BUKAYO SAKA was back to his usual self as Arsenal brushed aside West Ham.
The Gunners have looked unbeatable at home in recent months and were in control throughout.
Martin Odegaard was forced off injured in the first half again[/caption]
Martin Zubimendi impressed after coming on[/caption]
Viktor Gyokeres failed to impress again[/caption]
Goals either side of half-time from Declan Rice and Saka earned the win.
Rice tapped home a rebound after Saka had a shot saved, before the England star scored from the penalty spot after Jurrien Timber was brought down.
However it was another match where Viktor Gyokeres failed to get on the scoresheet, with few opportunities carved out for the Swede.
Here is how Sun Sport’s Jordan Davies rated the Gunners display.
DAVID RAYA – 6/10
Could have stayed at home and still had a clean sheet. No save to make.
JURRIEN TIMBER – 7
Get that new contract signed pronto. A rare player who is good at pretty much every facet of the game, and never gets rattled.
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Earned a penalty with a brilliant run into the box, cleverly winning the foul.
WILLIAM SALIBA – 7
He didn’t have a lot to do at all. A few passes here, a few interceptions there. A very comfortable afternoon. You don’t get a lot of those in the Prem as a centre back.
GABRIEL – 7
Insert the words from Saliba right here. Exactly the same. A few set pieces came his way but West Ham did enough to put him off his stride.
RICCARDO CALAFIORI – 7
Put in some thumping tackles and wore out the grass on that left side with his rampaging runs up and down. Really making the left-back shirt his own now.
DECLAN RICE – 9
Against his old club, this was the Rice of old we love to watch. So adventurous and risky on the ball that caused so much havoc for West Ham that they struggled to contain him for most of the match.
His finish typified this, driving into the box in pursuit of scraps and getting his wish with a well-deserved tap-in.
EBERECHI EZE – 8
Found lots of exciting gaps in between West Ham’s midfield and defence, striding past opposition players and unlucky not to grab a goal himself.
Looks really settled as an Arsenal player and gives Arteta something different, especially against these low-block sides.
MARTIN ODEGAARD – 6
Just when he looked to be getting some consistency back in his game, another knock halts his momentum. A real shame for the Norwegian.
LEANDRO TROSSARD – 6
Not as effective as he has been down the left in recent weeks. His crossing was lacking a bit of accuracy and Arteta could be seen getting quite frustrated with him in the second half.
BUKAYO SAKA – 8
Lively, giving Diouf a really tough time at right back with his darting runs and driving dribbles that are so hard to defend.
You can tell he is desperate to get back scoring on a regular basis, cutting inside a lot and wrapping his boot around a few nice shots.
And he finally got his chance from the spot, pulling rank with Gyokeres also interested.
VIKTOR GYOKERES – 6
The more he tries, the less he looks like scoring. He looks so tense and so anxious to get on the scoresheet that it is having an adverse effect on his game.
Saying that, he does all the other bits really well, but the fans are going to get bored with that if he doesn’t start scoring soon.
He also has to learn how to cope with and shake off overly-aggressive defenders. West Ham did a proper man-marking job on him and he couldn’t find much space.
He did have a chat with Saka before the penalty, but the Englishman was always going to take it.
SUBS:
MARTIN ZUBIMENDI (ODEGAARD, 30) – 8
It is often quite tough being thrown on in the first half of a Prem match, but try telling Zubimendi that. He ran the game from the moment he came on for the injured Odegaard.
Everything good goes through him, which is why it is so tough leaving him on the bench.
MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY (CALAFIORI, 74) – 6
Thomas Tuchel needs to see more of him if he is to keep an England spot but 16 minutes off the bench in a lukewarm Prem encounter is not what the German would have had in mind.
ETHAN NWANERI (TROSSARD, 74) – 6
A player that is struggling to stand out amongst the immense talent around him currently, although he needs more game time to really get some momentum. He showed glimpses.
MIKEL MERINO (RICE, 79) – 6
One header wide from a free-kick. Could not repeat his St James’ Park antics.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI (EZE, 79) – N/A
Would have been fuming to be left on the bench yet again, but did not turn that anger into a performance worth taking note of, albeit with just 11 or so minutes to make an impact.
