Overview
- Ben White left with a knee problem in the first half, prompting Mikel Arteta to bring on Martin Zubimendi and move Declan Rice to right-back.
- Arteta withdrew Zubimendi in the 67th minute for Kai Havertz and later said the call was a cold, tactical choice to get the midfield balance back and push for a winner.
- Riccardo Calafiori also came off at half-time after feeling an issue, with Cristhian Mosquera stepping in to help form a makeshift back line.
- Leandro Trossard hit the 83rd‑minute winner and VAR ruled out a late West Ham equaliser for a foul on goalkeeper David Raya, preserving a 1-0 result and a five-point lead at the top.
- Arteta said White’s knee is “not looking good,” raising fears over thin defensive options for the next stretch, as pundit Gary Neville criticised the choice to shift Rice into defence.