Arsenal’s Premier League title charge continued on Saturday afternoon, with the Gunners breezing to a comfortable 2-0 win over a struggling West Ham United side at the Emirates.
For all the difference in form and momentum between the two teams, the hosts may well have feared yet another slip up against the Hammers, with even Graham Potter having overseen a win over the north Londoners for the visitors last season.
Thankfully, there was to be no repeat performance this time around, with goals from Declan Rice – haunting his former side yet again – and England colleague Bukayo Saka proving enough on a serene day for Mikel Arteta and co.
That Three Lions pairing remain central to everything good about the Gunners, although there is a new contender quietly emerging to be the club’s most consistent performer.
How Saka & Rice stole the show vs West Ham
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Arteta chuckled at the memory of deploying a teenage Saka at left-back all those years ago, with Saturday having marked the Hale End graduate’s 200th Premier League appearance for the club.
The younger Saka was bright and exciting even at full-back, although the present-day version is a different proposition altogether. There’s just no stopping him when he’s at his best.
Having netted in fine fashion against Olympiakos in midweek, the 24-year-old got in on the act again after converting from the penalty spot to wrap up all three points, with the wideman stepping up to the plate ahead of summer signing Viktor Gyokeres.
That second-half strike had come following Rice’s fine effort before the break, with the marauding midfielder firing home on the rebound against his previous employers for his 17th goal for the club on his 113th outing. Remarkably, he only scored 15 times in 245 games for the Irons.
It wasn’t just that goal which was impressive about the Englishman’s performance either, with Rice also coming close to picking out that man Gyokeres, following a trademark surging run down the left.
Minutes played
90
79
Touches
49
81
Pass accuracy
78%
92%
Goals
1
1
Assists
0
0
Key passes
2
3
Duels won
5/13
2/3
Successful dribbles
0/3
2/3
That was one of three key passes that he provided in all, as per Sofascore, ahead of Saka’s own tally of two, with the compatriots once again showcasing their importance to this quality outfit.
Arsenal's contender for player of the season
Injury has hampered Saka’s impact thus far in 2025/26, while Saturday’s strike marked Rice’s first of the campaign, having been unable to replicate the heights of that night against Real Madrid last season.
Neither man has quite been at their brilliant best in the early weeks of the season, although one man who has put in stellar performance after stellar performance is Jurrien Timber, with the Dutchman simply a monster at right-back once again.
The man who earned the penalty which allowed Saka to convert on his milestone outing, the former Ajax defender was a constant outlet down that right flank, racking up 72 touches in total, while providing one key pass as he looked to impact proceedings in the final third.
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Also involved in the build-up to Ricardo Calafiori’s strike in first-half added time, having combined nicely with Saka inside the area, Timber represents the perfect all-rounder, having long surplanted Ben White in that right-back role.
Adept in attack but also a warrior defensively, the Netherlands international again gave short shrift to the West Ham forward line, winning eight of his contested duels, including making six tackles.
A key cog in an Arsenal backline that simply loves to defend first and foremost, it is no surprise that the Gunners are now reportedly looking to extend his contract, having already secured William Saliba’s future this week.
As noted by the Standard’s Simon Collings, who dished out an 8/10 match rating, it was another ‘top performance’ from the £38m man, having now started all six league games since the opening weekend win against Manchester United.
Lauded by podcaster Adam Keys as having “quietly become one of Arsenal’s most important players”, Timber must surely be near the top of the pile when pondering the Gunners’ player of the season so far.