Rice and Saka strike as Arsenal subdue West Ham on Arteta’s 300th

On a landmark afternoon for Mikel Arteta’s 300th match in charge, Arsenal eased past West Ham 2-0 to move top of the Premier League. Declan Rice broke the deadlock against his former club, steering in after Alphonse Areola parried Eberechi Eze’s effort, before Bukayo Saka sealed the result from the spot after Jurrien Timber was fouled by El Hadji Malick Diouf.

Arsenal dictated the tempo for long stretches, restricting Nuno Espírito Santo’s side to fleeting moments and an early Niclas Füllkrug header off a corner. The victory carried a note of concern, however, with Martin Ødegaard forced off before the interval with a knee problem and Rice later requesting to come off due to back pain.

Bold selection, early setback, seamless reshuffle

Arteta selected with intent. Rice anchored midfield with Ødegaard and Eze ahead of him, and Riccardo Calafiori had license to step inside to create overloads. The approach targeted West Ham’s low block with numbers between the lines and quick circulation.

The plan needed a swift adjustment when Ødegaard limped off after a knee-to-knee collision with Crysencio Summerville. Martín Zubimendi replaced him and Rice was pushed higher into an attacking role. Zubimendi’s progressive passing immediately knitted Arsenal’s play together and would prove central to unlocking the visitors.

Rice’s return and Saka’s milestone

The opener crystallised Arsenal’s superiority. Zubimendi slipped Eze through and Areola could only push the shot back into danger, where Rice kept his composure to finish. The England international, jeered earlier by the away end, chose not to celebrate and simply glanced back towards the travelling support.

Saka then doubled the lead, converting from 12 yards after referee John Brookes ruled Diouf’s challenge on Timber had occurred inside the area. On his 200th Premier League appearance, Saka’s assurance underscored a remarkable output that now stands at 55 goals and 45 assists in the competition.

West Ham’s organised start fades under pressure

West Ham began purposefully, with Füllkrug heading over inside the first minute and a mobile trio of Matheus Fernandes, Soungoutou Magassa and Lucas Paquetá looking to spring counters. As Arsenal quickened the pace, though, the visitors were forced back into a deep, compact shape.

Areola endured anxious moments—Calafiori’s effort struck the post and cannoned against the goalkeeper before bouncing clear, and Saka repeatedly isolated Diouf on the right. Nuno’s changes, handing 20-year-old Callum Marshall a debut and introducing academy graduate Freddie Potts, could not alter the flow. West Ham failed to register a shot on target and spent extended periods penned in.

Performance tempered by injury concerns

Ødegaard’s withdrawal means a third consecutive league start curtailed before half-time; Arteta later noted the captain was wearing a knee brace and was not positive about the issue. Rice’s late exit with back pain—rare for him—further dimmed the gloss on the performance.

Yet Arsenal’s control and the clarity of their attacking patterns—shaped by Zubimendi’s distribution and Saka’s incision—were undeniable. West Ham, winners on their previous two trips here, found no such foothold this time. For Nuno, the structure is visible; the work now is turning organisation into threat during a valuable training window.