Will the Hammers’ black streak continue at Arsenal?
With Arsenal against West Ham, it’s a London derby! The home side have not lost to their city rivals for four matches and have won no less than three times in this flashback. The dress rehearsal for the clash with the Irons was also successful, with the Gunners clearly defeating Southampton 3-0 last Saturday.
In addition, they like to play in front of their own crowd on a Wednesday: So far, this has been the case 22 times in the Premier League and only once in March 2016 they conceded a defeat against Swansea (14-7-1). The visitors, for their part, last played a guest game at Burnley.
They recorded a goalless draw against the Clarets and remained without a win away from home for the third time in a row (0-1-2). For the match at the Emirates Stadium between Arsenal and West Ham, the forecast includes a home win (DNB).
Arsenal – Statistics & current form
The Frenchman Alexandre Lacazette is particularly looking forward to this encounter: In the past three encounters, the striker has always scored once! Although the current season has been disappointing from his point of view, his form has been on the rise recently.
The attacker, who has scored in double figures for Arsenal in each of the last two seasons, scored one of the three goals in the recent win over the Saints.
Given his fondness for the upcoming opponents and the sense of achievement against Hasenhüttl’s side that may have ended his previous scoring drought, betting on Lacazette to score in Arsenal’s clash with West Ham is equally a good idea.
This is also supported by the fact that Pierre-Emerick Abameyang may not be in the squad, as he was on the last matchday. The Gabonese was given a disciplinary penalty and it is not yet clear whether he will be back in the Gunners’ line-up.
Arsenal are banking on the home bonus
The home side can also count on home advantage: Together with Manchester City, they lead the home standings in the Premier League. Six of the eight games played at home have been victorious (6-1-1)! The attack of the eighth-placed team of the past season is clearly more efficient than away from home.
Arsenal have scored 15 of their 21 goals at home in the Emirates Stadium. In view of this, the odds on at least two goals by the home side in the derby between Arsenal and West Ham are even better. The value tip is underpinned by the recent home performances.
The ‘gunners’ have scored at least two goals in five of their last six home games, and in half of those matches they have scored a whopping three goals!
Predicted Arsenal line-up:
Ramsdale – Gabriel – White – Tomiyasu – Tierney – Xhaka – Partey – Saka – Odegaard – Martinelli – Lacazette
West Ham – Statistics & current form
The Hammers have been less convincing away from home recently than before. They conceded their only two away defeats in the review of the past three guest games. The Irons lost at Wolverhampton and Manchester City before at least managing a draw at Burnley last Sunday.
Furthermore, coach David Moyes will have mixed feelings about the encounter. He has never managed a win in his 17 away encounters with Arsenal as manager to date. This represents the weakest away record of any coach with such a high number of games.
Antonio likes to score in city duels
On the offensive, the Irons will again rely on Michail Antonio. The Jamaican has been involved in eleven goals directly or indirectly in the past eleven London derbies. Only Carlton Cole has more derby goals on the side of last year’s sixth-placed team (14).
However, the 1965 European Cup Winners’ Cup winners have few good memories of their last encounter with Arsenal. It ended in a high-scoring 3-3 draw, but Arsenal had their opponents to thank as coach David Moyes’ side scored no fewer than two own goals!
Hammers have been a welcome visitor at the Emirates recently
West Ham’s away record in this London derby is really dismal on top: Since six guest games at the Emirates Stadium, only defeats have been conceded!
Projected West Ham line-up:
Fabianski – Dawson – Zouma – Diop – Coufal – Soucek – Rice – Johnson – Lanzini – Bowen – Antonio
Arsenal – West Ham Tip
Arsenal have been fickle this season, failing to find consistency in their performances throughout, but at least in their home games this shortcoming is not evident. Only one of the eight home games has been lost and the champions alone have an equally positive record of six wins, one draw and one defeat.
For the match between Arsenal and West Ham, the prediction therefore includes a home win, although a draw is also secured by the draw-no-bet selection. On top of that, the prediction is supported by the fact that the three-time FA Cup winners have had one day less to regenerate.
On top of that, the recent statistics of the pairing show that the visitors have not won for four matches and are even on a streak of six consecutive defeats away from home. Moreover, the away strength of the guests has declined recently: They haven’t won in three matches and even at third-bottom Burnley they only managed a goalless draw recently.
