Prediction: West Ham vs Arsenal

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 7/13

Bookmaker: BetUS

Premier League contenders Arsenal are gearing up for a brief journey across the capital this Sunday as they aim to settle the score with London rivals West Ham United at the London Stadium.

Mikel Arteta’s squad injected further excitement into the title race with a commanding 3-1 victory over league leaders Liverpool in their previous fixture. Meanwhile, West Ham fell to a 3-0 loss against Manchester United, highlighting the Red Devils’ dominance on the pitch.

West Ham

David Moyes, returning to one of his former clubs, faced another disappointing result as his West Ham side suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester United last Sunday. The Red Devils’ emerging talents, notably Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho, stole the limelight with clinical finishes at the Theatre of Dreams. West Ham had their moments in the match, and Moyes said that the 3-0 scoreline “flattered” his former team.

This loss marks West Ham’s sixth consecutive match without a win, a concerning streak since they have not secured a victory in any competition since the beginning of the year. Consequently, the Hammers slipped below Manchester United into seventh place in the table, although they trail the Red Devils by just two points.

Looking ahead, Newcastle United and Brighton and Hove Albion have the opportunity to surpass West Ham in the league standings with victories in their Saturday fixtures. However, Moyes’ side should find solace in their upcoming home fixtures, as they have remained unbeaten in their last six Premier League games at the London Stadium.

Despite facing formidable opponents, only Manchester City and Everton have managed to leave the London Stadium with maximum points this season. Not since the 2015/16 campaign at Upton Park under Slaven Bilic’s management have West Ham enjoyed such a prolonged unbeaten run of seven matches on home turf in the Premier League.

Team News

During the loss to Manchester United, West Ham had to make an unplanned substitution as goalkeeper Alphonse Areola handed the gloves over to former Arsenal FA Cup winner Lukasz Fabianski for the second half due to a head injury sustained in a collision with Kurt Zouma.

Moyes claimed after the game that Areola’s withdrawal was a precautionary measure, indicating his readiness to resume goalkeeping duties for the upcoming London derby. However, Lucas Paqueta (calf) and Michail Antonio (knee) will not be available for selection.

Despite the setback, Moyes found positives in his team’s performance at Old Trafford and is likely to keep changes to a minimum. This means that Manchester City loanee Kalvin Phillips may have to wait for an opportunity to make an impact from the bench, especially after a challenging start to his tenure with the Hammers.

Arsenal

Arsenal finally found success against Liverpool last Sunday, marking the third encounter between the two sides this season as the pivotal moment. The Gunners managed to overcome previous disappointments, including a loss in the FA Cup and surrendering a lead to draw at Anfield just before Christmas.

The clash at the Emirates Stadium featured two of the league’s toughest defences, yet both teams deviated from their usual defensive solidity, with defensive errors leading to goals. Gabriel Magalhaes scored an unfortunate own goal, cancelling out Bukayo Saka’s opener for Arsenal. However, Gabriel’s blunder was overshadowed by a miscommunication between Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker, gifting Gabriel Martinelli an easy finish. Additionally, Alisson’s lapse at his near post allowed Leandro Trossard to secure a memorable victory for the Gunners.

After enduring a challenging run with just one win in seven games, Mikel Arteta’s team has bounced back with three consecutive victories in the Premier League. This resurgence has propelled them to within two points of Liverpool in the standings, although Manchester City maintains a higher position on goal difference ahead of their Saturday fixture against Everton.

Arsenal must summon the spirit of their recent success once again as they face West Ham this weekend. West Ham’s recent victories over Arsenal, including a 2-0 win at the Emirates and a 3-1 triumph in the EFL Cup at the London Stadium, highlight the challenge ahead for the North London side against their capital rivals.

Team News

Despite the absence of Gabriel Jesus due to ongoing knee issues, Arsenal displayed dominance against Liverpool, much to the relief of manager Arteta, who remains hopeful that the Brazilian’s injury won’t keep him sidelined for an extended period.

Bukayo Saka, a frequent target of opposition tackles, is expected to recover from an ankle knock and be available for selection. However, Oleksandr Zinchenko was substituted at halftime against Liverpool due to a calf injury, paving the way for Takehiro Tomiyasu to return to the left-back position after his participation in the Asian Cup and impending contract renewal.

Arsenal’s injury list includes long-term absentees Thomas Partey (thigh), Jurrien Timber (ACL), and Fabio Vieira (groin). Jorginho’s standout performance against Liverpool has strengthened his claim for a midfield role alongside Declan Rice, potentially making him a key player for the Gunners.

Conclusion

As much as they dominated against Liverpool, Arsenal’s cause was helped by the defensive errors from their opponents and their own defenders didn’t cover themselves in glory either. West Ham have been known to hurt Arsenal before, especially in front of their own fans, and though the Gunners remain the favourites to win, neither goalkeeper is very likely to keep a clean sheet.

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 7/13

Bookmaker: BetUS