ARSENAL temporarily moved into fourth place in the Premier League after a 2-0 win at home to West Ham on Wednesday.

Even though Arsenal had dropped Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, after stripping him of the captaincy, they were impressive in victory with goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe.

Martinelli latched onto a throughball from stand-in captain Alexandre Lacazette that sliced past three defenders and set the Brazilian clear on goal from the left. Martinelli made up for a miss late in the first half by curling the ball into the far corner in the 48th minute at Emirates Stadium.

Smith Rowe sealed the victory with a clever run and a fine strike from the edge of the area in the 87th that wrong-footed West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski. The players ran to a corner to celebrate as manager Mikel Arteta could finally be allowed to break into a smile on the sidelines.

The win came a day after Arsenal stripped Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of the captaincy and was exactly what the Gunners needed to put the tumult at the club behind them. Arsenal is now in fourth place with 29 points, leapfrogging the Hammers, which are in fifth with 28.

“We needed a win,” Martinelli said. “It was so important for the team. We know the potential we have.”

The visitors had a chance to equalize in the 53rd when Arsenal midfielder Martin Odegaard lost possession and the ball fell to West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen. But his effort from just inside the box was pushed over the crossbar by goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.

West Ham manager David Moyes bemoaned a string of injuries within his squad, especially in defensive positions, and he hopes that the club doesn’t have to resort to the transfer market next month. He said Arsenal was tough to handle, but that mistakes let his team down.

“There were a few poor bits of play that led to their goals,” Moyes said. “The second goal that was given away was heartbreaking for the boys who were running for 90 minutes.”

The Gunners failed to convert a penalty after West Ham right back Vladimir Coufal kicked Lacazette in the shin in the 66th. Coufal was sent off after being shown a second yellow card. Lacazette’s spot kick was pushed away by Fabianski.

(SD-Agencies)