United Triumphs Over Sunderland with a 2-0 Victory

Has the 22-year wait come to an end?

Arsenal ascended to the Premier League’s summit following a 2-0 victory over struggling West Ham United on Saturday. Former Hammer Declan Rice haunted his old team by opening the scoring, while Bukayo Saka added another with a calm penalty after El Hadji Malick Diouf fouled Jurriën Timber in the box. Mikel Arteta’s squad was in control throughout the match, creating numerous chances to extend their lead, but securing the victory was what truly mattered on this potentially pivotal weekend in the league.

As title rivals Liverpool face a challenging match against Chelsea, Arteta’s team had the chance to increase the pressure on Arne Slot’s squad, which has suffered consecutive defeats under the Dutch manager. Arsenal seized the opportunity, dominating possession and creating ample goal-scoring chances. With the victory in this London derby, Arsenal now sits one point clear at the top with 16 points from seven matches. Liverpool can regain the top position with a win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, but a draw will not suffice, as Arsenal boasts a superior goal difference of +11 compared to Liverpool’s +5.

Arsenal’s perfect record ended with a surprising loss to high-flying Crystal Palace last week, where former Arsenal player Eddie Nketiah scored a last-minute winner in a 2-1 victory. Palace remains the only unbeaten team in the Premier League and could play a vital role in the title race, though it’s still early in the season. For now, Arsenal enjoys their new standing as league leaders, even if it lasts only for a short time.

This is the first time Arsenal has topped the table after Gameweek 7 since the 2022-23 season, in which they narrowly finished second to Manchester City. Before that, Arsène Wenger led the team to fourth place in the 2013/14 season after a strong start, winning six out of their first seven matches. Fans can find encouragement in the fact that when Arsenal last lifted the Premier League trophy in the 2003/04 season, they were second after seven games, ultimately going the entire season unbeaten—a feat unmatched in the league’s 33-year history since its evolution from the First Division.

Questions persist regarding the inability of both Arteta and Wenger to secure additional titles despite being contenders late in the season. Nonetheless, there’s a belief that the current squad possesses one of the strongest depths seen in the past century, and this victory could be a stepping stone toward challenging powerhouses like Liverpool and City at the top.