EPL Match Day 10: Arsenal v West Ham; Match Preview
Colossal Beating or Colossal Letdown?
One team is second and one is last. One team is on fire the other not so much. Sound familiar – well okay, West Brom weren’t in last but they weren’t exactly lighting up the league. That is until they came to the Emirates and ran riot against Arsenal. So, any desire to look past a wounded West Ham side should quickly be discarded.
Remember for whatever reason, West Ham always decides to get up and play against Arsenal. Okay, it is a London derby of sorts and they are always easy to get up for. But West Ham has proven to be a boggey team of sorts. Sure we beat them 2-0 at the Emirates last season. But in the middle of the season they also managed to claw back from a 2-0 drubbing to make it a 2-2 draw. The good thing is Diamanti the man who did it and Gianfrancola Zola, the manager who inspired it are both gone.
The task though must seem hard for the “staying up” challenged side. In 5 of their last 6 meetings with Arsenal they have failed to register a point. They have only scored a total of 7 goals so far this season (versus 25 for Arsenal). With the exception of their 1-0 win over Man City, West Ham have conceded goals in every one of their league matches this season.
Throw in the fact their captain and former Arsenal player Matthew Upson is listed as doubtful and there certainly is a mountain to climb. So, on the surface the Gunners come into this match very much the opposite of their London mates. They emphatically won in the midweek tie for the Carling Cup against Newcastle and they ran rough shod over title contenders, Man City in an exciting 3-0 win. Which is why if I am Arsene Wenger the only thing I am preaching this week, is don’t let off the gas pedal.
Arsenal can ill afford let downs like they had against West Brom. With the top of the table as congested as the bottom, a let down could result in significant points lost. The club has to attack from the get go and has to make West Ham dread its visit to the Emirates. Speed kills and Arsenal have lots of it to go along with the creativity. You beat teams like West Ham by using your speed and getting behind the defence – a porous one at that and let your goal scorers go.
No mamby pamby “oh we’re tired because of the Carling Cup” attitude. You have to play this game as you would a game against Chelsea, United, City or Spurs, with absolute heart. That is the mentality these not so young guns need to take in to any match that isn’t against a big time team. If I see that than it will really solidfy in me that this team is for real and has arrived.
It won’t hurt that even if we have a lethargic lead – you know 1-0 going into the half with the goal coming in the 35th minute – to have players like Walcott coming off the bench. He does seem like he has something to prove and I’d let him go at it. Cesc Fabregas whether he is trying to orchestrate a summer move remains to be seen, but he is just as possessed as anyone I have seen and sure he can’t possibly be up for every match but he needs to put this team on his back and take them for a ride. Even if it means doing it all season.
For me the real gut check begins now. We’ve shown we can play with a good team. Now we need to show we can dominate a lesser team. We do that and do it consistently, I will agree with many who now believe that silverware (of any sort) is within our grasp.
How this Match Should Play Out:
I expect this match to play out exactly like I think it will. It will be faced paced and Arsenal will press the attack. I do not think West Ham have the heart nor desire to hang around like they have in the past. Avram Grant is on the hot seat and the club is consistently mired in controversy and it shows on the field. Of course I always urge caution but I know if the Arsenal team I saw on Sunday of last week shows up, West Ham don’t stand a chance.
Players to Watch:
Arsenal: Samir Nasri looks to have taken his game to a new level this season. He isn’t injured (yet) and he is showing a directness that he hasn’t shown in the previous two seasons. Next to Fabregas and probably Chamakh is probably been our best player this season. And 7 goals in all competitions don’t hurt either.
West Ham: Carlton Cole according to the Guardian Cole “has scored more EPL goals (38) than any other player without ever scoring more than one in a single match.”
Probable Starting XI:
Injuries and Suspensions:
Arsenal: Wilshere (suspended -1) Almunia (elbow) Vermaelen (achilles) Van Persie (ankle) Ramsey (ankle) Frimpong (knee) Gibbs (knee) Diaby (ankle)
West Ham: Piquionne (leg -D) Upson (hamstring – D), Collison (knee) Hines (knee) Kurcuz (knee) Hitzlsperger (thigh)
Last Meeting (EPL):
Arsenal: 2
West Ham: 0
Last 5:
Arsenal: DLLWW
West Ham: DWDDL
Leading Scorers:
Arsenal: Nasri 7 (4 league) Walcott 6 (4 league) Chamakh 6 (3 league) Arshavin 5 (2 League)
West Ham: Parker 4 (2 League) Piquionne 3 (2 League)
Match Officials:
Referee: Mike Jones
Assistant Referees: Dave Bryan & John Flynn
Fourth Official: Keith Hill
Broadcast Information:
US: FSC 10:00AM EST
UK: ???? 1500 BST
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YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal: 3
West Ham: 0
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