LONDON, Dec 16: With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang dropped following his latest disciplinary breach, Arsenal needed other attackers to step up for its big Premier League match against top-four rival West Ham on Wednesday.
Alexandre Lacazette, Gabriel Martinelli and Emile Smith Rowe did just that in a 2-0 win at Emirates Stadium. Replacing Aubameyang as captain, Lacazette played a perfectly weighted throughball and the 20-year-old Martinelli burst through down the left and produced a precise finish into the far corner.
Then, the 21-year-old Smith Rowe entered as a substitute and put away a clinical finish at the end of a counter attack in the 87th minute.
James Ward-Prowse’s curling strike from 25 meters was the highlight of the 2-2 draw between Southampton and Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. His latest canceled out Wilfried Zaha’s second-minute opener for Palace, which then fell behind to Armando Broja’s shot from outside the area in the 36th.
Jordan Ayew equalized in the 65th for Palace.
Brighton’s winless run stretched to a club-record 11 Premier League games after Romain Saiss’ first-half strike earned Wolverhampton a 1-0 victory. (AP)
