Saka sends rivals City and Liverpool a warning after 5-2 thrashing of West Ham

Bukayo Saka warned Arsenal's title rivals that the Gunners are 'back to their best' after romping to a 5-2 win over West Ham.

The winger scored from the penalty spot to set up three more goals in a frenzied first half that saw seven goals scored before half-time for just the fourth time in Premier League history.

Arsenal have now secured three wins in the past week, also scoring five past Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League, after coming off a poor run of just two wins in their previous seven games.

“Definitely, the last three games we are back to our best, back to our best way of playing,” Saka said. 'We are fluid, we are dynamic and you see the movements, the rotations, everything looks good. We must continue like this. We have played three good games, but we know that in this competition it is not enough.'

Arsenal's victory moved them up to second place in the Premier League and manager Mikel Arteta said it means his side can now enjoy the big title clash between Liverpool and Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.

“We've got some momentum, we've got some momentum back and some real determination,” Arteta said. 'Three wins in a row is great. We are going to enjoy tonight and watch a wonderful game of football tomorrow.

“The first half was crazy,” added Arteta, whose side took a 4-0 lead after 34 minutes before West Ham struck twice in quick succession to give Saka a fifth-place finish before half-time. 'It was a spectacular first 30 minutes, no matter how much the team wanted it.'

After their resounding 5-1 win against Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League in midweek, Arsenal became only the third English top-flight side to score five goals in five different away games in a calendar year, after Sunderland in the Champions League. 1892 and Manchester City in 1937.

West Ham, meanwhile, came back down to earth after their shock win over Newcastle on Monday night.

Manager Julen Lopetegui watched under pressure from the director's box while serving his touchline ban and felt Arsenal's first goal, scored by Gabriel from a corner, should have been disallowed due to a push on Lucas Paqueta at the near post.

He also questioned the decision to award Arsenal their second penalty when goalkeeper Lukas Fabianski hit Gabriel on the head.

“We are very frustrated,” Lopetegui said. “We are at home and despite playing against one of the best teams in the world, we can and must do better.

'It was a very, very strange first half. We didn't deserve two goals and they didn't deserve to score five. Their first was a set piece that we had prepared, but in my opinion it is a very clear violation. If it's not a violation, I think we should revise the rules.

'After that we have to do better with the second and third goals. The fifth goal, just before half-time, killed the game.

'It wasn't a penalty. Compare the contact for the first goal on Paqueta and then it happened with Lukas (Fabianski) and Gabriel.

'We were unlucky with the decision. But it's not one excuse because we can do better.”