West Ham v Arsenal player ratings: Zouma 4, Alvarez 3; Rice 9, Saka 9

Gunners secure their biggest Premier League away win with 6-0 rout at London Stadium

Alphonse Areola 5/10

WEST HAM RATINGS: Excellent reaction save to turn Trossard volley over bar. Booked when he brought down Saka for penalty, which same player scored to make it 2-0. A few other decent saves but woefullyShow more

Vladimir Coufal 4/10

Played Saka onside ahead of Arsenal attacker running through on goal and being brought down by keeper for first-half penalty. Struggled against Martinelli when Brazilian hit full pace. AFP

Kurt Zouma 4/10

West Ham had only lost twice at home all season but Zouma and the rest of team were simply blown away in opening 45 minutes. Easily beaten by Trossard as Belgian curled home fourth goal. Taken off at Show more

Nayef Aguerd 4/10

Moroccan defender struggled throughout against pace of Saka and Co. Skinned by England attacker for fifth goal. Hammers were also dreadful dealing with Arsenal dead balls on day to forget for home sidShow more

Emerson 4/10

Given torrid time by Saka but given little defensive support as England attacker was given freedom to run at West Ham at will. AFP

Edson Alvarez 3/10

Booked in opening 10 minutes for reckless tackle on Saka, his 12th yellow card in 28 games season. Hooked at break after Arsenal dominated middle of park and with a second yellow probably on way. PA

Tomas Soucek 4/10

Went down in box looking for first-half penalty after very slight Odegaard pull but rightly ignored by referee and VAR. Chasing Arsenal shadows all game and rarely looked like catching them. Getty ImaShow more

Ben Johnson 4/10

Dropped back to play Gabriel onside ahead of Arsenal’s third goal which summed up West Ham’s first-half defensive nightmare. Failed to lay glove on Arsenal in midfield role. AFP

James Ward-Prowse 4/10

Part of a dreadful midfield performance from home side as they failed to provide cover for defence or supply line to forwards. PA

Mohammed Kudus 4/10

Nothing performance from Ghanian who was invisible man for most of match but did pick up booking for stupid foul on Martinelli in second half. Had shot saved by keeper in last 10 minutes. AFP

Jarrod Bowen 5/10

A thankless task up front with service non-existent. Ran heart out but no real chance of adding to his 14 goals this season. PA

Kalvin Phillips 5/10

SUBS: (On for Alvarez,46’) Brought on to try and shore up a midfield that went AWOL in first half. Sprayed a couple of nice passes around but Gunners still allowed far too much space. Booked for poor Show more

Konstantinos Mavropanos 5/10

(On for Zouma, 46’) Better show than the man he replaced, at least. EPA

Aaron Cresswell N/A

(On for Emerson, 77’) Getty Images

David Raya 6/10

ARSENAL RATINGS: One of the easiest games the Spaniard will ever enjoy. No save to make until 83rd minute when Gunners were strolling at 6-0 up. Getty Images

Ben White 7/10

Not remotely troubled defensively and able to help out at other end of pitch, earning assist for Rice’s super strike although pass wasn’t really intended for midfielder. Reuters

William Saliba 8/10

Headed opening goal from corner after sustained period of Gunners pressure for second goal of season. Rest of game was walk in park for French centre-half. PA

Gabriel 8/10

Headed home third goal from Rice’s ball as West Ham’s defence again went missing. Little trouble dealing with Bowen who was left completely isolated up front. EPA

Jakub Kiwior 8/10

Started in place of Oleksandr Zinchenko, Pole showed perfect timing to get in front of dangerous cross ahead of Kudus and turn out for corner. Nice cross for Saka that attacker should have scored fromShow more

Declan Rice 9/10

Up against former club and jeered throughout but set up goals with perfect cross for Saliba and Gabriel from a corner and free-kick, respectively. Wonderful strike to make it 6-0 which was his last toShow more

Martin Odegaard 8/10

At heart of outstanding team performance, pulling strings from midfield as he and Saka tormented West Ham throughout. Nice little ball with outside of boot to tee-up Trossard’s goal. PA

Bukayo Saka 9/10

Hectic spell in first half when he sent a header and a deft little chip wide of target, before being brought down in box for penalty, which he then finished himself for 50th Gunners goal. Made it 5-0 Show more

Kai Havertz 7/10

German not among the goals but still played part in ruthless Arsenal attacking show. Linked up well with teammates. Getty Images

Leandro Trossard 8/10

Should have put Arsenal in front in 23rd minute but headed Saka cross over bar, then forced keeper into reflex save with thumping volley moments later. Made it 4-0 with curling finish into top corner Show more

Gabriel Martinelli 7/10

Lovely cut-back cross to pick out Trossard who almost volleyed Gunners into lead. A constant menace who was surprisingly not among the goals or assists. Getty Images

Eddie Nketiah 6/10

SUBS: (On for Troddard, 67’) Shot straight at keeper after run and pass from Martinelli. AFP

Reiss Nelson 6/10

(On for Saka, 67’) Game was 6-0 when he came on with West Ham despondent. AFP

Mohamed Elneny 6/10

(On for Rice, 67’) Side footed good chance straight at keeper after finding space on edge of area, struck another effort well over bar. Reuters

Ethan Nwaneri N/A

(On for Martinelli, 77’) Getty Images

Cedric Soares N/A

(On for White 77’) AFP

Bukayo Saka scored twice and Declan Rice found the net against his old club as Arsenal flexed their muscles in the Premier League title race with a thumping 6-0 win at West Ham United.

The Gunners' title bid hit the buffers in this fixture last season when they blew a two-goal lead to draw 2-2.

There was no chance of a repeat after William Saliba headed them in front and West Ham promptly collapsed.

Rice grabbed a pair of assists on his return to his former club while Saka, Gabriel Magalhaes and Leandro Trossard were also on target, all before half time.

Saka scored his second midway through the second half and Rice rubbed salt in the wounds with a long-range sixth.

Arsenal are now level on points with second-placed Manchester City – who have a game in hand – and two points shy of leaders Liverpool

“We are maintaining and building some momentum now,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. “After the Liverpool game [where they won 3-1] we had to show that we had that capacity to repeat that level or be better.

“Performances have been strong as well as results in recent weeks. We need to maintain that because other teams are doing that as well. We are not the only ones.”

On Rice's impressive return to the London Stadium, setting up Saliba and Gabriel with set-piece deliveries before scoring from 25 yards, Arteta said: “I'm really happy with him.

“I know that it was an emotional day for him because he loves West Ham so much. But he had to focus on the task and what he had to deliver – set pieces were one of those.”

When West Ham beat Arsenal and Manchester United in December, there was talk of a Champions League challenge from David Moyes' side.

They have lost to both in the past eight days, shipping nine goals in the process, and are still without a win in 2024.

It was a chastening afternoon for the Hammers and manager Moyes pulled no punches after his heaviest defeat in charge.

“It was a really poor day for us,” he said. “Arsenal played extremely well, give them credit, but it's difficult to explain how we played so poorly.

“We're normally a lot stronger, we didn't show that today. I'm disappointed with the way we fell apart when the game hadn't looked as if it was going to be as big as that.

“I don't think since I've come back to the club my team's defended that way, ever. We were weak today, we didn't do our jobs well enough, we didn't fight to contain it harder.”

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