Arsenal delivered a masterclass in attacking football as they crushed West Ham United 5-2 at the London Stadium on Saturday evening, with Bukayo Saka producing another spectacular performance to spearhead his team’s third consecutive victory in a week that has yielded an impressive 13 goals for Mikel Arteta’s side.
The visitors showcased their title credentials in a breathtaking first half that witnessed seven goals, marking only the fourth time in Premier League history that so many goals have been scored before the interval. Arsenal’s devastating attacking display saw them race into a commanding four-goal lead within just 34 minutes, demonstrating the kind of ruthless efficiency that has characterized their recent resurgence.
The scoring spree began with Gabriel Magalhaes, who smartly directed a glancing header past Lukasz Fabianski to give Arsenal the lead. The Brazilian defender’s evening would later take a dramatic turn when he was punched in the head by Fabianski during an aerial challenge, an incident that would result in a penalty and force his substitution at half-time.
Leandro Trossard doubled Arsenal’s advantage with a clinical finish from close range, continuing his excellent run of form with his second goal in as many games. The Belgian’s contribution wasn’t limited to scoring, as he later provided an exquisite assist for Kai Havertz’s goal, highlighting his growing influence in Arsenal’s attack.
The star of the show, however, was undoubtedly Bukayo Saka. The England international delivered a performance that perfectly exemplified his importance to this Arsenal side, providing two assists, scoring a goal, and winning a penalty in a display that left West Ham’s defenders chasing shadows throughout the evening. His direct running and clever movement were constant thorns in the hosts’ side, and his composure from the penalty spot further underlined his growing maturity.
Martin Odegaard also left his mark on the game, converting a penalty won by Saka and producing several moments of magic, including a sublime lobbed pass in the build-up to Trossard’s goal that had spectators purring with appreciation. The Norwegian captain’s performance epitomized Arsenal’s creative excellence on the night.
Despite Arsenal’s dominance, West Ham showed admirable spirit to briefly threaten a comeback. The hosts struck twice in quick succession through Aaron Wan-Bissaka and a spectacular free-kick from Emerson that went in off the crossbar, reducing the deficit to 4-2 and momentarily injecting life back into the contest.
However, any hopes of a dramatic turnaround were effectively extinguished when Saka converted Arsenal’s second penalty of the evening just before half-time, awarded after Fabianski’s collision with Gabriel. The second half proved to be a more measured affair as Arsenal managed their lead professionally, though substitute Raheem Sterling came close to adding a sixth with a free-kick that drifted narrowly wide.
The victory carries significant implications for Arsenal’s title aspirations, moving them to within six points of league leaders Liverpool and maintaining the momentum built from their recent goal-scoring exploits. The performance also highlighted the depth of their squad, with players like Jorginho stepping in seamlessly for the injured Thomas Partey and delivering a composed display in midfield.
Declan Rice, returning to his former home ground, demonstrated why Arsenal invested so heavily in his services with an all-action performance that saw him dominate the midfield areas. His only slight blemish came when he was harshly penalized for the free-kick that led to West Ham’s second goal.
The defensive pairing of William Saliba and Gabriel continued to show their strength, with Saliba particularly impressive in his handling of the physical battle with Michail Antonio before Gabriel’s forced withdrawal. Jurrien Timber also caught the eye with another strong showing down the right flank, combining defensive solidity with intelligent forward runs.
For Mikel Arteta, this result represents another significant step forward in Arsenal’s evolution under his guidance. The manner of the victory, combining attacking flair with tactical discipline, will particularly please the Spanish manager as he seeks to maintain his team’s challenge at the Premier League summit.
As Arsenal continue to gather momentum in their pursuit of silverware, performances like this will only strengthen belief among their supporters that this could be the season when they mount a sustained challenge for the Premier League title. With players like Saka in such irresistible form and the team showing such clinical efficiency in front of goal, they are certainly making a compelling case for their championship credentials.
