writen By Talal osman
We made easy work of this clash, going ahead on 38 minutes when Declan Rice neatly tucked home after Eberechi Eze saw a shot saved, and then midway through the second half Saka drove home a penalty after Jurrien Timber had been felled inside the box.
That was enough to allow Mikel Arteta to enjoy his own landmark afternoon as he took charge of us for the 300th occasion, and as he toasts that this evening, he’ll also be delighted that despite a tricky seven-game start, we’re yet again amongst the league’s leading pack.
Arsenal put the pressure on Liverpool as they moved at least temporarily to the top of the Premier League table by comfortably beating West Ham United 2-0.
Goals from former Hammers captain Declan Rice and from Bukayo Saka, who marked a milestone appearance in style, ensured a routine victory for Arsenal at Emirates Stadium.
Mikel Arteta’s side dominated from the off, with Eberechi Eze and Riccardo Calafiori going close in the first half, either side of Rice’s 38th-minute goal.
On his 200th Premier League game for the Gunners, Saka sent Alphonse Areola the wrong way from the penalty spot midway through the second period.
While Arsenal have guaranteed themselves a place in the top two heading into the international break, West Ham sit 19th, with four points from their seven matches.
How the match unfolded
With Liverpool facing Chelsea later on Saturday, Arsenal sensed an opportunity to put the pressure on Arne Slot’s team. Eze might have done better when the ball fell kindly for him after Viktor Gyokeres had been denied by Areola, but the playmaker’s close-range effort flew over the bar.
Saka thought he had given the Gunners the lead soon after, slotting in from a long pass from Rice, but the winger made his run too early and was caught offside.
Yet Arsenal’s pressure told before the break when Rice sidefooted into a gaping net after Areola had parried a shot by Eze, who had been played in by Martin Zubimendi.
Calafiori was inches away from doubling the hosts’ advantage as his thunderous right-foot shot from the edge of the box rattled the post.
But West Ham could not make their good fortune count, and Arsenal’s second arrived in the 67th minute – Saka slamming home from 12 yards following a foul by El Hadji Malick Diouf on Jurrien Timber who had been found by Zubimendi's ball over the top.
West Ham substitute Callum Marshall almost set up a grandstand finish on his Premier League debut, but headed over as Arsenal ultimately saw out the win with minimum fuss.
Arteta’s cornerstone Saka marks milestone appearance in style
Saka, Arsenal’s star man and academy graduate, featured in Arteta’s first game in charge back in 2019, albeit at left-back, but has now firmly cemented himself as one of the league’s best attackers.
He demonstrated why he has been so important to Arsenal, as he became the seventh-youngest player to feature in 200 Premier League games.
The 24-year-old played a crucial role in creating the chance for Eze’s early miss, after a fantastic pass from Martin Odegaard. He was also involved in the build-up to Rice’s opener.
Saka’s penalty brought up his 100th goal involvement in the competition. After Thierry Henry, he is just the second Arsenal player to score on his 200th Premier League appearance for the club.
The Gunners suffered during Saka’s absence at the start of the calendar year, he was missed again earlier this season, despite Noni Madueke’s bright displays.
And with Madueke now sidelined with a knee injury, even more importance will be placed on Saka’s fitness, though there was some concern for Arteta when both Odegaard and Rice trudged off with issues.
Arsenal will hope those problems are minor ones, and Arteta will be keeping his fingers crossed that, should the duo feature for their countries over the coming weeks, they suffer no further damage, with the Gunners next in action against Fulham on October 18.
Damage control for Nuno
In just his second game in charge, a trip to Arsenal was never going to be easy for Nuno Espirito Santo.
Despite seeing a half-chance squandered by Niclas Fullkrug within the opening minutes, it was a tame performance from the Hammers, who failed to build on Monday’s draw at Everton.
The visitors sat deep and looked to hit Arsenal on the counter, but they gained little to no joy with their game plan against an in-form attacking unit.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka was brought straight back into the starting line-up after recovering from injury, and he showed some promising link-up play with Jarrod Bowen.
Diouf was not as effective in this match as he was against Everton, and his clumsy foul resulted in Arsenal’s penalty, while Lucas Paqueta also struggled to have much influence.
West Ham host Brentford in their first match after the break before a trip to Leeds United, and those two fixtures are likely to provide more insight for Nuno than a trip to a title contender.
