Nasri impresses as West Ham sinks Arsenal
Samir Nasri impressed for West Ham as it claimed a 1-0 Premier League victory over his former club Arsenal at London Stadium on Sunday (AEDT).
Nasri was making his Premier League debut for the club as he continues his comeback from an 18-month ban for receiving an intravenous treatment at a Los Angeles clinic in December 2016, contravening World Anti-Doping Agency rules.
And the former France international was a key figure for West Ham, setting up Declan Rice for the winner early in the second half.
Marko Arnautovic - linked with a move to China - waved to fans after being replaced in the second half, while Arsenal struggled to truly test goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski in a poor showing.
Mark Noble failed to get enough purchase on a left-footed strike from the edge of the box as West Ham threatened to take an early lead but it was Arsenal who forced the first real save of the match – Fabianski providing the block after Alexandre Lacazette had exposed a hole in the Hammers' defence.
Sead Kolasinac chose to cut the ball back for Lacazette when a shot would have been the better option after the ball broke for him down the left after 23 minutes, while Nasri probably should have followed the Bosnian's example when he drilled into the side-netting soon after.
Nasri then teed up Felipe Anderson to fizz a low strike wide, before Matteo Guendouzi arrowed a strike just past the post from distance with Fabianski at full stretch and Declan Rice headed just off target in the closing stages of an even first half.
West Ham made the breakthrough three minutes into the second half, when a weak clearing header from Laurent Koscielny fell to former Arsenal colleague Nasri, who laid off the ball for Rice fire home from just inside the box.
Arsenal improved after the introduction of Aaron Ramsey - who is said to have agreed a deal with Juventus this week - after 59 minutes but failed to make their chances count, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alex Iwobi missing two opportunities of note.
The Gunners had the ball in the back of the net in stoppage time, but Koscielny's header was ruled out for offside against Lucas Torreira, who crossed the ball, as West Ham held on for a first home win against the Gunners since 2006.
Other Premier League results:
Burnley 2-1 Fulham
Crystal Palace 1-2 Watford
Cardiff City 0-0 Huddersfield
Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle United
Leicester 1-2 Southampton
Brighton 0-1 Liverpool
