West Ham vs Arsenal prediction: ENGLAND: Premier League betting tips on match 2023-04-15 13:00.
The second of two games in four days for West Ham United brings them back home to London from Belgium after a hard-earned 1-1 UEFA Europa League draw, which adds some additional difficulty to the task of avoiding Premier League (PL) relegation. The Hammers still have to face three of the PL’s top five clubs in their run home, starting with league leaders Arsenal.
The reverse H2H (L 3-1) was one of eight 2+ goal losses suffered by the Hammers across their PL season, and with similar results at home to top-half opposition such as Manchester City, Brighton, Brentford (all 2-0 losses) and Newcastle (L 5-1), turning things around on home territory does not appear likely. Manager David Moyes, whose job was reportedly saved by last weekend’s 1-0 win away to Fulham, admitted during the week he needs “to get us closer to our levels”.
First-placed Arsenal are almost on a level of their own, but their more pessimistic fans will be hoping the 50-minute period in which they gave up a 2-0 lead over Liverpool at Anfield (D 2-2) isn’t the beginning of their downfall. That followed seven consecutive PL wins, five of which were by a 2+ goal margin, and with second-placed Manchester City carrying similarly imperious form into April, they cannot afford to slow down at any moment.
Manager Mikel Arteta has publicly called for his players to react to that disappointment, whilst he would have welcomed the sight of cult hero Eddie Nketiah – who filled in for Gabriel Jesus with six competitive goals prior to his own injury – back on the training track just as Jesus returned to goalscoring form. If selected as a substitute, Nketiah could be an imposing addition to a side already averaging two goals per away PL game in 2022/23.
Players to watch: Saïd Benrahma has recorded West Ham’s opening goal in six competitive appearances this season, including the reverse H2H. For the visitors, Gabriel Martinelli has scored in a remarkable six of their eight straight PL games without defeat, including all four away from home.
Hot stat: Arsenal have won eight of the last ten PL H2Hs (D1, L1), but collected just two clean sheets in that period.