Arsenal 2-0 West Ham Player Ratings: Declan Rice Rated 8.5/10 as He Haunts Hammers in 2-0 Win

Arsenal beat a weak West Ham United and now sit at the top of the Premier League with 16 points. The Gunners have played great in recent games, even with injuries, and show strong desire to win the title this year. They controlled the first half completely, as the table below shows. West Ham had almost no chances and just watched Arsenal play. Goals from Declan Rice and Man of the Match Bukayo Saka won the game early.

What stood out to us was how Arsenal never looked troubled. Even after losing their captain Martin Ødegaard to an early injury, the Gunners maintained complete control. West Ham offered very little going forward. Their early miss from Niclas Füllkrug was about as good as it got for them.

The second half continued in the same vein. Arsenal eventually sealed the deal when Jurriën Timber was brought down in the box. Bukayo Saka made no mistake from the spot. It was a thoroughly deserved win in this match, and the Hammers have a lot to think about.

Here are Arsenal Vs West Ham Player Ratings

Arsenal Player Ratings vs West Ham United

Here are Arsenal Player Ratings vs West Ham

Goalkeeper

David Raya - 6.5: Honestly he could have brought a book to read. West Ham barely tested him all afternoon. What he had to do, he did without any fuss. His distribution was quick and accurate, helping start attacks from the back. We noticed he was always alert, even when he had nothing to do for long periods.

Defenders

Jurriën Timber - 8.0: A fantastic display from the defender. He was a menace down the right flank and his brilliant run won the penalty that killed the game. Defensively, he was superb, winning four of his five tackles. From our perspective, he looked sharp, aggressive, and full of confidence. A really complete performance from him today.

William Saliba - 7.0: The definition of composed. He just never looks flustered, does he? He read the game perfectly, making four clearances and boasting a 92% pass accuracy. He handled everything West Ham threw his way with ease. It felt like he was playing in a lower gear.

Gabriel Magalhães - 7.0: A rock at the back alongside Saliba. He was aggressive in the tackle and won most of his duels. We noticed he was a real leader, constantly organizing the backline. He played a crucial role in ensuring West Ham's forwards had a miserable afternoon. A solid, no-nonsense performance.

Riccardo Calafiori - 7.5: What a performance before he was substituted. He was so unlucky not to score, rattling the post with a great effort. Defensively sound, winning most of his duels and making some key tackles. It's a shame his game was cut short, as he looked like one of Arsenal's best players.

Midfielders

Declan Rice - 8.5: Man of the match, and it's not even close. He absolutely ran the show against his old team. The goal was a thing of beauty, a powerful strike that left the keeper with no chance. Beyond that, he created three chances, completed 92% of his passes, and was everywhere. A truly dominant display that showed his immense quality.

Eberechi Eze - 7.0: Looked very lively and was a constant source of creativity. He had four shots and was always trying to make things happen in the final third. His quick feet and direct running caused problems for the West Ham defence. A good, energetic outing before he was taken off.

Martin Ødegaard - N/A: It was really disappointing to see him go off injured so early. He only played 30 minutes, not enough time to give him a fair rating. Hopefully, the injury is not too serious for the Arsenal captain.

Forwards

Bukayo Saka - 7.5: Another great game from the star boy. He was a constant threat, creating two big chances for his teammates. Showed immense composure to slot home the penalty and secure the three points. He was fouled multiple times, showing just how much West Ham feared him. Always delivers.

Leandro Trossard - 7.0: A very busy performance from the Belgian. He was involved in a lot of Arsenal's attacks, creating two chances and always looking to get on the ball. His final product was sometimes a little off, especially with his crossing, but his work rate was excellent. A valuable contributor to the win.

Viktor Gyökeres - 5.5: This was a day he'll want to forget. From our perspective, he just wasn't sharp enough in front of goal. He missed two big chances that a striker of his quality should be burying. It's a rare off-day for him, but those misses were costly and kept West Ham in the game longer than they should have been.

