“This is the last time this thing will happen, I’ll suspend him if he start again”: Arsenal’s coach warns ONE Gunners’ player for what he did to Viktor Gyokeres against West Ham yesterday

Having added eight players to his squad in the summer, Mikel Arteta might have had the odd sleepless night wondering how best to juggle all that talent. He needn’t have worried.

Seven games into the Premier League campaign, the only player yet to feature is Gabriel Jesus, who continues his recovery from ACL surgery in January. Despite six players picking up injuries of varying severity, Arsenal have coped admirably – top of the table with 16 points, flawless in the Champions League, and safely into the next round of the Carabao Cup.

Not everything has clicked – integrating so many new faces never does – but the defensive structure remains rock solid, and the loss of key players, including Martin Odegaard on three separate occasions, hasn’t derailed the early momentum.

Saturday’s 2–0 win over West Ham was as routine as they come. The visitors, who’d won on their previous two trips to the Emirates, were organised under new manager Nuno Espirito Santo, but far from adventurous in attack.

Arsenal were in complete control – no need for last-gasp drama like last weekend at St James’ Park – Declan Rice scoring against his old club before Bukayo Saka smashed home a second-half penalty on his 200th Premier League appearance to bring up 100 goal involvements in red and white.

“The last two games have been very special,” said Arteta afterwards.

“Newcastle, because we had a history there, a lot of scars and a lot of learnings to take, we put that right. Then we had West Ham, losing two games at home in the previous two seasons.

“I told them it was a big opportunity – we’ve had very difficult fixtures since the start of the season, and some very bad injuries as well not helping.

“Still, the team is performing, playing well, winning today with absolute dominance and without conceding a goal. So, good to get to the international break in this spirit.”

The only downside was fresh injuries to Odegaard and Rice. The captain limped off after half an hour, the first player in Premier League history to be substituted before half-time in three consecutive home games.

“I think he had a clash knee-to-knee and immediately he was uncomfortable,” said Arteta.

“I just spoke to him, he’s not positive about it. He’s got a brace on, we’ll have to wait and see from the doctors. But we haven’t been very lucky with that either.

“We haven’t had him since the start of the season for one reason or another – the shoulder twice and now this. We have to wait and see the extent of that injury. We will find solutions but obviously our captain is a player who gives us a completely different dimension, especially in attack.”

Rice also limped off late on, clutching his back.

“He’s not all right because he asked me to come off, so that’s a shame,” said the manager.

“He had a pain in his back and he could not carry on which is something very unusual for Declan, so we’ll have to assess him and see how he is.”

The upside? Arsenal’s squad depth is showing its worth. With Odegaard and Rice both withdrawn, Arteta sent on Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino. The former, in particular, is a luxury replacement who immediately changed the rhythm of the game.

“That’s what we want,” said Arteta. “It’s not ideal because we had clear intentions with the line-up and that lasted very few minutes, but the good thing is we can bring on somebody else and be a little bit different yet still very efficient.”

Zubimendi, benched in the league for the first time this season, wasted no time making an impact – feeding Eberechi Eze in the build-up to Rice’s opener and later floating a gorgeous ball to Jurrien Timber, whose surge into the box drew the foul for Saka’s penalty.

Asked why he turned to Zubimendi rather than Ethan Nwaneri, Arteta explained:

“Especially the way they [West Ham] acted and the way they were matching our midfield and the spaces that we could create. With Zubi, I think it was better.

“They didn’t have an intention to play or combine in the first phase, so that was creating a lot of direct plays and second balls. We wanted to make sure we could control that and dominate the game in the areas that we wanted — that’s the reason why.”

Rotation has become a theme this season. Where last year Arsenal were scraping the bench for academy kids, now big-name players are missing out entirely. It could be the difference between also-rans and contenders.

“It’s critical,” said Arteta. “We’re playing every three days, and with the intensity that we play and the demands of the opposition, it’s impossible to maintain the same players.

“So the ones coming in have to lift the level, the intensity, and help us win. Especially in this period, I think it’s been really, really positive.”

Arsenal now head into the international break at the top of the table, looking increasingly confident with every game. It’s been a positive month…just eight more to go.