West Ham United vs Arsenal
West Ham face Arsenal this weekend in a title race and indeed a relegation scrap which will see two teams desperate for the win for very different reasons. The Gooners arrive at the London Stadium with a mildly apologetic and slightly awkward Declan Rice knowing that he can twist the knife as the Hammers stare relegation in the face.
Mikel Arteta’s team look on the cusp of a Premier League and Champions League double with many predicting they’ll ‘bottle it’. They have a little breathing space over Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and will want to put further pressure on their title rivals.
Speaking in the build-up to the game, Arteta said: “Understanding the context of the game for both clubs, it’s huge, obviously. We know the importance of it, we know what we want, and what we have to do to win the game.”
Back in the West Ham first team? Wan Bissaka could start against Arsenal with either Diouf or Walker Peters making way.
As for West Ham, Nuno Espírito Santo has to get this absolutely spot on. We’ll need better help from the officiating and VAR than we got against Brentford and even that may not be enough. West Ham will have to pray there is a Champions League distraction from Arsenal and possibly some title jitters.
Both Konstantinos Mavropanos and Axel Disasi will need to have exceptional games, as will Crysencio Summerville and Jarrod Bowen (who Michael Owen has been touting to Liverpool this week). Malick Diouf will have to cut out the errors, Pablo needs to find some ball skills from somewhere, and there is a decision to be made on the goalkeeper.
Team Changes
Early indications seem to suggest Espirito Santo will make at least two changes from the starting line-up which lost to the Bee’s last weekend. Aaron Wan Bissaka could return to the team but at this point, either Malick Diouf or Kyle Walker Peters could make way for him. A formation change could also make that switch more likely with Nuno reverting to the sort of tactics which saw us perform so well against Manchester City.
Skipper Ready to Scrap
Jarrod Bowen has a food record against Arsenal
West Ham skipper Bowen has taken time out of the build-up to talk to the club website and he knows we’re in for a battle.
“We’re fighting to stay in the league and they’re fighting for a title, so two teams that are fighting in different ways, but a game that’s set up to be a really good game. We’ve been good at home and we have to continue that form.
West Ham United team news
Nuno Espírito Santo has a fully fit squad for the fourth game running, which at this stage of the season is about the only bit of consistency the Hammers have going for them. The head coach named an unchanged side again at Brentford last time out, but whether he sticks or twists here is another matter entirely.
The big call looks to be in goal. There’s a growing sense something might change there, even if the rest of the side largely picks itself.
Arsenal team news
Arsenal are expected to be without Mikel Merino and Jurrien Timber, both of whom are unlikely to be fit for the trip to east London.
That said, Arteta’s squad is stacked enough that their absence barely dents the machine. This is a team that looks drilled, confident and, annoyingly, relentless.
Predicted West Ham XI
| Position | Player |
|---|---|
| GK | Hermansen |
| RB | Wan Bissaka |
| CB | Mavropanos |
| CB | Disasi |
| LB | Diouf |
| CM | Souček |
| CM | Fernandes |
| LW | Summerville |
| RW | Bowen |
| CF | Castellanos |
| CF | Pablo |
Prediction
Look, stranger things have happened and West Ham will probably make this difficult because that’s what we tend to do when you least expect it. But the reality is brutal. Arsenal are arguably the best team in Europe right now, and West Ham are in the bottom three on merit.
I’m hoping for nerves, fatigue, maybe a bit of rotation with one eye on Europe. But if Arsenal turn up anywhere near their level, it’s very hard to see anything other than an away win
“Pablo needs to find some ball skills from somewhere” well tbf he showed a nice touch in that assist for Taty’s goal against Wolves. More of the same please!
We’re not making up seven points on Forest now they’re over the horizon. Means we’re only going to catch Tottenham so they’re the ones we need to focus on.
They play Leeds at home on Monday and we need to match their result.
If they lose to Leeds we can afford to lose to Arsenal, we need to match or better Tottenhams result and if we do that then overhaul them in the final two games.
Lose to Arsenal and Tottenham win and we’ve blown out.
Front line needs to include Traore from start.
Summerville / Taty / Bowen / Traore
Fernandes / Soucek
Walker-Peters / Mavro / Disasi / Todbido
Goalkeeper: Not sure.
Need to get at least a point so if not winning don’t lose it.
It’s all over for Forest they’ve collapsed and Emery looks like a bouncing kangaroo.
Entirely different person to when they played Spurs.
we do not need a clown in goal which areola is
Areola !!
Who’s honestly thinking of that and why ??
Playing Areola will be a HUGE mistake! I know some are hoping to see Pablo dropped, but if we do then we might as well drop Taty as well because he can’t play as a lone striker.
The one thing all the comments seem to agree on is anyone but Pablo
Let’s see if Nuno still picks him. If he does it will prove beyond reasonable doubt that he should be dismissed
This one will tell us what West Ham is made of. Arsenal will fight, bully and use every dirty trick they can get away with. Every one of our players must be up for this one. Pablo is the worry for me. Maybe it is time for Traore to come in and show us what he’s made of. Wilson is a must for the second half. Last chance saloon. COYI.
Spot on Scotty 👍
He has to drop Pablo because as Summerville’s and bowers form has dipped recently his short comings are much more self evident. But I have a feeling if he does drop Pablo it will be for Todibo and try and play like we did against city which I don’t think will work playing even more defensively.
I think he should drop Pablo for Adama and play him in Bowens position and move Bowen to the centre.
I think the 4-2-4 formation with 2 midfielders (or 4-2-3-1 if you like) is adventurous, but I would prefer to see more players in midfield against Arsenal, with Pablo dropped and perhaps Kante(?) + Soucek + Fernandes in midfield, with Fernandes slightly in front of S & K, because he is the only creative midfielder we have.
I’d also like to see Summerville and Bowen swap around sometimes, hitting crosses in with their natural foot with Soucek, Kante, Taty all steaming in.
Hope to see Bowen more involved, perhaps simply roaming more, get the impression he is hugging the touchline a lot and getting marked out of games, but we need him as involved as possible.
1-0 West Ham. Dec to ‘accidentally’ score a 93rd minute 40 yard own goal. He’s still a hammer at heart.
In terms of the lineup I would pick Wan Bissaka over Diouf and perhaps 3 at the back with Todibo in place of Pablo
COYI