Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
by Layth Yousif
at Ashburton Grove

GOALS from Declan Rice and a second half penalty by Bukayo Saka moved Arsenal to the top of the Premier League table on Saturday after a commanding performance against Nuno Espirito Santo’s sorry Hammers.

In a dominant display, Mikel Arteta’s Gunners dominated their visitors from the East End, to move two points clear of Liverpool in first place going into October’s international break.

In a lively start Eberechi Eze fired over from close range after Arsenal pressure. The £67.5 million signing from Palace should have scored but lifted his effort over the bar after Saka and Martin Odegaard dovetailed to provide the ball to the bustling Viktor Gyokeres, whose initial effort was smothered.

Alas, it was a case of home discomforts for Odegaard, who was forced to leave the action during a game for the third time this season.

The Gunners captain looking downhearted after appearing to injure his knee following a fair challenge with Crysencio Summerville on the half-hour mark, to be replaced by Martin Zubimendi.

Arteta’s side continued unbowed, continuing to dominate. The opening goal eventually coming eight minutes later, when former Iron Rice — who was booed earlier in the game by the travelling fans — guided his close-range effort past Alphonse Areola and into the net, after Eze had his shot pushed away.

Riccardo Calafiori thudded the post with Areola beaten moments before the interval, forcing former Gunner Dino Mavropanos to clear off the line after the ball rebounded off Areola’s back, as the Gunners hunted for a second strike.

The home side eventually doubled their lead on 67 minutes, after Jurrien Timber was brought down by El Hadji Diouf, with Saka stepping up to calmly slot the spot kick into the net, sending Areola the wrong way.

A delighted Arteta, marking his 300th game in charge said after the match: “I told them it was a big opportunity, we’ve had very difficult fixtures since the start of the season, and some very bad injuries as well not helping.

“The team is performing, playing well, winning today with absolute dominance and without conceding a goal. So, good to get to the international break in this spirit.”

As for West Ham, it was a dismal performance from the Irons, less a reflection on their new manager, Nuno, more underlining a once proud club’s steady decline since failing to kick on after winning the Europa Conference League.

No wonder Nuno reflected afterwards: “Many parts of our game we did well, and not so well in other aspects.”