MATCH PREVIEW: Arsenal v West Ham; 6 Cup Finals to Go
Heading in to today’s match there are two fundamental questions:
- Is there any “gas” left in the tank after Saturday’s gut wrenching FA Cup performance
- Who is fit to actually play this game? (please see #1 for the why)
The energy sapping (both for the players and supporters) performance on Saturday left a few of our regulars needing more than 72 hours rest time. Surely the plan wasn’t to keep Aaron Ramsey out for 115 minutes nor was it to have Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain go through a heroic, gut-spewing match when he was a question mark before kickoff.
This isn’t necessarily the match you’d want to have all that happen. But nonetheless, it’s the situation we find ourselves in. In other words, situation normal all fucked up (SNAFU.) Before the FA Cup final at Wembley in May, Arsenal now need to turn their attentions to the “minimum requirement” of the club – Champion’s League qualification. With no legs left, going against a Sam Allardyce led team is hardly what you would have wanted.
The history between these two managers is well documented. They are a dichotomy of approaches. We know what they both like to do and we know that both approach the game in a way that irritates the other. Allardyce’s approach is archaic but effective. Wenger, fluent yet frustrating. Tonight it will be a case of which one has the will (and energy) to see it through).
West Ham have had extra rest since this fixture was originally supposed to be played on the Semi-Final weekend. Arsenal, well they likely will need stretchers just get them out the field. It has all the ingredients for a recipe for disaster.
Except for one thing, it’s at the Emirates. For all of our troubles on the road, Arsenal are still one of the best home teams in the league. They have only lost once in the league at the Emirates and that was on opening day. Since then they have enjoyed a stalwart defensive effort every time they step on to the lush fields they currently play on.
Opposition come to the Emirates and are lucky to get 1 goal. Again the 3 scored by Aston Villa on the opening day are the most Arsenal have conceded on home soil this season. Even Bayern Munich with a man advantage could only muster 2. The point is, the Emirates is a comfort zone and it gives Arsenal an added dimension to their play. Something they will need if they are going to get back into the top four.
However, West Ham are going to be a difficult nut to crack. They will, like most opposition coming to the Emirates, sit back and try and soak up the pressure. Their back four and two deep lying midfielders will try and frustrate Arsenal with the hopes of getting the ball up to Stewart Downing who will look to get the cross into Andy Carroll.
West Ham likely need a point to be certain of staving off relegation. Arsenal need all three to get back into the top four and heap pressure on Everton. This is going to be another tale of working it until the very last day of the season it seems.
We are growing accustomed to this and seems commonplace that the last month or so of the season is a harrowing heart-attack waiting to happen. Arsenal have 5 matches left to play and each one has to be approached like a cup match. It’s a tired cliché to be sure. However, if they want to retain their place in Europe’s elite competition then they need to do it.
Today’s match we may be light but you still have to think that there are enough good players on the pitch to go up against a team who have the league’s worst pass completion rate. They simply don’t know how to hold on to the ball.
It will come up to someone then to come up with some means of invention to break down a wall of opposition players. Now is the time that Arsenal need someone, anyone to step up and take charge of this team. We’ve applauded the influences of leaders like Mertesacker and Arteta. Well, if they are the leaders that we hope they are, then surely they are kicking their team mates in the back side and telling them in no uncertain terms at what is at stake.
It seems harsh to ask a team that is limping into the close of the season to find that extra gear that that may not have right now. But it’s a feat of their own doing. The lackluster performances that put us into this mess after leading for most of the season needs fixing.
Yes, the manager has to do it but so too do the players. Someone, anyone needs to see the moment and seize it.
Do that – and Arsenal will likely see their way into another consecutive run in the Champion’s League. Do it not – and well what does everyone’s Thursday night plans look like?
Probable Lineups:
Injuries & Suspensions:
Arsenal: Flamini (suspended – 1) Walcott (knee) Wilshere (foot) Ozil (hamstring) Gnabry (knee) Monreal (dead leg)
West Ham: McCartney (hamstring), O’Brien (shoulder), Collins (calf), Borriello (calf)
Last Meeting (EPL):
West Ham 1 – 3 Arsenal
Last 5:
Arsenal: LDDLW
West Ham: LWWLL
Goals For:
Arsenal (home): 1.8
West Ham (away): 0.9
Goals Against:
Arsenal (home): 0.6
West Ham (away): 1.2
Leading Scorer:
Arsenal: Giroud 12
West Ham: Nolan 7
Assists:
Arsenal: Ozil 8
West Ham: Nolan 5
Match Officials:
Referee: Kevin Friend ( 16M 61Y 1R 3PK)
Assistant Referees: Lennard, Wilkes
Fourth Official: Foy
Broadcast Information:
UK: Sky Sports 1 17.45 GMT
US: NBC Sports Network 2:45PM EST
YAMA Prediction:
Arsenal 2 – 1 West Ham
Match Facts (courtesy FourFourTwo)
- Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 11 Barclays Premier League games against West Ham (W9 D2 L0), including winning the last six in a row.
- West Ham won their last Barclays Premier League away game – 2-1 at Sunderland. They haven’t won two successive PL away matches since December 2007.
- Arsenal have won their last six matches against West Ham
- Lukas Podolski has scored in his last two league appearances against West Ham, Santi Cazorla has scored two in three games and Olivier Giroud three in three against the Hammers.
- West Ham are the only team that Arsenal have beaten after falling behind in the Premier League this season (W1 D4 L7).
- Arsenal have conceded first in their last four matches
- The only teams to have won more Premier League points against West Ham than Arsenal (73) are Liverpool (74) and Manchester United (80).
- The Gunners have won more points in London derbies than any other side this season in the Premier League (22).
- West Ham have had draw/draw results in their last eight away draws
- Arsenal have not lost a Premier League home game since the opening day of the 2013-14 season; winning 10 and drawing five of their 15 games at the Emirates Stadium since.
- The Gunners have kept a clean sheet in eight of their last 12 Premier League home games, but they have conceded in each of their last three games there.
- Arsenal have had Over 2.5 goals in their last four matches against West Ham
- West Ham’s last three Premier League games have ended with a 2-1 scoreline (two wins, one defeat).
