West Ham 2-5 Arsenal: Player ratings as Saka shines in hectic victory | OneFootball

Arsenal climbed back up to second in the Premier League table with a breathless 5-2 victory over West Ham United on Saturday.

With Liverpool and Manchester City facing off on Sunday, this represented the perfect chance for Arsenal to recover some ground and Mikel Arteta clearly made that abundantly clear to his players before the game.

Arsenal roared into a four-goal lead inside 36 minutes and looked to be cruising before a late West Ham flurry saw them grab two goals back through Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson. Arsenal would have the final laugh in the first half, however, as Bukayo Saka netted his second of the game from the penalty spot in the closing stages.

This was the fourth time in Premier League history that a first half had seen seven goals and, like two of the previous three, it was followed by a goalless second half which lacked any real moments of excitement.

West Ham player ratings (4-2-3-1)

Emerson & Wan-Bissaka were both on target / HENRY NICHOLLS/GettyImages

*Ratings provided by FotMob*

Subs not used: Alphonse Areola (GK), Ezra Mayers, Oliver Scarles, Luis Guilherme

Arsenal player ratings (4-3-3)

Gabriel's new celebration was on show again / Justin Setterfield/GettyImages

*Ratings provided by FotMob*

Subs not used: Neto (GK), Josh Nichols, Kieran Tierney, Gabriel Martinelli