Mikel Arteta toasted Arsenal’s surge into the top four - but refused to confirm Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be back for Saturday’s trip to Leeds.
Goals from Gabriel Martinelli and substitute Emile Smith Rowe saw the Gunners leapfrog West Ham to go fourth with their former skipper exiled.
Asked to confirm whether Aubameyang would now return, Arteta said: “No news. He wasn't eligible for this game and that's it.”
The Gunners boss also insisted Alexandre Lacazette will not be a “selfish” skipper after Arsenal clinched their second straight win without the French striker’s predecessor.
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Praising his impact on the club’s younger stars, Arteta said: “It’s in his nature. He’s not a selfish player. He’s a player that’s happy when they make the team better.
“He’s the next in line (for the captaincy) and he’s taken it the way everybody played today with such pride and commitment. I’m really proud of it.
“All of our young players were good and the senior players led by example. We shared the goals. It’s important for Gabi to score a goal like today. Everybody, I’m really pleased.”
Vladimir Coufal brought down Lacazette for a second half penalty and was controversially sent off. But the Gunners forward saw his spot-kick saved by Lukasz Fabianski.
Hammers boss David Moyes said: “Over the weekend we had some really soft penalty kicks but I think that [referee] Anthony Taylor might have got this one right.
“I think he did get the ball but Vladimir Coufal should have got better contact on the ball and maybe toe-poked it away or he needs to get fuller contact on it.
“I still feel the referee could have not given it because of the contact but the follow-through is probably more the reason for it.
“He should have toe-poked it away. I don't think it was that difficult a tackle to make.”
