Arsenal 2-0 West Ham: Declan Rice and Bukayosaka were on target as gunners chased the hammer aside
Bukayosaka has given Arsenal a fourth victory in all competitions to mark their 200th Premier League style. England International blows up the Gunners’ second home from the penalty spot to notch his 100th top flight goal involvement – 55 goals and 45 assists – after Declan Rice scored the opening game of the first half against his beloved former employer.
Mikel Arteta also scored his 300th match as Arsenal boss and has not scored more points than Gunner (22) in his last nine Premier League matches. Having already checked out awkward away trips to Old Trafford, Anfield and St James Park, Arteta’s challengers are not only growing confidently, but they’re building impressive momentum.
However, after both Martin Odegard and Declan Rice stepped in with knee and back issues, the three points were slightly exacerbated by potential fitness horrors. The hosts suffered breaking the deadlock in 14 minutes when Ebeki Eze blows up from close range after Aaron Wang Vissaka hacked the ball from the line.
The Gunners’ early momentum was stopped due to an injury to Odegard. The Arsenal captain, who has endured a stop-start season so far, captivated him with a victory over the Champions League Olympiacos on Wednesday night, eventually shrugging his shoulder struggle to one side on the course.
read more: Arsenal dealt a major injury blow as Martin Odegard was banished with another injuryread more: Leandro Trossard shows his true colour with cruel and honest thought of Arsenal’s headache
However, when he attempted to tackle Crysencio Summerville, he crashed into the knee with a Dutch winger from West Ham, hitting the deck. He tried to continue first, then became a soldier once more before kicking the ball and receiving further treatment, eventually losing Arteta’s disappointment.
After Arsenal let out a scream of penalty, the influence of Martin Zubimendi in exchange was virtually instantaneous – Soungoutou Magassa seemed to handle it in the box – rejected. Viktor Gyoker also wasted the header before Spanish Maestro split the Hammers backline and fed it with Eze.
England International, which led the Irons to Conference League glory in 2023, never celebrated his boyhood club, but he seemed to dazzle towards the traveling West Ham followers who jeered every touch.
After a runaway fullback Ricardo Carafioli, Arsenal rattled the post before he saw the second penalty appeal turn away after the ball hit Max Kilman’s arm.
Marquee frontman Gyoker called up a whopping 54 goals at the Sports CP last season and was recently awarded the prestigious Gerd Müller Trophy in a red-hot exploit at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris.
However, the Swedes have struggled to send a large number of opens in recent matches, making them six games without finding targets.
Many who were bagged with emphasis from the spot against Leeds were hoping that he would grab the ball when Arsenal was ultimately given a penalty following the challenge of Malick Diouf with the Julien Timbers.
However, Saka, currently involved in nine goals on his final seven league outings against West Ham (5 goals, 4 assists), has decided he’ll take him home.
Arsenal’s victory was the first time the home side had won one of these two sides’ past six league meetings. For gunners, there was no better way to sign off before an international break.
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