Mikel Arteta’s side delivered a commanding performance against West Ham United, securing a 5-2 victory that dropped Manchester City to fourth place in the league standings. Arsenal’s dominance was evident as they moved back to second place in the Premier League table.
The London Stadium saw a flurry of goals on Saturday, with four finding the back of the net in just six minutes across both teams. Despite the early excitement, West Ham put up little resistance as Arsenal dismantled their defense.
Arsenal’s five goals came from Gabriel Magalhães, Leandro Trossard, Martin Ødegaard, Kai Havertz, and Bukayo Saka. They dominated possession and overwhelmed West Ham with relentless attacking play. In the first half alone, Arsenal took 10 shots, six of which were on target, converting five into goals. West Ham managed three shots on target, scoring twice, but couldn’t sustain their momentum in the second half.
With seven wins and four draws from 13 matches, Arsenal now sits second with 25 points. Brighton and Manchester City follow with 23 points each, though City has a game in hand. Liverpool leads the table with 31 points from 12 matches.
The scoring began early, with Gabriel heading home Bukayo Saka’s corner in the 10th minute. Gabriel’s aerial prowess has been unmatched in the Premier League, scoring 17 headed goals since joining Arsenal in the 2020-21 season—six more than any other defender during that time.
Arsenal doubled their lead in the 27th minute when Saka’s deft pass found Trossard, who calmly slotted the ball into an open net. Two minutes later, Ødegaard converted a penalty to make it 3-0 after Lucas Paquetá fouled an Arsenal player in the box. Havertz added the fourth with a well-taken finish following a swift counterattack.
West Ham briefly fought back, scoring twice in quick succession. Aaron Wan-Bissaka pulled one back before Emerson’s stunning free-kick reduced the deficit to 4-2. However, their hopes were dashed when Arsenal earned another penalty, which Saka converted to restore a three-goal cushion.
The first half ended with seven goals, tying a Premier League record set in three previous matches. However, the second half saw a drop in intensity, with both teams creating fewer chances. Ødegaard came close to adding a sixth for Arsenal, but his low shot was denied by the goalkeeper.
This win marked a return to form for Arsenal, ending a streak of five winless games across the Premier League and Champions League. They’ve now won three consecutive matches, scoring 13 goals in the process. Arteta’s side looks ready to reignite their title challenge.