Substitutes

Martín Zubimendi - 6.5: Came on for the injured Ødegaard and did a solid job. Kept the ball moving and helped Arsenal maintain control. Myles Lewis-Skelly - N/A, Ethan Nwaneri - N/A, Mikel Merino - N/A, Gabriel Martinelli - N/A: All came on too late to make a significant impact.

Manager

M. Arteta - 8.0: His tactical plan worked to perfection. His team dominated possession, created numerous chances, and were defensively solid. He managed the early injury to his captain well, and the team never lost its rhythm. A very impressive and professional victory engineered by the manager.

West Ham Player Ratings vs Arsenal

Here are West Ham Player Ratings vs Arsenal

Goalkeeper

Alphonse Areola - 6.5: He was a busy man. Made three important saves inside the box to stop the score from getting much worse. Couldn't do anything about Rice's powerful shot or Saka's perfect penalty. Without him, this could have been a real hammering. A decent performance in a losing effort.

Defenders

Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 5.5: Really struggled against Arsenal's attackers. He was dispossessed twice and lost most of his duels. It just felt like the pace and movement of Arsenal's forwards was too much for him to handle. Not his finest hour before being substituted.

Konstantinos Mavropanos - 6.5: What stood out to us was his incredible 14 clearances. He was throwing himself at everything to try and keep Arsenal at bay. It was a heroic, last-ditch effort, but he was fighting a losing battle against a relentless attack. He did his best in a very difficult situation.

Maximilian Kilman - 6.0: A tough afternoon for the centre-back. He made a number of clearances but, like his defensive partners, was overwhelmed by Arsenal's quality. He was dragged out of position a few times. He stuck to his task but it was a long day at the office.

El Hadji Malick Diouf - 4.5: A truly disastrous performance from the defender. The penalty he conceded was incredibly clumsy and completely ended any slim hope of a West Ham comeback. That moment of madness defined his game. He also committed three fouls and just looked off the pace all day.

Midfielders

Mateus Fernandes - 6.0: He worked hard and made three tackles, but was completely overrun in the midfield battle. He struggled to get on the ball and influence the game. Chasing shadows for most of the match against Rice. It was a thankless task for him.

Soungoutou Magassa - 5.5: We barely noticed he was on the pitch. He was anonymous in midfield and offered little defensively or going forward. It was no surprise to see him substituted after an hour. He failed to make any kind of impact on the game.

Lucas Paquetá - 5.0: A really frustrating watch. He lost possession a staggering 15 times and his decision-making was poor. An error leading to a shot and a needless yellow card summed up his afternoon. We expect so much more from a player of his talent, but he was a real disappointment.

Crysencio Summerville - 6.0: One of the few West Ham players who showed a bit of fight. He drew three fouls and tried to be direct, but often ran into dead ends. His booking for a silly foul was a sign of his frustration. He tried his best, but had little support.

Forwards

Jarrod Bowen - 5.5: The captain was a ghost. He only had 27 touches all game and couldn't get involved at all. Arsenal's defence marshalled him perfectly, giving him no space to work his magic. A very quiet and ineffective performance from a key player.

Niclas Füllkrug - 5.0: Missed a golden opportunity with a header in the first minute. That could have changed the whole complexion of the game. After that, he was isolated and offered no threat. Hooked after an hour having done very little.

Substitutes

Freddie Potts - 5.5: Came on but couldn't change the flow of the game. Callum Marshall - 5.5: Barely had a touch after replacing Füllkrug. Kyle Walker-Peters - N/A: Not on long enough to rate.

Manager

N. Simões Espírito Santo - 5.0: From our perspective, his game plan was far too passive. His team sat back invited pressure, and had no real plan to counter-attack. They were second best in every department. His substitutions did nothing to change the game. A poor day at the office for the manager.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Declan Rice