By Charles Pemu 
LONDON—Arsenal celebrated manager Mikel Arteta’s 300th match in charge with a commanding 2-0 victory over West Ham, securing their spot at the top of the Premier League table.
The win was highlighted by Declan Rice netting his first goal of the season against his former club, and Bukayo Saka marking his 200th Premier League appearance with a goal from the penalty spot.
Arteta, who had an aggressive starting line-up following a significant £250 million summer investment, saw his plans disrupted early when midfielder Martin Ødegaard was forced off due to injury—the third consecutive home game the captain has been withdrawn prematurely.
The injury prompted a tactical shift, bringing on Martin Zubimendi and pushing Rice into a more advanced midfield role. The change paid immediate dividends when Rice was on hand to finish smartly after West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola parried a shot from Eberechi Eze back into the area for the opener.
Arsenal dominated possession throughout the contest, restricting West Ham to sporadic speculative efforts. The victory was sealed in the second half when Jurrien Timber was fouled by El Hadji Malick Diouf, allowing Saka to confidently slot the resulting penalty into the corner.
The penalty was a fitting celebration for Saka’s 200th Premier League appearance, bringing his impressive career record to 55 goals and 45 assists.
The 2-0 result moved Arsenal to the top of the league, leapfrogging Liverpool, who later suffered a 2-1 defeat against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Elsewhere, Manchester United also secured a 2-0 win over Sunderland at Old Trafford, marking their third consecutive home league victory for the first time in two years.