Arsenal secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over West Ham at the Emirates, maintaining their strong home form and continuing a decent run of results for manager Mikel Arteta, who celebrated his 300th game in charge of the club. The Gunners were in control throughout the match, with goals from Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka sealing the win.

The opening goal came from Declan Rice against his former club. After Bukayo Saka had a shot saved, Rice tapped home the rebound, delivering a polished finish from around the penalty spot. Despite scoring against his old team, Rice chose not to celebrate. Bukayo Saka then secured Arsenal's second goal from the penalty spot, sending Alphonse Areola the wrong way after Jurrien Timber was brought down in the box by El Hadji Malick Diouf. This goal was particularly significant for Saka, marking his 200th Premier League appearance for Arsenal. He became only the second Arsenal player, after club legend Thierry Henry, to score on this milestone occasion. Henry had even sent Saka a cheeky message prior to the game, reminding him of Arsenal's previous two home losses to West Ham and pushing him to achieve more.

However, the victory was tinged with concern over injuries. Captain Martin Odegaard was forced off in the first half after a clash of knees with West Ham's Crysencio Summerville, an issue that Arteta later described as "not looking very positive." This marked Odegaard's third consecutive Premier League start where he was substituted before half-time. Later in the game, Declan Rice also left the pitch in discomfort with a back problem, though it was described as a precaution. These injuries highlight Arsenal's ongoing struggles with player fitness, although the team's depth, bolstered by recent signings, is proving crucial in managing such setbacks.

Individual performances were generally strong for Arsenal. David Raya had a quiet afternoon, making no saves. Jurrien Timber impressed with a 7/10 rating, earning the penalty with a brilliant run. William Saliba and Gabriel both delivered comfortable performances, each rated 7/10. Riccardo Calafiori, also rated 7/10, continued to make the left-back spot his own with strong tackles and rampaging runs. Declan Rice was a standout with a 9/10, described as "the Rice of old" against his former club, showing adventurous play. Eberechi Eze earned an 8/10 for finding exciting gaps and creating chances. Bukayo Saka, with his goal and lively performance, received an 8/10, constantly challenging Diouf. Martin Odegaard, prior to his injury, was rated 6/10, while Leandro Trossard, also 6/10, was less effective than in recent weeks.

Viktor Gyokeres, rated 6/10, had another match where he failed to get on the scoresheet. Despite his efforts and contributions in other areas of the game, his tension and anxiety to score were noted as having an adverse effect on his performance, and he struggled with West Ham's man-marking. He had expressed interest in taking the penalty, but Saka ultimately stepped up.

Substitutes played a vital role, especially Martin Zubimendi, who replaced the injured Odegaard in the 30th minute and earned an 8/10. He seamlessly ran the game from the moment he came on, allowing Rice to push further up the pitch before his own injury. Myles Lewis-Skelly (6/10), Ethan Nwaneri (6/10), Mikel Merino (6/10), and Gabriel Martinelli (N/A) also saw minutes in the second half. West Ham, under new manager Nuno Espirito Santo, showed better organization but lacked quality in the final third, struggling to create opportunities against a solid Arsenal defense.