A Cheikhou Kouyate goal on the stroke of half time has given West Ham United a 1-0 lead at Arsenal in Sunday's Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium.

The Hammers began with intent and appeared eager to make their presence felt on the opposition, which led to early bookings for Mark Noble and Angelo Ogbonna.

Laurent Koscielny was the first player of the game to weigh in with a chance, although his header on nine minutes looped wide of goal.

Arsenal failed to truly get into gear until the half-hour mark, when Santi Cazorla lashed a volley onto the roof of the West Ham net and Aaron Ramsey fired an effort off Aaron Cresswell and against the bar.

Despite their late surge, the visitors would have the final say in the half as Dimitri Payet's free-kick into the area was misjudged by the onrushing Petr Cech, leaving Kouyate to coolly head his side into the lead.