Premier League report, result, goals

Declan Rice struck against his former club and Bukayo Saka smashed in a penalty as Arsenal won a fourth consecutive match in all competitions by cruising past West Ham at the Emirates Stadium.

Saka had a goal ruled out for offside before Rice’s ruthless opener seven minutes from half-time against the club with whom he won the 2022/23 Conference League, joining the Gunners that July for £100 million.

After a Video Assistant Referee review ruled El Hadji Malick Diouf had brought down Jurrien Timber inside the box, Saka celebrated his 200th league appearance by blasting his 67th-minute spot kick past Alphonse Areola for the forward’s second goal of the season.

The result moves Arsenal a point clear of Liverpool at the top of the Premier League, although the Reds play their match in hand at Chelsea at 17:30 BST.

You can relive text updates from Arsenal’s win here. Mikel Arteta’s side are next in action at Fulham on October 18, two days before West Ham host Brentford.

24y 29d – At 24 years and 29 days, Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka is the seventh-youngest player in Premier League history to reach 100 goal involvements and the youngest since Romelu Lukaku in February 2017 (23y 267d). Star. pic.twitter.com/IidoaD1ft4

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 4, 2025

Arsenal vs West Ham: Rice, Saka secure points

Areola came to the visitors’ rescue early on by turning the recalled Timber’s shot from inside the box away at his near post, but Arsenal should have gone ahead in the 13th minute when Eberechi Eze – also back in the starting line-up – contrived to fire over from close range after the goalkeeper denied Viktor Gyokeres in a goalmouth scramble.

Captain Martin Odegaard, who has only just returned from a shoulder injury, looked in discomfort before making way for Martin Zubimendi, and Saka met Rice’s perceptive ball over the top to prod past Areola from the right, only to have the finish disallowed.

Arsenal’s opener came when Zubimendi’s incisive pass sent Eze clear, Areola parrying the new signing’s angled shot to Rice, who found the back of the net with a first-time half-volley that was as assured as his celebrations were muted.

Rice’s side dominated but West Ham looked solid in their second match under Nuno Espirito Santo and were perhaps unfortunate that Areola’s stop fell to the midfielder, although they almost conceded again before the break when Riccardo Calafiori’s fierce drive from the edge of the box struck a post, hit Areola’s back and span in front of the line, allowing Konstantinos Mavropanos to clear.

Second-bottom West Ham had four of the 25 attempts between the teams and did not have an effort on target in a performance Santo described as “not good”, going closest when Callum Marshall headed Lucas Paqueta’s corner over during second-half added time.

Santo, whose first game in charge was a 1-1 draw at Everton on Monday, told BBC Radio 5 Live that the Hammers had lacked “unity, togetherness, desire” and “lots of things”.

🔁 (38’) vs. Leeds United
🔁 (18’) vs. Nottingham Forest
🔁 (30’) vs. West Ham

Martin Odegaard is the first player in Premier League history to be substituted before half time in three consecutive league starts 🤕 pic.twitter.com/ojQPI11Qn7

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 4, 2025

Arsenal lineup vs West Ham

Arsenal centre-back Gabriel came off in the 75th minute of the 2-0 home win over Olympiacos in the Champions League on Wednesday but was fit to start.

Defender Piero Hincapie was out with a groin issue but could return after the international break, while forwards Noni Madueke, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus all have knee injuries.

Full-backs Timber and Riccardo Calafiori returned and Rice and Eze also came in, with Martin Zubimendi, Gabriel Martinelli, Mikel Merino, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ben White dropping to the bench.

Arsenal starting XI: David Raya, Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori, Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze, Bukayo Saka, Viktor Gyokeres, Leandro Trossard

Arsenal substitutes: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Ben White, Gabriel Martinelli, Christian Norgaard, Ethan Nwaneri, Mikel Merino, Martín Zubimendi, Myles Lewis-Skelly

West Ham lineup vs Arsenal

Tomas Soucek was suspended for West Ham. Fellow midfielder George Earthy is expected to miss at least a month with a hamstring injury.

Right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka returned following a stomach injury in place of Kyle Walker-Peters at right-back, while Bowen also played for the 200th time in the division.

West Ham starting XI: Alphonse Areola, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Konstantinos Mavropanos, Max Kilman, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta, Soungoutou Magassa, Mateus Fernandes, Crysencio Summerville, Niclas Fullkrug

West Ham substitutes: Mads Hermansen, Kyle Walker-Peters, Igor Julio, Callum Wilson, Luis Guilherme, Guido Rodriguez, Ollie Scarles, Freddie Potts, Callum Marshall