Arsenal vs West Ham United Live Analysis: Scoreless After 18 Minutes

The match remains 0-0 with Arsenal playing away. At the 18-minute mark, over 70 minutes of play remain. Both sides have yet to break the deadlock in a tightly contested affair.

Match Rhythm

Since kickoff, Arsenal has controlled possession with fluid midfield distribution, but West Ham's defense sits deep with numbers packed in the box, making it difficult for the Gunners to penetrate. West Ham looks to strike on the counter, with Bowen and Antonio attempting to exploit Arsenal's defensive line through pace, though they have not yet created a genuine threat. Arsenal dictates the tempo, but transition play has been sluggish. The decisive moment will hinge on who scores first — if Arsenal break through, the match will likely settle into their familiar control rhythm; if West Ham steal a goal on the counter, the contest will suddenly tighten dramatically.

Betting Dynamics

On Polymarket, the largest trading market (volume $6.5 million) shows Arsenal victory at 64% "Yes" odds and 37% "No," with the market clearly favoring the Gunners, though a substantial share still backs a non-win outcome. A smaller market (volume $316,000) prices Arsenal victory at just 13% with "No" at 88%, likely reflecting alternative outcomes such as a West Ham win or total goals, indicating most participants skeptical of the away side's chances. As play unfolds, if Arsenal continues attacking but cannot find the breakthrough, odds may shift toward "No"; conversely, if a goal arrives in the final ten minutes of the first half, the market will likely accelerate in that direction.

Second Half Outlook

Key observation: the final ten minutes of the first half and attacking efficiency. If Arsenal breaks the deadlock before the 45-minute mark, they will control the second half with more composure, potentially pushing Arsenal victory on Polymarket above 70%. If halftime arrives at 0-0, West Ham's morale rises and market uncertainty increases, with "No" odds potentially testing the 45% threshold. Monitor both teams' box touches and shots on target as leading indicators of the second-half trajectory.