Arsenal player ratings: Saka is star man as he makes history vs West Ham and Havertz is making impact despite criticism

ARSENAL tore apart their London rivals 6-0 as they turned on the flair for their title charge.

The Gunners were running riot over West Ham in their own back garden and the Hammers’ former captain Declan Rice was one of the stand out stars for the visitors alongside Bukayo Saka.

Reuters

Arsenal hammered their London rivals West Ham 6-0[/caption]

Mikel Arteta‘s side struggled to find the back of the net over the festive period, but they had no problem sticking it past Lukasz Fabianski this afternoon.

Arsenal had five different goalscorers with William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Leandro Trossard and Declan Rice netting alongside Bukayo Saka‘s double.

Here SunSport takes a look at who stood out above the rest…

DAVID RAYA – 7

Kept out rasping Bowen effort early on and late in the second-half – but had little to do other than that. 

BEN WHITE – 7

Does the dirty work in the penalty area to create the perfect chance for his team-mates time and time again.

The man can play as a centre back, an overlapping full back and can seamlessly invert into midfield. 

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WILLIAM SALIBA – 8

Was on target for the first goal with a bullet header and was like a brick wall in defence.

GABRIEL MAGALHAES – 8

The highest-scoring centre-back in Europe since 2020 was on target again, surpassing Thomas Vermaelen with his 14th Arsenal goal to become the SECOND-HIGHEST scoring defender in Gunners history. 

JAKUB KIWIOR – 7

Was robbed easily by Kudus early on but later provided a crucial block on a dangerous Ben Johnson low cross and was solid throughout. 

Also being at left back instead of Zinchenko took away the area where Arsenal tend to get exposed. Bowen against Zinchenko could have, and has previously, caused danger.

DECLAN RICE – 9

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Declan Rice refused to celebrate his stunning goal against his former team[/caption]

The former West Ham man’s inch-perfect corners were the beating heart of Arsenal’s menacing set-pieces, which look fresh out of their Colney training base.

The former West Ham star was loving it among the East London boo-boys by producing a perfect in-swinger for both Saliba and Gabriel’s goals.

MARTIN ODEGAARD – 8

Created four chances in the first half, which was level with Rice and double the amount of any other player on the pitch.

KAI HAVERTZ – 6

May not score goals but he is making an impact despite getting pelted on social media.

GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 7

His positioning made all the difference in Trossard’s goal despite not being directly involved.

LEANDRO TROSSARD – 8

Produced a flurry of chances early on before hitting a well-deserved goal making it three in his last four Prem games.

BUKAYO SAKA – 9

PA

Bukayo Saka starred again for Arsenal[/caption]

His penalty was his 50th goal in an Arsenal shirt and he became the youngest Gunners player to do so before hitting another to make it a whopping 51. 

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REISS NELSON – 7

EDDIE NKETIAH – 7

ETHAN NWANERI – 7

CEDRIC – 7

MOHAMED ELNENY – 7

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