BUKAYO Saka took his English Premier League goals and assists tally for Arsenal to 100 today as they defeated West Ham 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium.
The England international with Nigerian heritage netted from the penalty spot in the second half to seal the victory for Arsenal on his 200th Premier League appearance.
Declan Rice opened the scoring with his first goal of the season in Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s 300th game in charge.
Arsenal have had an excellent start to the season, losing just one match, and Arteta looked to ensure that continued with his attacking selection.
The Arsenal manager named a midfield three of Rice, Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze as he utilised the options in his squad after a £250m spend in the summer.
However, that trio did not last long with Odegaard having to go off with an injury, the third Premier League home game in a row that he has been withdrawn early.
Rice was then pushed into a more advanced role as Martin Zubimendi was brought on and the former West Ham midfielder was on hand to finish smartly after Eze’s shot was pushed back into the area by Alphonse Areola in the 38th minute.
The Gunners made sure of the three points when Jurrien Timber was brought down by El Hadji Malick Diouf and Saka slotted the penalty confidently into the corner in the 67th minute.
It was a great way for Saka to mark his 200th Premier League appearance and means that his impressive record now stands at 55 goals and 45 assists.
The win moves Arsenal to the top of the Premier League, overtaking Liverpool prior to the Reds’ match against Chelsea later this evening.
At Old Trafford, Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim marked his 50th match in charge with a crucial 2-0 victory over Sunderland.
Mason Mount gave the hosts a perfect start with a well-taken goal after just eight minutes.
It was the earliest United had scored in the Premier League since Marcus Rashford’s second-minute effort at Ipswich in Amorim’s first game last November.
Benjamin Sesko doubled the home side’s lead with a close-range finish for his second goal in as many games while United’s first clean sheet of the season was Amorim’s reward for handing a debut to £18.1m goalkeeper Senne Lammens.
Sunderland were awarded a penalty just before half-time but it was overturned after a video assistant refereee (VAR) check confirmed Sesko did not catch Trai Hume in the face with a high boot, as initially thought.
It is United’s third straight home win for the first time in over two years.
They have lost just once at home to Sunderland in 31 meetings and Amorim becomes the first United boss since Sir Alex Ferguson to win his 50th game at the helm.