Player ratings as Gunners pound hapless Hammers into submission at the Emirates

Arsenal climbed to the top of the Premier League with a comfortable 2-0 home win over a defensive West Ham at the Emirates today. Never needing to get out of first gear, Arsenal dominated possession and took their chances when they came.

Mikel Arteta made five changes from the team that started in the Champions League victory at home to Olympiacos on Wednesday.

Jurriën Timber started at right back with Riccardo Calafiori returning to the starting line-up on the left side of the defence.

Martin Ødegaard, Declan Rice and Eberechi Eze were selected ahead of both Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino. Ødegaard's performance against Olympiacos in midweek was world class. The standard that he set in that match has given Arsenal fans good reason to be excited about the prospect of seeing him play alongside Eze against the Hammers.

Of all the players that West Ham boss Nuno Espírito Santo would have liked to have seen remaining on the Arsenal bench, Bukayo Saka would have been top of the list. However, Saka came back in on the right side of the forward line to make his 200th Premier League start for the Gunners.

There were early chances for both teams. Niclas Füllkrug headed over from a second minute corner for West Ham. Then Eze skied the ball over the bar from 12 yards out when it looked easier to score.

Arsenal did have the ball in the back of the net in the 24th minute when Saka ran in behind the West Ham defence and slid the ball past Alphonse Areola in the West Ham goal. Arsenal celebrations were cut short though as the flag went up for offside.

Arsenal lost their captain on the half-hour when Ødegaard was forced off after a clash of knees made it impossible for the Dane to continue and he was replaced by Martin Zubimendi.

Declan Rice scores against his former club

West Ham frustrated Arsenal until the 38th minute when Zubimendi played in Eze whose powerful shot was wall saved by Areola. However, the rebound fell to Declan Rice 12 yards out and he controlled his half-volley superbly to fire Arsenal ahead.

The second half was quite uneventful until Jurriën Timber was brought down on the edge of the West Ham box by El Hadji Malick Diouf as he was bursting through on goal. Although Diouf's initial contact was made outside the box, the contact continued into the penalty area.

Saka dispatched the penalty with aplomb into the bottom right-hand corner to extend Arsenal's lead and put the match beyond West Ham.

Arsenal were very in control for long spells and kept the ball well without creating any more clear cut chances. They toiled with West Ham and kept them comfortably at bay for the remaining quarter of an hour.

Player Ratings - Arsenal 2-0 West Ham United

Goalkeeper & Defenders

David Raya (GK) - 6/10 - Very little to do as West Ham sat deep and looked to counter attack. Almost embarrassed when a speculative effort from the left almost sailed over his head.

Jurriën Timber (RB) - 8/10 - Another good performance from the Dutch wing-back who was impressive at both ends of the pitch. His strong running into the box earned Arsenal the penalty from which Saka scored.

William Saliba (CB) - 7/10 - Passed the ball with accuracy (92.8%) and made six clearances. Saliba's concentration was a feature of his good performance.

Gabriel Magalhaes (CB) - 7/10 - Defensively sound and never needed to be at his best against a West Ham side who never really threatened.

Riccardo Calafiori (LB) - 7/10 - An intense performance. Strong tackling in the first half helped Arsenal to keep West Ham at bay. Almost scored on the stroke of half-time when his fierce shot crashed against the post.

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