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Arsenal FC – West Ham United
None of the Gunners’ World Cup campaigners were World Cup winners in Qatar and had to travel back prematurely from 30 degrees in Doha to cold and rainy London. At least Arsenal could still enjoy the top of the Premier League table on Christmas Eve as the Gunners went into the World Cup break with a 2-0 win over Wolves from Wolverhampton.
Traditionally, games in England are played on Boxing Day. It is Boxing Day. On this one, Arsenal may be in for a belated Christmas present as city rivals West Ham United have to go to the Emirates. A three-pointer would see the Gunners stay top of the table. The Hammers are the Gunners’ favourite opponents, with Arsenal winning 12 of their last 13 home games against their upcoming opponents.
The Hammers only have to travel 8.4 kilometres north for the derby. After two very strong years in which David Moyes’ team qualified for international business, West Ham are playing a weak season. The Hammers went into the break with three defeats in a row. In addition, West Ham are only two points away from the first relegation place. David Moyes has already been ticked off several times this season and must deliver in the upcoming second leg. With a derby win, the Hammers could reconcile their fans before the turn of the year. Find out what we expect from this London clash in our Arsenal – West Ham betting tips.
Arsenal – West Ham info:
– Date & Time: 26.12.2022, 21:00 Uhr
– Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
– Competition: Premier League, Matchday 17
– TV broadcast: Sky
Arsenal Form & Balance Check
It will be very exciting to watch whether Mikel Arteta has managed to rebuild the morale of his players, some of whom are deeply disappointed, in just a short space of time. Arsenal were the measure of things in the Premier League until the World Cup break and were even running away from Manchester City. The Gunners lost only one game. Only Manchester United managed to beat the North Londoners on matchday 6. Since that defeat, Arsenal have made it seven wins from eight games.
Only against Southampton on matchday 13 did the Gunners draw (1-1). However, Mikel Arteta’s team followed up that draw with three consecutive wins. Nottingham Forrest were blown out of the stadium 5-0 and city rivals Chelsea were beaten 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. At Wolverhampton Wanderes, Arsenal also successfully solved their last task before the World Cup with 2-0.
Full points
The only downer that will linger from the World Cup in Qatar is the injury to striker Gabriel Jesus. The 25-year-old picked up a knee injury at the Selecao and is out indefinitely. As a result, the Gunners are looking to sign another attacking player in Mykhaylo Mudryk from Donetsk.
Arsenal have won all six of their home games so far this season. No other team in the Premier League can boast this record. In addition, Arteta’s team scored 19 goals in this one. With Jesus, who has scored five times so far, in mind, Eddie Nketiah will replace the Brazilian. Nketiah has four goals to his name this season, although the 23-year-old has not scored any of them in the Premier League
Arsenal facts & analysis
– Arsenal are 1st in the table with 37 points.
– Before the World Cup break, the Gunners won three games in a row.
– From 14 games so far, Arsenal have lost only one and drawn only once.
West Ham Form & Balance Check
This season marks the third consecutive year West Ham United have played internationally. After finishing the 20/21 season in 6th place, the Hammers finished in 7th place last season. It is doubtful that David Moyes’ team will finish in the top seven this season, as West Ham are only two points away from a relegation place and went into the World Cup break in incredibly bad shape. When their 4th win of the season came on matchday 13 with a commanding 2-0 victory over promoted Bournemouth, the Hammers were looking to clean up the back of the field. But West Ham did not make up one place in the table and lost three games in a row. Manchester United (0:1), even Crystal Palace (1:2) and Leicester City (0:2) beat the Londoners.
Offensive unrecognisable
For the third consecutive international year, West Ham bolstered their attack for the Conference League, spending €36 million on striker Gianluca Scamacca among others. However, the 23-year-old Italian has only scored twice in the Premier League. That’s exactly where the problem lies compared to the previous season, in which the Hammers scored a full 60 goals. This season, West Ham have scored only 12 times in 15 games. At least the Londoners score on average in every away game. In seven away appearances, the Hammers have scored seven goals, which gives some encouragement for the upcoming task at the league leaders.
West Ham facts & analysis
– West Ham are 16th in the table with 14 points.
– The Hammers lost three games in a row before the World Cup break.
– Of their last five games, West Ham lost four, winning only one 2-0 against Bournemouth.
Predicted line-up – last update on 24 December 2022
In addition to Gabriel Jesus, who is out due to his knee injury, Ben White will also rest. The Englishman was given some time off after the disappointing World Cup and will not celebrate his return to the Gunners until soon. Defending in White’s place at right back will be Takehiro Tomiyasu, who played with Japan in Qatar. There are no other injuries or suspensions to players in the first eleven, so Mikel Arteta may field a 4-3-3 system with the best line-up apart from Jesus and White.
David Moyes can field his best eleven. There are no suspensions or injuries for the game on Boxing Day, so it is to be expected that the Hammers will play in their usual 4-2-3-1. DFB international Thilo Kehrer can be expected on the right side of defence. Lucas Tolentino Coelho de Lima, better known as Lucas Paquetá, is expected to lead West Ham out of the crisis as a creative player, while Declan Rice has his back on the six. Whether Scamacca or Antonio will be the lone striker has not been an essential question so far, as both strikers have failed to shine with top performances.
Arsenal – West Ham direct comparison & stats
With 66 wins in 130 duels with West Ham, Arsenal clearly leads this derby. Recent history also goes to the Gunners, as Arsenal are unbeaten in six games against the Hammers, winning five of those.
– Arsenal have won 7 home games in a row against West Ham.
– Of the last 13 home games against West Ham, Arsenal won 12 and lost only one.
– Hammers last won at the Emirates seven years ago.
