The Hammers moved to within four points of the Gunners with a win against Watford - and Bilic is urging his side to keep looking up the table
Slaven Bilic saw his West Ham side reignite their Champions League hopes then warned Arsenal: It isn’t over.
An Andy Carroll volley and two Mark Noble penalties piled the pressure on Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores, whose job at Vicarage Road is under scrutiny.
The Hammers also cut the gap between them and the fourth-placed Gunners to just four points before their game against West Brom tonight.
Bilic said: “This was kind of a decisive game. I told the players that this game would decide whether we look up or down.
“Liverpool are in good form, but it is nice to have a five-point cushion on Southampton and to be three points behind Manchester United.
“I’d stopped watching Arsenal because they were so far ahead. But you can’t say we have a good cushion on Southampton but that Arsenal are not there to be taken.
“When I say that it isn’t over as far as Southampton and Stoke are concerned, it isn’t over with Arsenal as well.”
Carroll struck in the 11th minute to make it three goals in as many Premier League games for the first time in his career.
The Big Geordie volleyed home after Dimitri Payet floated a long ball over the Watford defence.
Roy Hodgson may not fancy taking Carroll to Euro 2016, but he is making it difficult for the England manager to ignore him.
Noble converted two penalties to make it 25 out of 28 from the spot in a West Ham shirt. The Irons had been in strong contention for the top four until crucial refereeing decisions cost them dear in recent matches. But referee Mike Dean twice ruled in their favour after incidents of grappling in the box.
First, Jose Holebas tried to use Cheikhou Kouyate as a step ladder in the box on the stroke of half-time.
Then Almen Abdi pulled down Michail Antonio shortly after the interval.
In between, Abdi blazed over the bar from seven yards when it would have been easier to score.
Even Watford’s consolation goal, swept home by Sebastian Prodl, could not dampen the feel-good factor around Upton Park.
West Ham keeper Adrian made a fine penalty save from substitute Troy Deeney in stoppage time after Angelo Ogbonna was penalised for more wrestling.
A bad night for Flores was capped when frontman Nordin Amrabat was sent off for a second bookable offence, a late tackle on Winston Reid.
The smoke signals suggest only victory will save Flores at Wembley on Sunday but the Spaniard is hoping the Watford board recognise his fine achievement in keeping the club in the Premier League.
“It is very important that people in the club value our work.
“If not, we have different views. But if they calm down, the future is to work.”
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