Match Preview: Arsenal v West Ham United; Gunners Need to Look No Further Than This Match

When last we met the intrepid anti-hero, Sam Allardyce he was regaling anyone who would listen how sophisticated he was. His team were hanging around the Champion’s League spots and anyone who would listen were lapping up his insights. Then they met Arsenal. And well, it hasn’t been so rosy for Sam and his charges.
Part of me wonders that with the absence of Harry Redknapp in the coaching fraternity, whether or not Sam was the logical choice for the press to hang on to. An English Press hungry for an English manager to show up the foreign managers like our Arsene. Sadly, as has been the case Sam has been found out again and his team gently slides out of contention for any European consideration. As a consequence his fate hangs by a thread.
West Ham come back to the Emirates after having been away on a short jaunt (in terms of stay not distance) to Dubai and light training in the sun. Sam is hoping his charges have been suitably recharged. But the team is noticeably light as the injuries continue to mount. Worries persist about Ener Valencia’s status after he cut his foot on a broken tea cup. Tomkins misses out due to a separated shoulder and Alex Song remains a question mark with a lingering knee issue.
As you look at that and you look at Arsenal’s form of late you’d be hard pressed to consider this anything but another W for Arsenal. While the Champion’s League showed us at our worst, we’ve been rather consistent in the league with only Liverpool bettering our run. When looking at our home form, it’s even better with only the Manchester United loss being the league tie where we lost at the Emirates.
However, we’re all Arsenal supporters so we keep ourselves in check. Coming off the monumental win against United, you think the mentality must be at an all-time high. The worry for me is that West Ham as poor as they’ve been of late is one of the teams where you could see us “overlooking” them headed into Tuesday’s Champion’s League tie in Monaco.
A focused concentrated Arsenal, should put West Ham away without getting of second gear even with the likes of Wilshere and Oxlade-Chamberlain out. The key is focus. No doubt the players must be on a high after breaking through at Old Trafford. The hope is that belief and momentum carries through not only this league tie but all the forthcoming ties.
If you are looking at the fixtures around us this weekend there is ample enough territory that could be made against the top two (Chelsea’s bruised ego versus Southampton who have something to prove) and add some distance with the other top 4 challengers. That should be enough to focus the team but again nothing is easy. No doubt Sam will have told his charges to try and clog the midfield and limit Arsenal’s chances. But that was likely their task when they last met and West Ham were one of everyone’s darlings.
The fact is that last tie looked easier than I think anyone expected. It was 2-0 until a 54th minute score made it look tighter. However it was the Gunners who poured it on, especially in the counter as Adrian deftly saved the Hammers from what could’ve been a larger defeat.
Again, in the end, Arsenal’s biggest enemy will be themselves. They’ve shown that they are as good as any of Europe’s best. Conversely, they’ve shown they can be as bad as a Sunday league side when they show no impetus or energy.
While it would be easy to have one eye turned to Tuesday the best way to prepare for that tie is to continue with the momentum they’ve established and vanquish West Ham and solidify their hold on a Champion’s League spot for next season.
PLAYERS TO WATCH:
Arsenal. Danny Welbeck. I’ve picked Danny to start on the RW. His ability to provide defensive cover for the upcoming Bellerin shades it for me over Theo. Add his confidence in securing the winner against his former team, he could be the X-Factor in this match.
West Ham. Alex Song. If passed fit, he will be looking to make up for his dismal performance against us last time.
PROBABLE LINEUPS:

Click to enlarge
INJURIES and SUSPENSIONS:
Arsenal: Gabriel (hamstring), Wilshere (ankle), Arteta (calf/ankle), Oxlade-Chamberlain (hamstring), Debuchy (shoulder), Diaby (muscular)
West Ham: Cole (hamstring), Reid (hamstring), Tomkins (shoulder), Carroll (knee), Song (knee – late fitness test), Valencia (foot – late fitness test), Jenkinson (ineligible)
HEAD TO HEAD:

Seasonal Statistical Comparisons – Arsenal (home) West Ham (away)
MATCH OFFICIALS:
Referee: Chris Foy (13M, 43Y, 5R)
Assistant Referees: A Garrat, D Bryan
Fourth Official: A Taylor
BROADCAST INFORMATION:
UK: BBC MOTD Highlights
US: NBC Sports Network 11:00 AM EST
YAMA PREDICTION:Arsenal 3 – 0 West Ham
MATCH FACTS (Courtesy OPTA via FOURFOURTwo. Com)
- Theo Walcott has scored five goals and set up three more in his last four Barclays Premier League games against West Ham.
- West Ham have won none of the last 13 Barclays Premier League games against Arsenal (W0 D2 L11), losing the last eight in a row.
- Olivier Giroud has scored four goals in his four Premier League appearances against West Ham.
- The Hammers have scored the first goal in four of the last five Premier League meetings with Arsenal, but the Gunners have come back to win on each occasion.
- Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 12 Premier League London derbies at the Emirates, but West Ham were the first team ever to beat Arsenal at their new stadium back in April 2007.
- The Hammers have won just one of their last seven Premier League London derbies away from home.
- Sam Allardyce has never coached a winning team away at Arsenal in the Premier League, losing seven and drawing three of his 10.
- Arsenal have won seven consecutive home league games; they have not won eight in a row since November 2005 (13).
- Olivier Giroud has scored eight goals in his last 10 Premier League starts.
- West Ham (15) have scored the most headed goals in the Premier League, while only two teams (Burnley 17 & Stoke 11) have conceded more than Arsenal (10, same as QPR).
What are your thoughts on this match? Can Arsenal take all 3 points at home versus West Ham? Who should start? What do you think the score will be? Let us know.