Arsenal dominated West Ham completely on Wednesday night to go fourth in the Premier League with yet another cleansheet and a superb performance.

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 15: Emile Smith Rowe of Arsenal celebrates after scoring their team's second goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on December 15, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 15: Emile Smith Rowe of Arsenal celebrates after scoring their team’s second goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on December 15, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

After being binned as captain a little over 24 hours before Mikel Arteta named an unchanged side for the third game in a row, the most damming indictment of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is that this side are significantly better without him.

Led on the pitch by Alexandre Lacazette, putting in a proper captain’s shift while wearing the armband, only one player finished the game with less than a seven points on the night.(Thomas Partey).

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 15: Gabriel Martinelli celebrates with teammate Gabriel Magalhaes of Arsenal after scoring their team's first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on December 15, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 15: Gabriel Martinelli celebrates with teammate Gabriel Magalhaes of Arsenal after scoring their team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on December 15, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Gabriel Martinelli got the scoring going and ended the game with the joint-highest score, with Alexandre Lacazette, of any player on the pitch.

Emile Smith Rowe didn’t do too badly, either, considering he was only on the pitch for 24 minutes.

https://twitter.com/btsportfootball/status/1471225788527779850

https://twitter.com/btsportfootball/status/1471235385904693249

Arsenal player ratings vs West Ham (half time)

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 15: Gabriel Martinelli celebrates with Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal after scoring their team's first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on December 15, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 15: Gabriel Martinelli celebrates with Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal after scoring their team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on December 15, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
  • Aaron Ramsdale 7.7 (6.1)
  • Takehiro Tomiyasu 7.8 (7.3)
  • Benjamin White 7.6 (6.9)
  • Gabriel 7.6 (7.1)
  • Kieran Tierney 7.6 (6.8)
  • Thomas Partey 6.7 (6.3)
  • Granit Xhaka 7.6 (6.8)
  • Gabriel Martinelli 8.1 (6.3) – G
  • Bukayo Saka 8.0 (6.5) – A
  • Martin Odegaard 7.2 (6.7)
  • Alexandre Lacazette 8.0 (6.3) – A

Arsenal subs

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 15: Emile Smith Rowe of Arsenal celebrates after scoring their team's second goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on December 15, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 15: Emile Smith Rowe of Arsenal celebrates after scoring their team’s second goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on December 15, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
  • Emile Smith Rowe – 7.6 – G
  • Eddie Nketiah n/a
  • Nuno Tavares n/a

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