Player Ratings: David Raya Shines as Arsenal Edge West Ham 1-0

Arsenal beat West Ham 1-0 thanks to a late Trossard goal and a stunning performance from goalkeeper David Raya. Read our full player ratings.

Arsenal secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory over West Ham United at the London Stadium, moving back to the top of the Premier League table. The match was decided by a late strike from substitute Leandro Trossard, but the real star of the show was goalkeeper David Raya, whose exceptional shot-stopping kept the Gunners in the game.

Match Overview

The first half was a tense affair, with both sides creating half-chances. West Ham, desperate to escape the relegation zone, pressed high and forced Arsenal into several errors. However, the Hammers lacked a cutting edge in front of goal. Arsenal struggled to break down a well-organized West Ham defense, with Martin Ødegaard and Bukayo Saka often crowded out.

The second half saw West Ham come out with renewed energy. Michail Antonio caused problems with his physical presence, but David Raya was equal to everything thrown at him. The Spaniard made several crucial saves, including a stunning one-handed stop from a James Ward-Prowse free-kick. As the clock ticked down, Arsenal grew into the game. Mikel Arteta introduced Leandro Trossard and Jorginho, and the change paid off. In the 82nd minute, Trossard latched onto a through ball from Ødegaard, cut inside, and fired low past Alphonse Areola to give Arsenal the lead. West Ham pushed for an equalizer but Raya stood firm, ensuring Arsenal took all three points.

Player Ratings

Arsenal

• David Raya (9/10): Man of the Match. Made five saves, including two world-class stops. Commanded his area well and distributed accurately.
• Ben White (7/10): Solid defensively, limited the threat from West Ham's left side. Provided good support going forward.
• William Saliba (8/10): Dominant in the air and composed on the ball. Kept Antonio quiet for large spells.
• Gabriel Magalhães (7/10): Strong and physical, dealt with set-pieces effectively. A few wayward passes but overall good.
• Oleksandr Zinchenko (6/10): Struggled against Bowen's pace. Improved after moving into midfield.
• Thomas Partey (7/10): Broke up play well and kept possession ticking. Tired in the second half.
• Declan Rice (8/10): Excellent against his former club. Won tackles, drove forward, and almost scored with a long-range effort.
• Bukayo Saka (6/10): Quiet by his standards, double-marked throughout. Still drew fouls and created space.
• Martin Ødegaard (7/10): Dictated play in patches, provided the assist for Trossard's goal.
• Gabriel Martinelli (6/10): Lively but final ball lacking. Subbed off in the second half.
• Kai Havertz (5/10): Ineffective as a striker, missed a good chance. Dropped deep but didn't influence play enough.

Substitutes

• Leandro Trossard (8/10): Match-winner. Composed finish and brought energy to the attack.
• Jorginho (6/10): Helped control the midfield after coming on.

West Ham

• Alphonse Areola (7/10): Could do little about the goal. Made good saves from Saka and Rice.
• Vladimír Coufal (6/10): Worked hard but struggled against the combination of Zinchenko and Martinelli.
• Kurt Zouma (7/10): Strong in the air and made important clearances.
• Nayef Aguerd (6/10): Caught out for the goal, but otherwise solid.
• Emerson Palmieri (6/10): Got forward but final ball lacking.
• Edson Álvarez (7/10): Physical presence in midfield, disrupted Arsenal's rhythm.
• Tomáš Souček (6/10): Battled well but limited going forward.
• Jarrod Bowen (7/10): West Ham's most dangerous player, caused problems but no end product.
• James Ward-Prowse (6/10): Set-piece threat saved by Raya. Struggled from open play.
• Lucas Paquetá (5/10): Off night, wasteful in possession.
• Michail Antonio (6/10): Physical battle with Saliba, won some duels but no shots on target.

Key Tactical Analysis

Mikel Arteta's decision to bring on Trossard was crucial. The Belgian's movement allowed Arsenal to stretch West Ham's defense, creating the space for the winning goal. Defensively, Raya's performance underlined his importance to the team. His ability to play out from the back and make vital saves is a major asset. For West Ham, the result leaves them in the relegation zone, but there were positive signs. David Moyes' side competed well and created chances; they just lacked a finisher.

What's Next?

Arsenal face a tough run of fixtures, with games against top-four rivals. They will need Raya to maintain this form. West Ham travel to struggling Everton next week, a must-win game for their survival hopes.