On Saturday, at 20:00, Arsenal and West Ham United have a strong duel in the second round of the Premier League. The match at Emirates Stadium finds Mikel Arteta without a series of absent players, with medical problems: Chambers, Luiz, Mari, Martinelli, Mustafi and Sokratis. However, the Iberian attack looks very good.
Arsenal started the season as it finished the previous one: on the wave! He won the English Super Cup totally deserved, in front of Liverpool, and in the first stage of the new season he passed Fulham, away, score 3-0. The winning goals were scored by Lacazette (‘8), Gabriel (’49) and Aubameyang (’57), in a match without history. The passing game of the white-reds worked perfectly against the newly promoted.
West Ham lost their debut match, 0-2 at home to Newcastle United, but advanced to Round 3 of the League Cup, after 3-0 to Charlton. Of course, the victory with Charlton Athletic was natural, considering that David Moyes put the basic players in order to avoid a new shame in the Cup (as it happened in the previous years). Haller (’22 and ’26) and Anderson (’80) scored, and they will play on Saturday.
Arsenal has the numbers on its side, but also the game. The “Gunners” have won 4 of the last 5 direct duels with West Ham, with 1-0, 3-1, 3-1 and 4-1, and the white-reds are formidable on their own field, especially against the rivals from London.
With only three home defeats in the previous edition of the Premier League, Arsenal will take possession against West Ham and can certainly impose their game, technically and physically. West Ham have lost their last 5 consecutive trips to Arsenal, and David Moyes could change the tactical system to block the offensive quartet of the “gunners”.
After signing a new contract with Arsenal this week, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is in good shape and is again the favorite to score in the derby. We expect the show in this derby, especially since Arsenal has a good average of opportunities created and sutures sent per game.
-In the last 6 matches played by Arsenal, at least three goals have been scored each time;
-Both teams have scored in 6 of the last 7 games played by “gunners”;
-In 7 of the last 9 matches of West Ham both teams have scored;
-Arsenal are undefeated in the last 25 games played in September;
-Michail Antonio have scored 6 goals in the last 4 matches played by West Ham last season;
Arsenal: Leno; Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Bellerin, Elneny, Ceballos, Maitland-Niles; Willian, Lacazette, Aubameyang
Coach: Mikel Arteta
West Ham United: Fabianski; Fredericks, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Soucek, Rice; Bowen, Noble, Anderson; Antonio
Coach: David Moyes
PREDICTION: Arsenal to win @ 1,54
