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Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka has shared the reason behind club captain Martin Odegaard taking a penalty in their 5-2 win over West Ham on Saturday, November 30. The Gunners moved up to second spot in the Premier League standings after their resounding win over their London neighbors.
Mikel Arteta's side were quick out of the blocks, putting the Hammers to the sword with four goals in a 26-minute blitz in the first half. Saka and Odegaard featured prominently, being their side's most important attacking players.
Bukayo Saka provided the assist for the first goal with a corner delivery for Gabriel Magalhaes to head home (10') and combined well with Odegaard before setting up Leandro Trossard to score their second (27').
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The Gunners won a penalty in the 34th minute and first-choice taker Saka chose to step aside, allowing Odegaard to score from the spot. After the game, the England international revealed that the Norwegian midfielder asked to take the penalty, which he dispatched with no mistakes.
“Odegaard wanted to take the penalty… I'm more than happy to give him the ball! He always gives me the ball, so we have the good connection. Martin is a top player, he's been playing so good since he came back,” Saka said via Fabrizio Romano.
Martin Odegaard has been in fine form since his return from injury in November, with the Gunners remaining unbeaten since then. The former Real Madrid man now has a goal and two assists in six league appearances for Arsenal this season.
Saka also managed to get on the scoresheet, eventually, scoring from the penalty spot in first-half added time (45+5) to give his side a 5-2 lead. The 23-year-old now has five goals and 10 assists in 12 league appearances this season.
Arsenal 5-2 West Ham sees 7 first-half goals
Arsenal put on a five-star display as they picked up a 5-2 win over West Ham United in their Premier League meeting on Saturday. Both sides scored all of their respective goals in the first half of the clash, making it the highest-scoring first half in the Premier League since 2012.
Gabriel Magalhaes headed home from a corner after 10 minutes before Bukayo Saka set up a Leandro Trossard goal in the 27th minute. Martin Odegaard scored from the penalty spot in the 34th minute before Kai Havertz scored his side's fourth two minutes later.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka scored his second goal in as many West Ham games in the 38th minute, with left-back Emerson Palmieri adding his name to the scoresheet two minutes later. Saka scored from the penalty spot in added time to round off the scoring and seal Arsenal's win.
