West Ham v Arsenal
I always remember former British Olympic cycling overlord Sir Dave Brailsford talking about marginal gains.
The premise was simple enough. Gain one percent here, another there, and eventually it all adds up to something significant enough to improve your chances of success.
After last weekend — where virtually everything that could go wrong for West Ham did go wrong — I’ve found myself slipping into a similar mindset.
Although, in truth, this feels less like marginal gains and more like clutching at straws.
West Ham No Longer Control Their Own Fate
Unfortunately, that’s what happens when a football club allows its situation to drift beyond its own control.
At that point, you’re relying on outside influences and favours.
And there were two things yesterday which, however small, gave me a sliver of hope.
Chelsea Result Changes Tottenham Feeling
The first was Chelsea taking a point at Anfield.
That matters because Chelsea face Tottenham in the next round of fixtures and, based on recent performances, it had started to feel like Spurs were heading for a straightforward win.
In fairness, Liverpool were the better side, but Chelsea at least managed to halt a run of six consecutive defeats.
And psychologically, in my own mind at least, it’s shifted Tottenham versus Chelsea from “certain Spurs win” to something a little less predictable.
| Team | Points | GD |
|---|---|---|
| Nottingham Forest | 42 | -2 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 37 | -9 |
| West Ham United | 36 | -19 |
Manchester City Pile Pressure Back Onto Arsenal
The other result which slightly lifted me was Manchester City beating Brentford.
I’ve got little doubt Mikel Arteta and his players were watching that game closely.
And for large parts of it, Brentford looked capable of getting something.
At that stage, Arsenal would probably have been thinking a draw against West Ham might be enough, knowing they could still go on and win the title by taking maximum points from their final fixtures.
But as the game wore on, Pep Guardiola’s side eventually pulled away.
Suddenly, the pressure swung straight back onto Arsenal.
Now they need to beat West Ham.
Maybe It Means Nothing… But I’ll Take It
It’s only a subtle shift, but psychologically it matters.
Watching Manchester City pull away would not have been comfortable viewing for Arsenal, and it unquestionably ramps up the pressure heading into the London Stadium.
Am I clutching at straws? Quite possibly.
But right now, I’ll happily take any little marginal gain West Ham can get
Listen up people. They say we haven’t got much of a chance of beating Arsenal but you know what? Good. Let Arsenal believe that. Let Arsenal walk into the London Stadium today thinking this is a formality, a lap of honour, a foregone conclusion.
We are West Ham United. We don’t do foregone conclusions. We do chaos, we do heart, we do the moments that nobody saw coming. This football club was built by dockers, men who showed up when the work was hard and the odds were long. That blood is in our badge.
Arsenal are a brilliant side. No one’s denying it. But brilliant sides can be rattled. They can be dragged into a battle they didn’t prepare for. And that is exactly what you’re going to give them today, a battle.
Every single man on that pitch has to run until their lungs burn. Win every second ball. Make every tackle count. Make the London Stadium a fortress they will never forget walking into.
The romantics will tell you football is unpredictable. We’re going to prove them right.
Come on you Irons. Let’s make this the upset of the season.
Nailed it Optomist, We can definitely get something from the game. Head to head with Arsenal we get at least a point from 50% of the times we have played them and beat them 38 times.
COYI ⚒️
Your dead right Gonzo Pressure is a big factor in football and hopefully it will work in our favour A win today 3 points great will put Spurs under enormous strain Lots of twist and turns yet to come