Arsenal v West Ham player ratings: Odegaard 7, Martinelli 4; Soucek 8, Bowen 6

Hammers secure a 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium as the Gunners miss the chance to move top

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  David Raya 6/10

  ARSENAL PLAYER RATINGS: Saved Benrahma’s spot-kick to keep the score at 2-0. Couldn’t have done anything about the two goals. Reuters

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  Ben White 6/10

  Failed to direct his header on target when he got on the end of Zinchenko’s cross in the 33rd minute. Solid defensively and tried to help out in attack. Getty Images

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  Oleksandr Zinchenko 4/10

  Got involved in a mixup with Gabriel Magalhaes, which led to the Hammers’ opener. Looked shaky all through the game. EPA

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  William Saliba 6/10

  Important block to stop Emerson’s cross in the second half. A calm presence in the Gunners defence. AP

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  Gabriel Magalhaes 4/10

  Involved in the mix-up with Zinchenko that led to the Hammers opener. Beaten to the header by Mavropanos for the visitors' second goal. AFP

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  Declan Rice 6/10

  Hit a good effort from range just after the restart, but it went just over. Conceded a late penalty with a foul on Emerson after a slip. Not the result he would have wanted against his former club. AFPShow less

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  Martin Odegaard 7/10

  Looked like Arsenal's best chance of creating or scoring a goal. Stung Areola’s palms with a fierce effort late in the game. Getty Images

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  Leandro Trossard 6/10

  Made an absolute mess of a training ground free-kick routine in the 25th minute. Forced Areola into a good save in the 73rd minute. Reuters

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  Bukayo Saka 6/10

  Called Areola into action with a glancing header half an hour into the game. Had the goal-post shaking with a ferocious effort close to the end of the first half. EPA

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  Gabriel Martinelli 4/10

  Had a good chance to bring the home side level in the 36th minute, but he hit his effort wide. Another disappointing performance from the Brazilian who has struggled to replicate last season's sensational form. APShow less

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  Gabriel Jesus 6/10

  Displayed good vision to pick out Saka behind West Ham's backline with a precise chipped pass in the first half. Got on the end of Trossard’s cross in the 64th minute, but he directed his header straight at Areola. ReutersShow less

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  Reiss Nelson 5/10

  SUBS: (Martinelli 64') Had a good chance from the edge of the penalty area in the 90th minute, but he failed to keep his shot on target. AFP

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  Eddie Nketiah 6/10

  (Zinchenko 64') Attempted an overhead kick in the 89th minute but his effort was too weak to trouble Areola. Never stopped running and fighting for every ball. AFP

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  Emile Smith Rowe N/A

  (Trossard 79') Hit a weak effort straight into the hands of Areola in the 86th minute. AFP

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  Alphonse Areola 8/10

  WEST HAM PLAYER RATINGS: Made two saves to deny Saka and Trossard in quick succession in the second half. Provided a huge save to deny Odegaard late in the game. Reuters

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  Emerson Palmieri 7/10

  Excellent interception to stop Odegaard from playing Saka through on goal with five minutes of the first half left to play. Won a late penalty, which wasn’t converted. Reuters

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  Vladimir Coufal 7/10

  Important header to prevent Gabriel Jesus from getting on the end of Saliba’s glancing header towards the back post. Kept Martinelli relatively quiet and also dealt with the threat of Nelson. AP

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  Angelo Ogbonna 7/10

  Made a crucial last-ditch tackle to disposes Odegaard before he could go through on goal just before halftime. Made several clearances and interceptions in the second half. AFP

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  Konstantinos Mavropanos 8/10

  Impeccable at both ends of the pitch for the visitors. Doubled West Ham's lead with a ferocious header that went in off the bar in the 55th minute. AP

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  Tomas Soucek 8/10

  Opened the scoring with a simple finish from close range in the 13th minute. Proved very crucial when dealing with the Gunners’ crosses into the danger area. AFP

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  Edson Alvarez 7/10

  Put in a hardworking display next to Soucek at the base of midfield and was everywhere for the Hammers late in the game. EPA

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  Mohammed Kudus 6/10

  Not one of the best nights of Kudus going forward. He didn’t get a chance to test Raya but did his part tracking back. EPA

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  James Ward Prowse 8/10

  Had the visitors’ first chance with a shot from the edge of the box but failed to keep it on target. Created the second with a good corner-kick delivery for Mavropanos to head home. Reuters

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  Lucas Paqueta 6/10

  Played a part in the opener but was subbed off later due to injury. West Ham will hope it's not too serious as the Brazilian has been superb this season. AFP

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  Jarrod Bowen 6/10

  Earned the controversial assist for Soucek’s goal as VAR couldn't ascertain whether the ball had stayed in or out of play. Had a tough time holding up the ball for his teammates against the likes of Saliba and Gabriel. ReutersShow less

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  Said Benrahma 5/10

  SUBS: (Paqueta 33') Had a late chance to make it 3-0 from the penalty spot but Raya saved his spot-kick. Limited to mostly defensive contributions after coming on until his late chance from the penalty spot. Getty ImagesShow less

Arsenal missed out on the chance to return to the Premier League summit on Thursday after losing 2-0 to West Ham at the Emirates Stadium.

Mikel Arteta's Gunners were top of the tree at Christmas for a second successive year but trail leaders Liverpool by two points at the halfway point of the season.

Arsenal, last year's runners-up, dominated possession but lacked a cutting edge against the disciplined visitors, for whom Tomas Soucek and Konstantinos Mavropanos scored the goals.

Soucek opened the scoring from close range in the 13th minute following a pass from Jarrod Bowen, with the goal confirmed after a lengthy VAR check looking into whether the ball had gone out of play.

Arsenal surged forward in waves and West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola made a reaction save from a Bukayo Saka header on the half-hour.

The England winger hit the post from a tight angle as the clock ticked down towards half-time but Arsenal trailed at the break despite enjoying nearly three-quarters of possession.

The Gunners came out determined to find a response but instead they found themselves 2-0 down when Mavropanos's bullet header cannoned in off the crossbar from James Ward-Prowse's corner.

Gabriel Jesus failed to beat Areola with a header when well-placed and shortly afterwards missed another glorious opportunity with his head at the back post.

The home side continued to bombard the visitors' goal but could not find a breakthrough and it could have been worse had Said Benrahma managed to convert a late penalty.

Defeat leaves the Gunners in second place on 40 points, one clear of Aston Villa and three ahead of Manchester City, who have a game in hand.

Check out the photo gallery above for the player ratings from the Emirates. To move on to the next slide, click on the arrows or swipe if using a mobile device.