Arsenal 2-0 West Ham: Zubimendi shines as Rice and Saka send Gunners top

Match report – Player notes – Arteta reaction – Video

Arsenal enters the Premier League ban on the first league after a 2-0 victory against West Ham at home yesterday. Like the victory over Olympiacos in the middle of the week, it seemed routine, almost an inevitability which, although not necessarily exciting, demonstrates the strength of this team.

I was excited when the departure XI fell with Martin Odegaard and Ebechi Eze in it. It was the first time that the two had started a game together, and I think I was still trying to understand how it worked exactly when it finished at the start. Before that, the captain had played a large pass to Jurrien Timber who saw his shot saved in the box, whilebe will have had a hectic night to replay a close chance, he should have scored but in a way on the bar.

But for 20 minutes, Odegaard’s curse of injuries continued. He faced the knees with a western ham, required treatment, obtained treatment, immediately dropped into the next game phase and should probably be detached there. I know that there are advice on players with regard to decisions like this, it was obviously desperate to stay on, but even on television, you could see his race unfold, and at half an hour, he was replaced by Martin Zubimenddi.

He set an unhappy record yesterday, the first player to have been reduced before half-time in three consecutive appearances at home. It is so unfortunate for him, especially because he produced an exceptional performance in the middle of the week in the Champions League. Arteta said after her knee was in a splint and that it did not seem positive, so let’s keep everything crossing that everything that happened is more painful than a farm.

In previous games, when Odegaard came out of Arteta turned to Ethan Nwaneri, but this time it was Zubimenddi, and I think he is absolutely right. The Spanish international was exceptional in my opinion. We have seen it bring control, the range of passes and the defensive prowess too. It is a catchy platform, only Jurrien Timber made more successful plated yesterday, and we have to look at the role of Zubimenddi in the two goals.

For the first, he played a nice pass to Eze in the box, and when his shot was saved, Declan Rice was there to apply a well-taken finish on the half-volley. He did not celebrate against his former club, but you could see that he had given some eyes after receiving a stick when he was taking turns. And it was from a zubimendi pass that the wood was the victim of a fault, leading to the second half.

I saw a discussion on the question of whether it should be a penalty or not because the offensive started off the beaten track, but the laws of the game say ”If a defender begins to hold an attacker outside the penalty zone and continues to stand inside the sanction surface, the referee must grant a penalty kick“, And it seems quite clear to me.

I also saw a discussion on the question of knowing if Bukayo Saka should have let Viktor Gyokerres take it. The Swedish has now played six goalless games, but I absolutely agree with Saka Intervener. He is the number 1 penalty lessee designated for some time, even if he has the old switcheroo from time to time with Odegaard. It was his 200th appearance in the Premier League, and he was going to score him with a goal. He was not mistaken on the spot, that more or less the game made the game, and even if I do not think there is something pointed out towards the summer signature, it is a little reminder for gyoker than this level that you must deliver.

This was not likely at the time of Kai Havertz where a player under massive control, and really weak with confidence, had not yet marked, and the team gave him this chance in a game that we already earn comfortably. This penalty could have been decisive, Saka had the mentality that he was the man, he was going to mark, and I am all for that. Gyokerres did another hard work work for the team, Arteta certainly seemed to be delighted thereafter in the way he played, and I am sure that the goals will come.

The rest of the game took place as you can imagine. West Ham had little threat, we have made more changes, one who saw Rice asking to be removed because of a back problem, and I imagine that he and Odegaard will be assessed with regard to their international commitments for England and Norway.

Subsequently, after winning his 300th match in charge, Arteta said:

The last two games have been very special. Newcastle, because we had a story there, a lot of scars and a lot of lesson to take, we have put things right. Then we had West Ham, losing two home games during the two previous seasons. I told them that it was a great opportunity, we have had very difficult lights since the start of the season, and very bad injuries that do not help either. However, the team occurs, plays well, wins today with absolute domination and without conceding a goal. So, good to reach the international break in this spirit.

I think the last two games have shown Arsenal’s ability to win matches without having to really stretch us, and although there is probably a discussion to have on how it leaves you closer to the margins you would like, I also think you can see that there is probably more in the tank if we needed it. Entering the interlus on top of the table is pleasant, but there is a long way to go this season.

That said, just a few weeks ago that after Man City’s match, this team was torn apart by some of the most noisy, and in my mind, putting on falsificial and external criticisms, and yet we are there. Funny, huh? This shows how fast things can change in football. Last weekend, there was a plausible scenario where we could have found eight points behind Liverpool, and a week later, we are one point to come. As I said, a long way to go, but recognize the effort and the character that has passed in the last seven days. Three games, three victories, only one goal conceded, and we are in a good position where we can go to this international break in a relatively calm way. There is a lot to say for that.

Okay, I’m going to leave it there. We will have an additional Arsecast for you tomorrow, but we only recording in the afternoon. For the moment, however, spend a big Sunday.