200 Not Out

Saka, Rice and Arteta Milestones 

It was a day for milestones in north London – Bukayo Saka hit 200 Premier League appearances, Mikel Arteta reached 300 games in charge, and Declan Rice celebrated by scoring against the club that probably still thinks he'll come home one day. Spoiler: he won't.

We brushed West Ham aside 2–0 to reclaim top spot after seven games, and frankly, it could have been four or five if the lads had been a bit greedier. Eberechi Eze, back in the XI after Arteta rotated again, was all flair and flicks until it came to finishing – his first-half miss from six yards will haunt him longer than the Hammers' post-match journey back east.

RICE SERVED COLD

Declan Rice's old employers arrived in N5 dreaming of a third straight win at the Emirates – instead, they left clutching another reality check. Niclas Füllkrug nearly stunned us inside 40 seconds with a header, but that was about the limit of their ambition.

Rice's goal, arriving on 38 minutes after Areola palmed Eze's shot straight into his path, felt inevitable. He didn't celebrate wildly – just a smirk and a shrug that said, "I warned you lot." The reunion was respectful; the result was ruthless.

Meanwhile, Saka thought he'd doubled our lead before VAR did what VAR does – ruin the fun. Odegaard limped off again (knee knock number 743 of the season) and Zubimendi came on to quietly run the show, playing passes with the composure of a man who's been here for years.

100 IN 200 – THE STARBOY SHOW

The second half was more stop-start than a London bus on strike, until Jurrien Timber got bundled over and the ref pointed to the spot. Up stepped Saka – 24 years old, 200 league appearances, and already with 100 goal involvements.

He sent Areola the wrong way, flashed that trademark grin, and reminded everyone that he's not just the future of Arsenal – he's the present, too. The kid from Ealing now has stats that make most wingers blush.

After that, it was pure cruise control. Calafiori clipped the post, Merino nodded a couple wide, and West Ham looked like a side already dreaming of international break. They finished without a single shot on target – their first blank since January. You'd almost feel sorry for them if it weren't West Ham.

ARTETA'S 300TH – THE MASTER BUILDER

For Mikel Arteta, this was win number 177 in match number 300. Only Pep, Mourinho and Dalglish managed better starts to their top-flight careers – not bad company for a bloke once dismissed as "Guardiola-lite."

The football wasn't vintage Arsenal, but it didn't need to be. Seven games in, we're top of the league, unbeaten, and looking like a side that's learned how to win without breaking a sweat.

STAT ATTACK

• Saka: 55 goals + 45 assists = 100 Premier League goal involvements at 24 years and 29 days.
• Declan Rice: 2 goals, 2 assists against West Ham. Therapy achieved.
• West Ham: 0 shots on target, 34 conceded this season. Statistically allergic to defending.
• Arteta: 177 wins in 300 – only Pep (219), Mourinho (196) and Dalglish (185) have done better at this stage.

WHAT'S NEXT

Time for a breather. Arsenal take a two-week pause before facing Fulham away (Oct 18), then Atletico Madrid in the Champions League (Oct 22), before Crystal Palace wander into town for another London derby (Oct 26).

But for now, the night belongs to Saka, Rice and Arteta – the holy trinity of the modern Arsenal. One's our future, one's our spine, and one's the architect.

And as for West Ham? Let's just say the only thing they took home was Rice… leftovers.