Sky pundit predicts Hammers fate at the Emirates

Sky pundit and former Arsenal player Paul Merson expects his former club to beat the Hammers this weekend despite fielding a weakened side.

Merson wrote in the Sky Sports website ‘West Ham have 35 points – meaning Southampton have to win three of their last five, that’s the way I’m looking at it. That’s a big ask. Southampton need back-to-back wins to make teams like West Ham nervous. It would bring a lot of teams back into the relegation mix.

I would expect Arsenal to win this. There’s the prospect of Burnley finishing above Arsenal – no disrespect but if you’re Arsenal you don’t want to be finishing a 38-game season behind Burnley. Not in this day and age – maybe in the 1920s!

You can understand finishing below the top five, but not Burnley.

PAUL MERSON PREDICTS: 2-0

Most bookmakers are offering 5/1 for a West Ham win with the draw at 7/2 and a home win odds-on at 1/2