Preview: West Ham United vs. Arsenal – predictions, team news, and lineups
By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 2nd
Premier League challengers Arsenal face a short journey across the capital on Sunday as they seek revenge against London rivals West Ham United at London Stadium.
Mikel Arteta’s side injected another twist to the title race with a 3-1 victory over leaders Liverpool last weekend, while the Irons were defeated 3-0 by Manchester United.
West Ham manager David Moyes cut a dismal figure as Manchester United blasted three past West Ham without reply on Sunday, with the Red Devils’ future talents taking the spotlight.
A clinical Rasmus Hojlund finish preceded two efforts from South American starlet Alejandro Garnacho at the Theatre of Dreams, although West Ham were not without their moments in Manchester, leaving Moyes to profess that the 3-0 scoreline “flattered” his old employers.
Regardless, a sixth match on the bounce without a win for the Irons – who are yet to triumph in any tournament since the turn of the year – saw Moyes’s men drop below Man United into seventh place in the table, albeit with just a two-point gap to make up to the Red Devils.
However, Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion could both force the Hammers out of the European positions with triumphs in their Saturday affairs, but a return to home comforts gives the Europa Conference League holders reason for optimism, as they have not lost any of their last six Premier League games at the London Stadium.
Only Manchester City and Everton have left West Ham’s turf with three points in the bag so far this season, but not since their days at Upton Park in the 2015-16 campaign – when Slaven Bilic was at the helm – have the hosts strung together a seven-match unbeaten home run in the Premier League.
The third time is often the charm, and it surely was for Mikel Arteta’s merciless Arsenal against Liverpool on Sunday, as the Gunners banished stinging memories of their FA Cup loss to the Reds and squandered a one-goal lead to draw at Anfield shortly before Christmas.
The Emirates spectacle matched the division’s two meanest rearguards against one another, but both teams traded defensive care for penalty-box mistakes, with Gabriel Magalhaes first scoring a ludicrous own goal to tie the score after Bukayo Saka’s opener.
However, Gabriel’s gaffe was quickly overshadowed by a shocking mix-up between Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker, which left Gabriel Martinelli with an empty net before the latter failed to keep his legs closed at his near post, and Leandro Trossard took full advantage to seal a glorious Arsenal victory.
Arteta’s Arsenal renaissance has seen the Gunners march to three consecutive top-flight victories, bringing them within two points of Liverpool, though Manchester City – who face Everton on Saturday lunchtime – remain ahead on goal difference for the time being.
However, Gabriel’s gaffe was quickly overshadowed by a shocking mix-up between Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker, which left Gabriel Martinelli with an empty net before the latter failed to keep his legs closed at his near post, and Leandro Trossard took full advantage to seal a glorious Arsenal victory.
Arteta’s Arsenal renaissance has seen the Gunners march to three consecutive top-flight victories, bringing them within two points of Liverpool, though Manchester City – who face Everton on Saturday lunchtime – remain ahead on goal difference for the time being.
An unwanted alteration had to be made on West Ham’s end during the loss to Man United, 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, which he sustained in a collision with Kurt Zouma.
However, Moyes affirmed after the game that the Frenchman’s withdrawal was merely a precaution, and he should be fine to guard the sticks in the London derby, but Lucas Paqueta (calf) and Michail Antonio (knee) will not take part.
Moyes was able to reflect on the positives of his side’s performance at Old Trafford and should therefore keep changes – if any – to a minimum, thus forcing Manchester City loanee Kalvin Phillips to try to make an impact from the bench after a difficult start to life in an Irons jersey.
As for Arsenal, the Gunners produced a dominant display against Liverpool even without the services of Gabriel Jesus, whose knee is giving him grief yet again, although Arteta expressed hope that the Brazilian’s latest problem would not sideline him for more than a few days.
The perennially-targeted Bukayo Saka should also shake off a kick to the ankle to make himself available, but Oleksandr Zinchenko came off at half time against the Reds with another calf injury, so Takehiro Tomiyasu – back from the Asian Cup and set to sign a new contract – is primed to return at left-back.
Thomas Partey (thigh), Jurrien Timber (ACL) and Fabio Vieira (groin) represent Arsenal’s three long-term absentees, and by virtue of his man-of-the-match display against Liverpool, Jorginho has done all that he can to reprise his midfield role with ex-Hammer Declan Rice.
West Ham United’s likely starting lineup: Areola; Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Emerson; Soucek, Alvarez; Johnson, Ward-Prowse, Kudus; Bowen.
Arsenal’s likely starting lineup: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu; Odegaard, Rice, Jorginho; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli.
We say: West Ham United beat Arsenal 1-2.
As much as Arsenal deserved to overcome the Premier League leaders last weekend, they were helped by some uncharacteristic defensive errors from their opponents, and they have not kept a clean sheet away from home in any tournament since November.
Furthermore, West Ham have had Arsenal’s number this season and are rarely outclassed at the London Stadium, but the rejuvenated Gunners have rediscovered the killer instinct that eluded them in December’s home loss to the Irons, so vengeance – and a fourth consecutive win – should be theirs on Sunday.
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