Saka sparkles as five-star Arsenal move second with victory at West Ham

If Manchester City’s wobbles may hearten Arsenal, Liverpool’s blindside run to lead the Premier League has maintained the usual margin for error. Will Mikel Arteta end up counting the cost of Martin Ødegaard’s autumn absence? As Arsenal climbed to second nobody should doubt the importance of the playmaker or his understanding with Bukayo Saka.

Arsenal contain further multitudes. Their London derby win will probably be best recalled for the proficiency of set pieces. West Ham’s disorganisation within a record-equalling seven-goal first half puts the pressure back on Julen Lopetegui. Monday’s win at Newcastle had been well-executed but public opinion swings back against him. “We have to do better for sure,” he offered. “We didn’t take good decisions in a defensive way – that’s why it was a strange match.”

Those seeking creativity, freedom of expression and enjoyment may be better advised to attend the Abba Arena show elsewhere on the Stratford campus. Or watch Arsenal. “We made it crazy, we played so well at the start of the game,” said a delighted Arteta. “We have got some momentum. Some flow back.”

Arsenal ran in five first-half goals against an opponent foxed by both set-piece sophistication and speed of movement, including three goals in nine minutes. Though that was followed by a brief flicker of revival, the home fans rumbled in either discontent or stone silence from then on.

The deluge began after 10 minutes with another personal triumph for Nicolas Jover, Arsenal’s special teams coach. As Saka shaped to take a corner, Arsenal’s players decamped to the opposite end of the penalty box then rushed to the ball in a pre-rehearsed move resembling an NFL linebackers’ blitz.

Michail Antonio, man-marking Gabriel Magalhães, was blocked, Jurriën Timber had baulked Lucas Paquetá. Gabriel nodded in his fourth of the season, the 20th Arsenal goal from a corner since the start of last season. Lopetegui was unhappy. “The first goal I think it was a block,” he said. “We were unlucky in the decisions, in my opinion.”

West Ham attempted a quick comeback but Crysencio Summerville had run offside. Any equaliser would have been fully against the run of play. Arsenal are feeling the benefit of a settled, fit squad beyond the long-term absence of Ben White.

“We have a big squad with a lot of good players and I think we showed that last week and again this week with different players in the starting lineup,” said Timber, having added that further physical presence.

The corner routine was repeated, only for Lukasz Fabianski to save from Timber. Arsenal’s second instead came from open play, the old firm of Saka and Ødegaard supplying a tap-in for Leandro Trossard. “I am taking a lot of pleasure from creating and scoring but the greatest pleasure is to win,” said Saka afterwards. “Definitely the last three games we have been back.” A goal and two assists took him to 18 goal contributions for the season.

East End agonies were furthered by Arsenal’s third, from a penalty after Emerson Palmieri and Paquetá combined to bring down Saka. By the 36th minute, Kai Havertz had slotted the fourth, Paquetá surrendering possession. Maximilian Kilman’s clumsy attempt to stop Trossard’s looped pass stuff sent thousands of Hammers fans to the sanctuary of the concourse. Those drowning sorrows missed Aaron Wan-Bissaka scoring his second goal in a week. Next, Emerson gave fleeting belief to home fans by dipping and swerving in a beauty of a free-kick. Were Arsenal about to repeat City’s collapse against Feyenoord?

A frankly ridiculous half ended fully in Arsenal’s hands. Fabianski was penalised for accidentally punching Gabriel in the face after another corner – a rarely seen offence considering the antics of other goalkeepers. Saka elected to take the penalty, doing so successfully.

Gabriel did not return for the second half, replaced by Jakub Kiwior. Riccardo Calafiori stepped across to centre-back and without its main man, the corner routines were abandoned.

There were concerns when Saka went down awkwardly, though he soon resumed. When Ødegaard straight after clutched his foot in pain there were yet deeper concerns. The strength of Arsenal’s ambitions lies in the fragile physical condition of those two players. There was relief that both came through minor emergencies. Gabriel was clear-headed enough to lead full-time applause.

“The message was to not relax and to go for more,” said Arteta but no more came. Gunners fans could enjoy a rare half of certainty in a season where the scripts are being ripped up.