Arsenal vs West Ham - Match Preview
Arsenal return to Premier League action after a resounding 4-0 win midweek in Carlin cup against Newcastle. 4 more goals in League cup have now taken Gunners’ goal tally in last 3 games to 12.
This season in the English Premier League, Arsenal have scored 14 home goals. That is only 2nd to league leaders Chelsea, who have scored 16 so far. Arsenal now take on West Ham at home and even though city rivalry will be at stake, West Ham have
not been able to beat a fellow London team in last 7 derbies. Last season, Hammers were beaten by Fulham, Arsenal, Tottenham and Chelsea.
At the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal have scored 14 goals; only Chelsea have scored more at home, with 16 this season. Another record West Ham would have preferred not to have is that they have not won an away game in the league in last 22 attempts. In their
last 3 appearances at Emirates, the Hammers have not even been able to score a single goal. Last season, the same fixture ended 2-0 in favour of Arsenal. It was the Brazilian Denilson who got the first goal then and later Cesc Fabregas sealed the match with
a penalty.
Arsene Wenger should have Cesc Fabregas ready to start the match and Theo Walcott, after a scintitalting comeback from injury, should also be in reckoning for a place in the first XI. Wenger has preferred the Russian, Andrey Arshawin in midfield this season,
and he is expected to continue with him. Carlos Vela was impressive in the carling Cup match and is expected to be on the bench. In the goal though there should be no doubt as the Polish Lucas Fabianski has really made that position his own, and is now clearly
the number one for Arsene Wenger.
There are still some injury concerns for the manager. In defence, Thomas Vermaelen isn't yet back while in attack, Robin van Persie and Aaron Ramsey are still on the injury list. Jack Wilshere would also be unavailable as he is still serving his 3 match
suspension after his red card.
West Ham would be the under dogs in the game, but one should expect the Emirates' curse to finally end for the Hammers. Their manager, Avram Grant would be missing Thomas Hitzlsperger who has a knee problem. Jack Collison has a thigh injury while Zavon Hines
and Peter Kurucz are also both nursing their ankle injuries.
Arsene Wenger, while speaking to the media ahead of the match, said that his team is in good touch and the best thing is that goals are coming in good numbers and consistently. Wenger went on to say that he is happy with the form of his young attacking line
up and expects Theo Walcott to continue his hunger for goals that he has shown so far this season.
The manager added that Walcott is one player who had been promising a lot in last couple of seasons, but now the time has come for him to really step up to the plate. The French manager admitted that his team did lose some points against West Brom but maintained
that sometimes matches like that are needed to get the team back on track.
Arsenal are currently 2nd in the table with 17 points, they are ahead of Manchester City and Manchester United just by goal difference.
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