Two hours before Burnley-Watford, the Premier League announced that the kickoff would not be given "due to a series of Covid-19 cases within the Watford workforce".

This is the third league game postponed due to the increased circulation of the coronavirus within the English elite after Brighton-Tottenham, Sunday, and Brentford-Manchester United, scheduled for Tuesday.

It is not certain that we will see the end of it anytime soon, after the 42 positive tests on 3,805 samples, announced on Monday by the Premier League, a weekly record since the generalization of anti-Covid screenings in May 2020.

Football did eventually regain its rights with a London derby at the top of the table which started sluggishly before getting carried away at the end of the first act.

Faced with the Hammers, deprived of three-quarters of their usual injury defense and become irregular, Arsenal displayed a rather attractive face offensively.

With 29 points, he overtook his neighbor who has 28, but Manchester United, 6th with 27 units and one game less, as well as Tottenham, 7th with 25 points and three games less, including one in Leicester on Thursday, are at scope of the Gunners.

Lacazette in sight

After dismissing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, removed from the captain's armband for a new misconduct, Mikel Arteta chose Alexandre Lacazette as captain for this match.

The Frenchman was up to the task, even if he missed the break penalty with twenty minutes remaining.

Polish West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski clears the ball in front of French Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette on Matchday 17 of the Premier League on December 15, 2021 at Emirates Stadium Ben STANSALL AFP

He had in particular been credited with a dangerous strike low to the ground shortly before the break (44th), a few minutes after Kieran Tierney had found the crossbar with a volley at 23 meters (40th).

Lacazette especially delivered a perfect assist on the opening scoring of Gabriel Martinelli, with a flat foot that would not have denied Thierry Henry (1-0, 48th).

That said, the record is not all rosy for the Gunners who had a hard time making the hole, even after Vladimir Coufal was sent off on the action that led to the penalty, despite several clear chances.

It was not until the 87th minute and a goal from Emile Smith-Rowe to finally breathe.

Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe scores the second home goal against West Ham on Premier League matchday 17 on December 15, 2021 at Emirates Stadium Ben STANSALL AFP

This lack of realism could have come at a cost without goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who again saved the Red-and-White homeland after culpable defensive mistakes.

He made a very good parade on a strike from Jarrod Bowen, after a ball stupidly lost in the axis 20 meters from the goals on a missed pass from Martin Odegaard (53rd) and he courageously came out in front of a tackle from Michail Antonio, three minutes later, after a poorly adjusted back pass from Gabriel.

To really assert their ambitions this season, Arsenal will have to confirm over the next two days with trips to Leeds (16th) and Norwich (20th), while they only have the 12th away record in the Premier League.

In the other matches of the evening, Crystal Palace and Patrick Vieira could not do better than a 2-2 at home against Southampton, however in the hard, while Wolverhampton went to win at Brighton (1-0) .

© 2021 AFP