West Ham vs Arsenal prediction: ENGLAND: Premier League betting tips on match 2024-11-29 17:30.
[p]Reports last week suggested that Julen Lopetegui had just two games to save his job as the West Ham United boss, a period which began with a 2-0 away win against the odds at Newcastle. With half of the job done, Lopetegui will hope for another strong showing from his Hammers as they welcome old foes Arsenal for what will be the 57th London derby in the Premier League era between the pair (WHU: W9, D11, L36).[/p]
[p]Those 36 H2H defeats are the most that West Ham have suffered against any opponent in the Premier League, which may intensify any sense of trepidation heading into this. Home comforts could quell any West Ham nerves, as seven points across their last three home league games (W2, D1) represents a notable uptick in form for the Irons, who managed as many from their nine home outings prior (W1, D4, L4). [/p]
[p]Making the short trip across London, Arsenal arrive here on the back of a midweek jaunt to Lisbon where they thrashed Sporting 5-1. Mikel Arteta praised his side’s efficiency and intelligence after that win and with players like Martin Ødegaard now back fully fit, the Spaniard should feel a lot happier with life, especially after they ended a run of three games without victory last weekend when beating Nottingham Forest 3-0. [/p]
[p]The Gunners need to continue in that recent vein as they look to close the yawning eight-point gap to the top of the table, although their imperious record across their last 26 Premier League London derbies should raise hopes of a third straight win (W18, D6, L2). One of the two defeats in that sequence did come against West Ham, and given that Arsenal have dropped points in four away league games this season (W2, D2, L2), victory is by no means guaranteed. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Tomáš Souček continued his trend of scoring crucial goals for West Ham last round as his match opener on Monday was the eighth of his last nine scoring club appearances which saw him net decisively. For Arsenal, Bukayo Saka ended a streak of six straight home scoring club appearances with his first away strike of the season during midweek. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: West Ham have won only two of ten Premier League home games as pre-match betting outsiders since the start of last season (D4, L4). [/p]
[p][i]Written by Matthew Billon[/i][/p]