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West Ham are unbeaten in six home league matches, their longest-ever streak at the London Stadium. The Hammers have also scored in their last 15 home league games. However, the Irons have lost more Premier League games against Arsenal (33) than against anyone else. The Gunners boast the competition’s best win % for matches played in May, winning 50 of 85 games (59%).
Both teams to score is 4/5.
Both tams to score and over 2.5 goals is 5/4.
Arsenal to win and both teams to score is 11/4.
Bukayo Saka is looking to score in three successive league games for the second time this season. He’s 6/1 to break the deadlock and 15/8 to achieve this.
Match preview
Arsenal are like a box of chocolates at the moment; you just don’t know what you’re going to get.
But then, Mikel Arteta’s side responded by beating Chelsea and then Manchester United just 62 hours apart.
First, Eddie Nketiah and fellow Hale End graduates Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka all netted on a famous night at Stamford Bridge.
Then, last weekend, Nuno Tavares opened the scoring just two and a half minutes in, before Bukayo Saka slammed home another spot-kick.
Man United then halved the deficit before hitting the woodwork twice, having a goal disallowed and seeing Bruno Fernandes miss the target with a penalty.
Arsenal took full advantage of this good fortune with Granit Xhaka smacking home a clincher, his third goal against the Red Devils.
So, those back-to-back wins means the Gunners are back in the catbird seat for fourth, two points above Tottenham who they face on 12 May.
Will Arteta’s team ensure they end the weekend in, at least, the same positition with a victory in East London?
West Ham United meanwhile are aiming to get back into Europe for next season while simultaneously fighting on this year’s continental front.
This match comes in-between the two legs of the Hammers’ Europa League semi-final against Eintracht Frankfurt.
The first leg was played last Thursday, with the Bundesliga side making the perfect start, silencing the London Stadium just 44 seconds in.
Michail Antonio then managed to bundle home an equaliser shortly after, only for Frankfurt to snatch a second go-ahead goal early in the second half.
Pushing for an equaliser, Jarrod Bowen could hardly have gone any closer with his spectacular bicycle kick whacking the crossbar and bouncing away.
Thus, David Moyes’ men will make the trip to Deutsche Bank Park next week a goal down but not out as they aim to reach a first European Final since 1976.
Coincidentally enough, to get to that year’s Cup Winners’ Cup Final, they beat Frankfurt in the semis, despite losing the first leg 2-1.
Back in the league, West Ham are seventh, three points clear of Wolves, needing to cling onto that position incase they don’t win the Europa League.
With the home side’s focus elsewhere, this is a golden opportunity for Arsenal to win a crucial London derby.
West Ham United team news
As mentioned, David Moyes may be tempted to rest and rotate his XI, as he did at Chelsea last Sunday.
Łukasz Fabiański will return in goal, to face his former club, with European goalkeeper Alphonse Areola rotated out.
Centre-back is a big area of concern; Issa Diop and Angelo Ogbonna are out long-term, while Craig Dawson is suspended following his red card last weekend.
Kurt Zouma did start against Frankfurt, after missing the last three with an ankle injury, but surely won’t be fit enough to play thrice in eight days.
So, despite the shortage, it would be a major surprise if Zouma started again here with next Thursday in mind.
This could mean 21 year old Aji Alese, who’s only senior appearance came against Dinamo Zagreb in December, could make his Premier League debut.
Full-backs Vladimír Coufal and Arthur Masuaku, who were both on the bench in midweek, could return, possibly as part of a back three.
Elsewhere, Mark Noble, Alex Král, Nikola Vlašić and Andriy Yarmolenko could all be rotated in.
This could see star players Tomáš Souček and, as was the case last Sunday, Declan Rice, Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio all wrapped in cotton wool.
Arsenal team news
The visitors are still without Kieran Tierney and Thomas Partey, both of whom are set to miss the rest of the season.
In better news, Takehiro Tomiyasu came on for a three minute cameo last weekend, his first appearance since 20 January against Liverpool.
However, the Japanese international isn’t likely to be back in the XI straight away with Cédric continuing to deputise.
On the other side, Nuno Tavares will start for the fourth consecutive game, in place of the aforementioned Tierney.
Mohamed Elneny meanwhile has only started three Premier League games this season, Man United away in December and the last two.
But, following trademark solid displays, the Egyptian could continue alongside Granit Xhaka, chosen over Albert Sambi Lokonga.
The front four is also likely to remain unchanged with Eddie Nketiah keeping his place up front, chosen over Alexandre Lacazette.
Gabriel Martinelli and Nicolas Pépé will join the French striker as attacking options in reserve.
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