Saka shines as five-star Arsenal move into second with win at West Ham | first division

If Manchester City's wobbles encourage ArsenalLiverpool's blind race to the top has maintained the margin of error. Will Mikel Arteta end up counting the cost of Martin Ødegaard's absence? No one can doubt the importance of playmakers and the improvement their return has brought, even if this London derby victory may be best remembered for Arsenal's set-piece proficiency.

West Ham's defeat, particularly in a goal-filled first half, is once again putting pressure on Julen Lopetegui. The victory in Newcastle had been well executed, at the last moment, but public opinion now turns against them. Those seeking creativity, freedom of expression and enjoyment would do best to attend the Abba Arena shown elsewhere on the Stratford campus. Or watch Arsenal. And if Hammers fans have always appreciated displays of courage, it was only briefly evident.

Arsenal scored five goals at half-time against an opponent dominated by both set-piece sophistication and speed of movement, with the telling damage being done by three goals in nine short minutes. If a brief Hammers resurgence followed, the home fans roared in discontent or silence thereafter.

The breakthrough in a first half to remember, with seven goals, came after 10 minutes. It was another personal triumph for Nicolás Jover, the special teams coach. As Bukayo Saka took shape, the Arsenal players headed to the other end of the penalty area and then ran toward the ball in a pre-rehearsed move that resembled an NFL linebacker attack. Michail Antonio, asked to mark Gabriel Magalhães, was blocked, and the defender headed in his fourth goal of the season, Arsenal's 20th goal from a corner since the start of last season.

The Stockley Park VAR team then confirmed that Crysencio Summerville had been offside following a pass from Jarrod Bowen. A draw would have gone against the development of the game. Arsenal were exerting dominance in midfield and defence, feeling the benefit of a settled team, the injury problems having eased for now, beyond the prolonged absence of Ben White. Saka could have put the Gunners two up when Ødegaard went ahead.

The corner play, newly introduced for the occasion, was repeated, but Lukasz Fabianski saved a shot from Jurriën Timber. Instead, Arsenal's second came from open play, Saka and Ødegaard's former signing tapped in for Leandro Trossard, with Kai Havertz also waiting in line.

The East End's agonies were compounded by Arsenal's third, from a penalty as Emerson Palmieri and Lucas Paquetá combined to bring down Saka. In the 36th minute, Havertz had scored the fourth, Paquetá lost possession and Maximilian Kilman made a vain and clumsy attempt to stop a looping pass from Trossard. Ridiculous stuff that sent Hammers fans to the sanctuary of the concourse.

Those drowned sorrows were lost from seeing Aaron Wan-Bissaka score a second goal in a week To reduce the deficit, Arsenal's previously dominant defenders carried out a subsequent investigation.

Emerson then gave the home fans fleeting confidence by diving and deflecting a beautiful free-kick. Were Arsenal about to repeat City's collapse against Feyenoord? Arteta, with his arms crossed, began to walk along the sideline. Lopetegui, banished to the executive boxes, was already barking instructions into his headphones.

A frankly ridiculous half ended squarely in the hands of the young Basque. Fabianski was penalized for hitting Gabriel after another corner, a rarely seen offense considering the antics of other goalkeepers. This time Saka decided to take the penalty and did so successfully.

Gabriel did not return in the second half and was replaced by Jakub Kiwior. Riccardo Calafiori moved to centre-back and without his main man, Arsenal's corner routines were abandoned for orthodox crosses into the box. Arsenal, meanwhile, resumed their dominance of possession as many Hammers fans were slow to return to their seats, some of whom missed three goals. Lopetegui's introduction of Edson Alvarez for Summerville at half-time did not immediately slow the direction of traffic, but Antonio had a shot go wide as the midfield became busier, less open for Arsenal to strut.

There was concern when Saka was injured, although he was soon able to resume activity. When Ødegaard immediately afterwards squeezed his foot in pain, there were even deeper concerns. The strength of Arsenal's ambitions lies in the fragile physical condition of those players and there was relief that both overcame minor emergencies, while news on Gabriel was awaited.

The highlights of the second half of a contest decided long ago probably came with the cameo of teen sensation Ethan Nwaneri. The visiting Gunners fans were able to enjoy an evening of certainties in a season in which the script has been broken.