnecessary pressure at times. He wasn't peppered with shots but couldn't be the hero when it counted.

Defenders

Axel Disasi - 6.5: A fairly standard performance before he was substituted. He was solid enough, making a key tackle and an interception. We noticed he didn't look entirely comfortable but did the basics right. He did his job without any major fireworks or glaring errors.

Konstantinos Mavropanos - 8.0: Our man of the match for West Ham. He was an absolute titan at the back. The stats of 8 clearances, 3 blocked shots, and 2 clearances off the line only tell part of the story. From our perspective, he was throwing his body in front of everything, a one-man wall determined to keep Arsenal out. A truly colossal performance.

Jean-Clair Todibo - 6.0: An average, if slightly clumsy, display. He picked up a yellow card and lost more duels than he won. He made a couple of clearances and blocked a shot but looked a bit rash in the challenge. He struggled to impose himself on the game and was caught out of position once or twice.

Midfielders

El Hadji Malick Diouf - 7.0: A really industrious showing from the midfielder. He was a force in the air, winning 80% of his aerial duels, and worked tirelessly down the flank. He even created a key pass for his forwards. We were impressed by his engine and his commitment to both defensive and attacking duties.

Mateus Fernandes - 7.0: A very tidy and effective performance in the heart of midfield. He won 8 of his 12 duels and made four important tackles. His passing was crisp and he even got forward to test the keeper. However, he'll be kicking himself for missing what was a big chance to score.

Tomáš Souček - 6.5: A typically combative performance from the Czech international. He broke up play, drew a couple of fouls, and did the dirty work in midfield. It wasn't a glamorous display, but he provided a necessary shield for his defence. He just kept things simple and effective.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 7.0: A very solid outing. We know him for his tackling, but what stood out today was his contribution going forward. He created a big chance for Castellanos with a great cross. Defensively, he was as reliable as ever, making key clearances and interceptions. A well-rounded performance.

Forwards

Crysencio Summerville - 6.5: Full of energy and running, as always. He drew four fouls from the Arsenal defence, causing them problems with his directness. However, his end product was lacking today, and he snatched at a decent chance. His yellow card for a frustrated foul summed up his afternoon.

Taty Castellanos - 6.0: It just wasn't his day. He had a glorious headed opportunity that was well saved, a big chance missed that could have changed the game. He worked hard but his touch was off, and he picked up a booking for a clumsy challenge before being subbed. A frustrating shift.

Jarrod Bowen - 6.5: The captain tried his best to make things happen but was largely kept quiet by the visitors' defence. He managed a shot on target and created one chance but struggled to find space to operate in. You could see his frustration as the game wore on; he was well-marshalled.

Manager

N. Simões Espírito Santo - 6.5: His game plan was almost perfect. He set his team up to be compact, disciplined, and hard to beat, which they were for 83 minutes. They successfully frustrated Arsenal and created some good chances on the break. However, the lack of a clinical edge and one defensive lapse ultimately cost his team a valuable point.

Arsenal Player Ratings vs West Ham

Check out the Arsenal Player Ratings from the West Ham vs Arsenal Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

David Raya - 6.5: Made three saves, including a key one to deny Castellanos in the first half. He commanded his area well with a couple of punches. His distribution was a bit wayward, though, with only 45% pass accuracy. A quiet day for the most part, but he did what was required of him.

Defenders

William Saliba - 7.0: The definition of composure. His 99% pass accuracy is just astounding. He was calm, collected, and snuffed out danger before it even began. He picked up a late yellow but that doesn't detract from a performance of pure class and control at the back.

Ben White - 6.0: It's hard to give a proper rating as his game was cruelly cut short by injury after just 28 minutes. He looked solid in his short time on the pitch. We hope the injury isn't too serious.

Gabriel Magalhães - 7.0: A warrior-like performance. He was a rock defensively, making a team-high 7 clearances. He was also a major threat from set-pieces, though he'll be disappointed he couldn't direct his header on target. A really strong and reliable display.

Riccardo Calafiori - 6.0: A difficult 45 minutes for the defender, who was hooked at half-time. He got into good positions but missed a big chance and looked a little off the pace. From our perspective he just never really got into the flow of the game.

Midfielders

Bukayo Saka - 6.0: A surprisingly quiet and ineffective afternoon for the captain. Losing 10 duels and possession 15 times is not the standard we expect from him. He created a couple of chances but looked frustrated and was eventually booked before being substituted. A performance he will want to forget.

Eberechi Eze - 7.0: He was the metronome in midfield before his substitution. His 97% pass accuracy shows how clean and tidy he was in possession. He kept the ball moving, linked play well, and was a calming influence. A good, solid shift.

Leandro Trossard - 8.5: The clear Man of the Match. He was the difference-maker. Not only did he score the brilliantly taken winning goal, but he also hit the woodwork twice in the first half. He was a constant threat, his movement was intelligent, and he had the quality to decide a tight game. What a performance.

Declan Rice - 7.5: An authoritative display against his old club's rivals. He controlled the tempo in midfield, breaking up play with 3 clearances and an interception. He was also a creative force, creating a big chance and whipping in 8 crosses. He was everywhere, driving his team forward.

Myles Lewis-Skelly - 6.5: A very steady and disciplined performance from the young midfielder. He boasted an impressive 93% pass accuracy, keeping things simple and ticking over. He didn't offer a huge amount going forward but he did his job effectively, providing a solid base for the more creative players.

Forwards

Viktor Gyökeres - 6.5: A performance full of hard work but lacking in cutting edge. He was a real handful for the West Ham defenders, drawing three fouls and winning his share of duels. However, he couldn't find the back of the net, missing the chances that came his way. He needs to be more clinical.

Manager

M. Arteta - 7.5: He gets credit for his team's patience and belief. They were frustrated for large parts of the game, but didn't panic. His substitutions proved effective, bringing on fresh legs that helped to find the breakthrough. It was a victory born of tactical discipline and trusting the process, a hallmark of his management.

Man of the Match

Leandro Trossard was the man of the match in this EPL game.

Worst Performer

Bukayo Saka was the worst performer in West Ham vs Arsenal.