GOALS FROM RICE AND SAKA ⏱️ | EXTENDED HIGHLIGHTS | Arsenal vs West Ham United | Premier League

Arsenal walk out against West Ham United this afternoon knowing a win will move them to the top of the Premier League table for a couple of hours at least. With Liverpool working the late shift at Chelsea this is the perfect opportunity for Arsenal to put points on the board against the team rooted in 19th place. Only Wolves have endured a worse start to the season Nuno Espirito Santo has replaced him at the helm and saw a marked improvement in Monday's draw at Everton and now the Portuguese's second game at the reins pits him against the man who today celebrates his 300th in charge of Arsenal. The Gunners have lost just one of their opening nine games this season on paper they are the clear favourites to extend that record to double After rotating for Wednesday's win Mikel Arteta makes another five changes to his 11 today Gabriel has passed the fitness test to start with Jurien Timber and Ricardo Calafiore also coming back in. Declan Rice returns against his former club Eberra Ezer and Martin Erdegaard start together for the very first time and it's a big afternoon for Bakayo Saka who becomes the seventh youngest player to hit 200 Premier League appearances. Thomas Suchek is still serving the final game of his three-match suspension so Nuno Espirito Santo makes just one alteration to the 11 that earned a point on Merseyside. Arouan Basaka is back from an abdominal injury to replace Kyle Walker-Peters at right back. Dinos Mavropanos returns to Emirates Stadium after four years in North London and summer signing Shigunsu Magasa makes just his second Premier League start since arriving from Monaco. Before kickoff today we will take a moment to remember Mark Pearce a much loved member of the Arsenal family who sadly passed away recently. Mark was the stadium facilities manager here and at Highbury when he joined in 1997. He was a cherished colleague and friend to many. He served the club with great distinction and the thoughts of everyone at Arsenal are with his loved ones at this very difficult time. Will do their job today and Arsenal could well pile the pressure back on a Liverpool side who have lost each of their last two games. Odegaard profiting there and it's through for Jurien Timber saved by Areola Timber on the follow-up and it is up not quite away by West Ham. Arsenal remain patient. A bit of space now for their captain. Saka on the move it's Pikaio Saka across for Jocares who slipped at a vital moment and Ezer puts it over. Oh Ezer can't believe it holds his head in his hands. Great play down the right hand side with Martin Odegaard just leasing Pikaio Saka getting himself in behind Diouf and as it spills out Ebrezija it's a golden opportunity he's got to be in the back of the net from seven yards. We've had one occasion in the first half where Saka's actually got him behind Diouf where he managed to put the ball across six yard box. He's off heading in that direction again Saka will he get the benefits? Oh he will but the offside flag has been raised. No goal for Arsenal. Yeah I think Pikaio knew that he'd gone a little bit too early. We're right in line with Max he looked about a yard offside it's good to get that threatening behind said he's coming short then he just comes short to go long gets on the wrong side of Diouf. Calafiori, Trossard good area to cross there's Ezer time to bring it down slightly ahead of Saka then he goes on there's and it will be finished surely by Trossard. It was closed down Wamba Saka with a vital block at the far post. Super Mendy here is Sebereza and Declan Rice on the follow-up and he scores against his former side yet again. They've had to be patient they've had to bide their time but finally the Gunners make it one nil to the Arsenal. No Max it was coming Rice has mulled it into the back of the net just making sure he stayed calm as the ball ricocheted out to him but he's right foot overs off of it a really really clinical side foot finish and it was coming because he started putting a little bit more pressure as the ball bounces out we got bodies in the box making sure we're going for the knockdowns. Scores against West Ham United for the second time in his career into the final 60 seconds of this first half still Declan Rice's goal the difference Saka shown inside finding Jurijan Timber who turns brilliantly and there's Calafiore off the post and away so close on his so-called weaker right side brilliant strike from Calafiore in the edge of the 18 yard box beats Arreola all ends up brilliant play from Jurijan Timber then he's just followed in by Somerville ball just comes out to the edge of the box really good strike of his right foot on the half volley crashes off of Arreola's post you think he's back and go in just there to sweep up a few loose passes on it goes a clever pass by Trossard and Rice's cross Jocares so close to sliding in there he's Timber inside the penalty area did he get brought down he did John Brooks points to the spot Malik Juve the guilty party and Arsenal have an opportunity to make this a far more comfortable afternoon Saka up against Alphonse Arreola scores and Saka brings up his double century of Premier League appearances with a goal his 100th direct goal contribution in this competition Arsenal star boy takes centre stage Arsenal of course have already lost Martin Urdegaard's two injury this afternoon so no chances taken Trenton Rice goal scorer of Arsenal's first replaced by Mikel Merino who of course got that late equaliser in the comeback win against Newcastle driven in this time West Ham didn't clear at the first attempt and Merino it was who lashed out took a huge deflection on its way through love to get on the end of this free kick Martinelli floated in flicked on at the near post Merino I actually think Merino might have been better just letting that go across his body obviously just tried to get in the near post and just get a little glancing header or flick it on couldn't quite get his neck around it Paqueta trying to give West Ham hope and it was headed over the crossbar at the far post yeah good delivery from Paqueta just easing it into the far post to be fair in the end Saliba did really well just made sure that Marshall couldn't get over the top of him just heads it over the crossbar this win takes them one clear of Liverpool three important points in game number 300 for Mikel Arteta whose Arsenal side rise to the top of the Premier League and heap the pressure on Liverpool who now must face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge this afternoon Declan Rice got them up and running against his former side the second time that he scored against West Ham United since joining Arsenal a few summers ago and then Bukayo Saka was able to send Alphonse Sarriola the wrong way from the spot on his 200th Premier League appearance for the club that was his 100th goal contribution in the competition well it's back to the drawing board he's still waiting for his first win in charge of West Ham United but Arsenal are flying high at the top of the Premier League for now at least as it finishes here at Emirates Stadium Arsenal 2 West Ham United 0