Prediction: West Ham vs Arsenal

Verdict: Over three goals

Best Odds: 11/10

Bookmaker: Bet365

Two sides who find themselves in the midst of a real struggle, West Ham will welcome Arsenal to the London Stadium on Monday night.

West Ham

Starting with the hosts, while West Ham may have shocked many by picking up a 1-0 win away at Stamford Bridge last weekend, the Hammers have once again come crashing back down to earth. Putting in another lackluster display and suffering a 2-0 defeat away at Wolves in midweek, the more vocal sections of East London calling for Manuel Pellegrini to be given the boot. They open Monday’s contest with just a one-point buffer over the drop zone and many feeling their side are quickly being dragged into a relegation scrap. Winning just one of their last 10 matches across all competitions, a run that stems back to the 22nd of September, it will undoubtedly be their continued issues at the back giving Pellegrini the biggest headache. Shipping another pair of goals at Molineux last time out, West Ham have now shipped two or more goals in eight of their previous 10 appearances. With the mood in their camp remaining incredibly fragile, it should also be noted that the Hammers have failed to win any of their last four matches on home soil, losing three of those contests.

Team News

West Ham will assess Michail Antonio, who made his first start since August in the win against Chelsea but missed the midweek defeat at Wolves.

Jack Wilshere and Winston Reid trained in the build-up to this game but may not be risked, while Manuel Lanzini and Lukasz Fabianski remain out.

Arsenal

As for the visitors, still looking for a new permanent boss to take over from Unai Emery and now with former icon Freddie Ljungberg filling in, Arsenal slumped to a 2-1 defeat against Brighton in midweek and are enduring a season to forget. Now sat outside of the top half of the standings, fans around North London have remarkably seen their side fail to win any of their last nine matches across all formats, and even more worrying, the former champions have not recorded a Premier League victory since the 6th of October. Much like Monday’s hosts, a huge part of Arsenal’s continued issues over the past few months has come down to some glaring struggles at the back. Ljungberg’s temporary side have now shipped at least a pair of goals in each of their last four matches on the bounce, a run that has seen them face off against the likes of relegation scrappers Norwich and Southampton.

Team News

Arsenal are monitoring Hector Bellerin’s fitness after he made his comeback from injury against Brighton.

Centre-back Rob Holding and midfielder Dani Ceballos remain out.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides met back in January, West Ham came away with a 1-0 win at the London Stadium.
• Arsenal have failed to win any of their last eight matches across all competitions.
• The Gunners have also shipped a pair of goals in each of their last four matches on the bounce.
• West Ham have won just one of their last 10 matches across all formats.
• The Hammers have failed to win any of their last four matches on home soil, losing three of those contests.

Conclusion

With both sides gaining a reputation for their continued struggles at the back, Monday’s matchup at the London Stadium could be a cracking game for the neutrals. Along with the Hammers shipping a trio of strikes in back-to-back matches in East London and Monday’s guests also conceding a pair of goals in each of their last four Premier League matches on the bounce, we’re backing yet another lively encounter between two sides who find the mood in their camp at a season-low.

Verdict: Over three goals 

Best Odds: 11/10

Bookmaker: Bet365