Declan Rice came back to haunt West Ham once again as the former Hammer opened the scoring against his old club to help Arsenal to a 2-0 victory which sent them to the top of the Premier League table. Bukayo Saka was also on target but there was to be more injury agony for Martin Odegaard, as he once again had to leave the pitch prematurely in what's proving to be a bit of a nightmare start to the season on a personal level.
Rice, who has already found the net against his former employers once since switching east London for north London was at it again this afternoon, firing home from close range to break the visitors' first-half resistance after Alphonse Areola had kept out Jurrien Timber's strike.
It was a crucial goal for Mikel Arteta's side, who went on to make the game safe after the interval when Saka struck from the penalty spot following a foul on Timber.
Saka's spot-kick sealed a routine win for the Gunners, but there was some disappointment as they lost captain Odegaard to a knee injury early on, with the Arsenal skipper becoming the first player in Premier League history to be substituted before half-time in three consecutive starts.
GOAL rates Arsenal's players from Emirates Stadium…
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David Raya (6/10):
Flapped at a very early corner. Barely troubled from that moment on.
Jurrien Timber (8/10):
Strong display down the right. Got forward well and could have scored early on when he forced Areola into a good save. Won the penalty with another strong run in the second half.
William Saliba (7/10):
Cruised through the game and got forward a bit more than usual, playing a couple of nice passes around the box.
Gabriel Magalhaes (7/10):
Comfortable afternoon's work at the back. Rarely troubled.
Riccardo Calafiori (8/10):
Popped up all over the pitch, so unlucky not to make it 2-0 just before half-time when he smashed an effort against the post. Another fine performance.
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Declan Rice (8/10):
On the scoresheet against his former club once again. It was actually a decent finish, as it was not the easiest shot to keep down. A typically strong performance and the standout player on the pitch.
Eberechi Eze (7/10):
Missed a great early chance but consistently got into dangerous positions and it was his shot that led to Rice's opening goal. Lively in the first half, although faded a bit after the break.
Martin Odegaard (N/A):
So unlucky to be forced off early again. He becomes the first player in Premier League history to be subbed off before half-time in three consecutive starts.
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Bukayo Saka (7/10):
Constant threat down the right in the first half. Less involved in the second, but tucked the penalty away emphatically to make it 2-0.
Victor Gyokeres (6/10):
Struggled to really get into the game. Worked hard, but West Ham dealt with him well.
Leandro Trossard (7/10):
Neat and tidy. Had one early shot blocked. Kept things moving and was probably Arsenal's best attacker in the second half.
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Martin Zubimendi (7/10):
Class act. On early for Odegaard and immediately made an impact, playing the ball through for Eze in the build-up to Rice's goal.
Myles Lewis-Skelly (6/10):
Replaced Calafiori as Arsenal saw the game out.
Ethan Nwaneri (6/10):
Never really got into the game having come on for the final 20 minutes.
Mikel Merino (N/A):
Replaced the injured Rice with 10 minutes remaining.
Gabriel Martinelli (N/A):
On for Eze late on.
Mikel Arteta (7/10):
Went with a more attacking line-up, but Odegaard's injury denied us the chance to see how it worked. He'll be happy with the win, although would have liked to have seen a more clinical edge to his side.
