Arsenal FC dismantled West Ham 2-0 in a feisty London derby with the game being Arsenal’s head coach Mikel Arteta’s 300th game in charge.
The action kicked off briskly. West Ham’s Niclas Füllkrug nodded wide from a corner in the opening minute, and Arsenal’s Jurriën Timber was foiled soon after.
Eberechi Eze squandered a sitter in the 13th minute, and trouble struck Arsenal in the 29th when captain Martin Ødegaard hobbled off with a knee knock, who was swapped for Martín Zubimendi.
However, the Gunners shot into the lead at the 38th minute after Zubimendi’s pinpoint pass found Eze, whose shot was parried, allowing Rice to lash a rocket into the net.
Half-time drama followed as Riccardo Calafiori’s 20-yard screamer clattered the post, pinging off keeper Alphonse Areola.
Following the halftime break, Nuno Espírito Santo threw on youngsters Freddie Potts and Callum Marshall around the hour.
But in the 67th, El Hadji Malick Diouf felled Timber in the box, and the referee gave one call: penalty. Bukayo Saka, on his 200th Premier League outing and standing in as skipper, slotted it coolly home.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta beamed: “Very happy. We dominated with absolute control, no goals conceded, perfect way to hit the break.”
West Ham’s Nuno Espírito Santo rued: “That was not a good performance. We must sharpen up fast.”
The win catapults Arsenal to the Premier League summit on 19 points, while West Ham tumble to 11th with 8, exposing early cracks under new stewardship.
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