West Ham United will face Arsenal in a London derby on Sunday.
Team Form
West Ham United
West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola performed a heroic performance to help his team secure a draw against Gent in the UEFA Conference League quarter-finals.
For now, West Ham will turn their focus back to the Premier League, where they will look to continue their recent good form. A hard-fought 1-0 win over Fulham in their last match kept them above the relegation zone, but with just three points separating them from the bottom three, they know they cannot afford any slip-ups.
Despite the pressure on his shoulders, manager David Moyes will feel slightly more relaxed after seeing his team lose just one of their last four league games.
However, he knows that a Saturday loss could put them in danger, so he will urge his players to give their all in what promises to be a tough fixture.
West Ham United PL Form: L D W L W
Arsenal
Last Sunday’s match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield was highly anticipated. Things looked promising for Mikel Arteta’s side after Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus both scored goals, giving Arsenal the lead.
However, the home crowd was not to be silenced, and Liverpool rallied to mount a comeback. Mohamed Salah scored a goal to bring the deficit down, and despite missing a penalty, he played a key role in Liverpool’s equalizer, which Roberto Firmino headed in.
Arsenal now sits three points at the top of the Premier League table following Manchester City’s victory over Leicester City on Saturday. Arsenal must now focus on securing maximum points in their upcoming matches as they gear up for a crucial clash with Manchester City later in the month, which could be a defining moment for their season.
Arsenal PL Form: W W W W D
Squad Report
West Ham United
Gianluca Scamacca is the only player set to miss the upcoming match against Arsenal due to a knee injury that requires surgery.
Arsenal
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that William Saliba will not be available for the upcoming derby match due to a back injury. Arteta also stated that the French defender might not be fully fit for a few more weeks.
Meanwhile, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Mohamed Elneny are recovering from knee surgeries but progressing in their rehabilitation.
On a positive note, Eddie Nketiah has returned to training with the squad after overcoming an ankle problem.
West Ham United’s expected starting lineup:
Fabianski; Kehrer, Ogbonna, Zouma, Cresswell; Bowen, Rice, Soucek, Benrahma; Ings, Antonio
Arsenal’s expected starting lineup:
Ramsdale; White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Xhaka, Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Jesus
Head to Head
Arsenal has enjoyed a favorable record against West Ham United over the years regarding head-to-head clashes.
Out of the 147 matches played between the two sides, Arsenal has emerged victorious on 72 occasions, while West Ham United has managed to win 35 times.
Time, Date & Venue
Date: Sunday, April 16
Time: 02:00 pm, BST
Venue: London Stadium, London
Prediction
Despite West Ham’s potential to score and end Arsenal’s perfect defensive record in London derbies away from home this season, the hosts may struggle to put up much resistance against Mikel Arteta’s attack-minded team.
Arsenal’s attacking prowess and West Ham’s apparent fatigue could result in a comfortable victory for the league leaders.
