Saka reaches new landmark as Arsenal suffer double injury scare in West Ham win

ARSENAL 2-0 WEST HAM: Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka were on target as the Gunners succesfully swatted aside the Hammers

Bukayo Saka inspired Arsenal to a fourth straight victory in all competitions to mark his 200th Premier League appearance in style. The England international blasted home the Gunners’ second from the penalty spot to also notch his 100th top-flight goal involvement – 55 goals and 45 assists – after Declan Rice had netted a first-half opener against his beloved former employers.

Mikel Arteta also racked up his 300th match as Arsenal boss and no side has claimed more points than the Gunners (22) in their past nine Premier League matches. Having already ticked off awkward away trips to Old Trafford, Anfield and St James’ Park, Arteta’s challengers are not only growing in confidence but also building admirable momentum.

Three points was somewhat soured, however, by potential fitness scares after Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice both hobbled off with knee and back issues, respectively. The hosts came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock on 14 minutes when Eberechi Eze blasted over from close range after Aaron Wan-Bissaka had hacked the ball off the line.

The Gunners’ early momentum was then halted by the injury to Odegaard. The Arsenal captain, who has endured a stop-start season to date, dazzled in Wednesday night’s Champions League victory over Olympiacos and finally looked on course to shrug his shoulder struggles to one side.

READ MORE: Arsenal dealt massive injury blow as Martin Odegaard forced off with another injuryREAD MORE: Leandro Trossard shows his true colours with brutally honest take on Arsenal headache

However, in attempting to tackle Crysencio Summerville, he clashed knees with West Ham’s Dutch winger and hit the deck. He initially tried to continue, then kicked the ball off to receive further treatment before soldiering on once again before finally conceding defeat much to the dismay of Arteta.

Replacement Martin Zubimendi’s impact was virtually instant after Arsenal had a penalty shout – Soungoutou Magassa appeared to handle in the box – rebuffed. Viktor Gyokeres also squandered a header before the Spanish maestro split the Hammers backline and fed in Eze, whose powerful strike was well saved by Areola before Rice gratefully guided home the rebound.

The England international, who led the Irons to Conference League glory in 2023, did not celebrate against his boyhood club but he did appear to glare back towards the travelling West Ham faithful, who had jeered his every touch.

Rampaging full-back Riccardo Calafiori then rattled the post with a stinging drive before Arsenal saw a second penalty appeal turned away after the break when the ball struck the arm of Max Kilman.

Marquee frontman Gyokeres mustered a whopping 54 goals last season for Sporting CP and he was recently awarded the prestigious Gerd Müller Trophy for his red-hot exploits at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris.

But the Swede has struggled to dispatch numerous openings in recent matches and is now six games without finding the target.

Having bagged emphatically from the spot against Leeds, many expected him to grab the ball when Arsenal were finally awarded a penalty following Malick Diouf’s challenge on Jurrien Timber, which initially started outside of the box.

However, Saka, who has now been involved in nine goals across his last seven league outings against West Ham (five goals, four assists), decided he was taking and crashed home.

Arsenal’s triumph was the first time the home side has won any of the past six league meetings between these two sides. For the Gunners, there was no better way to sign off before the international break.

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