West Ham star Lucas Paqueta collapses to ground and forced off in Arsenal clash after limping out of warm up

LUCAS PAQUETA has been forced off injured against Arsenal after collapsing to the ground with a suspected hamstring injury.

The West Ham star limped off during the warm-up but was judged to be able to start the Premier League match at the Emirates Stadium.

ReutersLucas Paqueta appeared to injure his hamstring against Arsenal[/caption]

ReutersHe was forced to be substituted[/caption]

With West Ham 1-0 up in the game thanks to Tomas Soucek‘s opening goal, Paqueta went down in the 32nd minute.

The Brazilian was attended to by medical staff but was unable to continue for the Hammers.

Algerian winger Said Benrahma was sent on by David Moyes in Paqueta’s place.

Paqueta, 26, limped off the pitch holding his left hamstring.

He was pictured before half time on the substitutes bench with strapping on his left leg.

The Hammers will be concerned about the potential absence of Paqueta with AFCON around the corner.

Summer signing Mohammed Kudus is expected to be called up to the Ghanaian national team, which will see him miss a host of games between January and February.

The former Ajax star has been just as key for the East London outfit as Paqueta this season.

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Since his £34million arrival, Kudus has scored six goals in the Premier League, including one against Manchester United.

West Ham took the lead through Soucek’s goal in the 13th minute.

Arsenal fans were left fuming however as they believed that the ball had gone out of play before Jarrod Bowen crossed the ball to the Czech international.

However, VAR could not find any sufficient evidence to prove that was the case and the goal was given.

Konstantinos Mavropanos made it 2-0 for the visitors as they earned a big three points.

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