Arsenal Breaks a Second Season Curse as West Ham Fades

Match Recap

Spanish manager Mikel Arteta expressed his delight after Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over West Ham United, a result that came after two consecutive losses to the Hammers at the Emirates.

Arteta told Sky Sports after the match: "It was a tough game, three fixtures in seven days, I am very happy."

On learning from past defeats against West Ham, he added: "When we played Newcastle, we said we must learn from the past and the points we dropped in that stadium."

Further, he noted: "Ahead of today’s game, we had also lost the two previous matches against West Ham at the Emirates, but we won today and we earned the win fairly."

Injury update

Odegaard Injury

The Norwegian midfielder Martin Ødegaard, Arsenal captain, could not complete the match after a knee-to-knee collision. He started in the XI but was substituted in the 30th minute, with Martin Zubimendi coming on.

According to Opta statistics cited in the report, Ødegaard’s substitution before halftime marked the third consecutive Premier League game in which he started but was taken off early, fueling concerns about his availability in the coming weeks.

The knee issue adds to a sequence of injuries that have plagued him since joining the club in 2021, including a shoulder problem last season that kept him out of several key fixtures.

Scorers and milestones

The goals came from Declan Rice in the 38th minute and Bukayo Saka from a penalty in the 67th, sealing the London derby win for the visitors.

Rice’s strike underscored his evolving role at Arsenal, while Saka’s goal crowned what Arteta called a consistently high level of performance from the young forward.

After the match, Saka reflected on the team’s progress: "We showed the progress we have made over the last two seasons; we had a stumble at home against West Ham, and we wanted to correct that day."

He added: "We know the quality of our defense, and we know that if we keep a clean sheet, we are more likely to win."

Arteta also highlighted Saka’s 200th Premier League appearance, emphasizing the impact of his performances and his ongoing development: "What he does at his age is extraordinary; his influence in these games is hard to measure, I’m very happy for him."

On Ødegaard’s leadership and importance, the coach commented that the captain’s absence would be felt but praised the squad’s resilience and depth as they adjusted during the game.

Arsenal’s 2-0 win lifts them to the top of the table on 16 points, while West Ham remain at four points in 19th. If Liverpool stumble against Chelsea later, Arsenal could hold the top spot at the end of the round. The team also leads on goal difference, with a +11 margin compared to Liverpool’s +5.

Context and outlook

Since joining Arsenal from Real Madrid in 2021, Ødegaard has been a key pillar of Arteta’s project, but recurring injuries have interrupted his participation in pivotal fixtures, raising questions about squad depth and rotation in the short term.

Arteta’s side demonstrated a blend of tactical discipline and attacking efficiency, which coach and players will hope to build on as injuries continue to threaten the midfield dynamics ahead of upcoming fixtures.

With Ødegaard sidelined, the emphasis on depth and on ensuring the team maintains control in big matches becomes even more pronounced, as Arsenal seeks to sustain a title-chasing run through the season.

Overall takeaway

Arsenal claimed a deserved win, marking a positive response to recent setbacks and reinforcing the sense that Arteta’s project remains on track despite injuries and tough scheduling.

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And now for the smart-aleck part: Sniper joke time incoming. Punchlines incoming—one-liners courtesy of the ghost of football comedians past.

Narrative punchline 1: If injuries were goals, Ødegaard would be the league's top scorer this season—talk about a dramatic hat-trick of setbacks.

Narrative punchline 2: Arteta’s plan to cure the ‘second-curse’ is simple: keep a spare knee in the kit bag, and a bigger sense of humor on the bench.