Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta only had praise for his team after a 6-0 thumping of West Ham United.

The Hammers were put to the sword by a rampant Gunners, marking their worst home loss in years.

After the game, Arteta did focus his praise on winger Bukayo Saka, stating: “That at his age, in the position and consistency [he shows] – normally they don't go in the same line – he's proving everybody wrong and [showing] he can do it.

“What he has done today as well I had doubts that he was going to take the penalty or not because of what happened [last season], but it shows as well how mature he is and how determined he is as well to go to the next level."

Asked about Saka's comments about the team smelling blood in the title race, Arteta added: “That's up to him to say! What I want as a team is for them to be better and better.

“The way they trained this week, they were totally focused after Liverpool to say: “okay, now it's a big task and now it's time to go another level and beat West Ham."

“And they certainly did that today."