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Preview: West Ham visit Arsenal at the Emirates

Preview: West Ham visit Arsenal at the Emirates

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Late September might be slightly early for turning points in title races so forgive any excesses of excitement in your commentary teams last week – but Arsenal’s late turnaround win at Newcastle was nonetheless exactly what Mikel Arteta’s team needed.

By Karl Matchett

It has been a campaign where late goals are a central theme in the Premier League so far, with the Gunners the beneficiaries last time out domestically – both with their own strikes and Crystal Palace’s. Add in the return to fitness of a couple of key players to the mental boost such victories can bring and it should be no surprise if Arsenal now embark on a really strong run through October, particularly given they’ve now started a run of five home matches across six games.

Hunters catch the scent

One of the failings of Arteta’s team in recent seasons has been their inability to handle pressure when it gets to do-or-die moments: can they perform to the highest level and get the wins by any means necessary when trophies are really on the line? No, has been the answer. But put them in a chasing position, effectively free of immediate pressure and playing as hunters rather than the hunted, and their technical brilliance and array of attacking talent can see them power away from opponent after opponent. Right now that’s where they are after closing the gap at the top to two points; forget how early in the season it is, this is Arsenal’s prime territory to rack up consistent wins.

Nuno back into the repair shop

What would be helpful, then, from the Gunners’ perspective would be if they came up against an accommodating, out-of-sorts, defensively vulnerable team without much structure or direction to their play.

Enter West Ham United.

Saturday’s opponents will hope the draw last week at Everton, their first game under new manager Nuno Espírito Santo, will be a sign of things to come. But the fact remains the Hammers have one win in six (against Nuno’s old side, coincidentally), have conceded the most goals in the Premier League (14) and have created more big chances (8) than just two teams: Wolves (4) and Burnley (6). Nuno worked wonders at Nottingham Forest but he has an even bigger job on now – West Ham are a mess.

Recent form

Five wins and a draw in the last six for Arsenal; one win in seven for the Hammers including their League Cup defeat to bottom club Wolves.

Team news

Noni Madueke joins long-term injuries Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus on the sidelines. For the visitors, Tomáš Souček is banned but they should otherwise be fully stocked.

Key player

After a long time in the shadows, Gabriel Martinelli looks to have found his groove again. In the league per 90 he’s averaging 0.52 goals from 1.0 shot on target. Can he now add consistency again?

Martinelli’s last five appearances

Prediction

One of the easier games Arsenal will have to contend with in this stretch of fixtures. As long as a few attackers turn up it’s three points at home: Arsenal 3-0 West Ham.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Preview: West Ham visit Arsenal at the Emirates

Late September might be slightly early for turning points in title races so forgive any excesses of excitement in your commentary teams last week – but Arsenal’s late turnaround win at Newcastle was nonetheless exactly what Mikel Arteta’s team needed.

By Karl Matchett

It has been a campaign where late goals are a central theme in the Premier League so far, with the Gunners the beneficiaries last time out domestically – both with their own strikes and Crystal Palace’s. Add in the return to fitness of a couple of key players to the mental boost such victories can bring and it should be no surprise if Arsenal now embark on a really strong run through October, particularly given they’ve now started a run of five home matches across six games.

Hunters catch the scent

One of the failings of Arteta’s team in recent seasons has been their inability to handle pressure when it gets to do-or-die moments: can they perform to the highest level and get the wins by any means necessary when trophies are really on the line? No, has been the answer. But put them in a chasing position, effectively free of immediate pressure and playing as hunters rather than the hunted, and their technical brilliance and array of attacking talent can see them power away from opponent after opponent. Right now that’s where they are after closing the gap at the top to two points; forget how early in the season it is, this is Arsenal’s prime territory to rack up consistent wins.

Nuno back into the repair shop

What would be helpful, then, from the Gunners’ perspective would be if they came up against an accommodating, out-of-sorts, defensively vulnerable team without much structure or direction to their play.

Enter West Ham United.

Saturday’s opponents will hope the draw last week at Everton, their first game under new manager Nuno Espírito Santo, will be a sign of things to come. But the fact remains the Hammers have one win in six (against Nuno’s old side, coincidentally), have conceded the most goals in the Premier League (14) and have created more big chances (8) than just two teams: Wolves (4) and Burnley (6). Nuno worked wonders at Nottingham Forest but he has an even bigger job on now – West Ham are a mess.

Recent form

Five wins and a draw in the last six for Arsenal; one win in seven for the Hammers including their League Cup defeat to bottom club Wolves.

Team news

Noni Madueke joins long-term injuries Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus on the sidelines. For the visitors, Tomáš Souček is banned but they should otherwise be fully stocked.

Key player

After a long time in the shadows, Gabriel Martinelli looks to have found his groove again. In the league per 90 he’s averaging 0.52 goals from 1.0 shot on target. Can he now add consistency again?

Martinelli’s last five appearances

Prediction

One of the easier games Arsenal will have to contend with in this stretch of fixtures. As long as a few attackers turn up it’s three points at home: Arsenal 3-0 West Ham.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Premier League with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.