please log in to view this image Venue: Emirates Stadium Date: Saturday 22nd February 2025 KO time: 15:00 GMT Overall Record Wins: 74 Losses: 37 Draws: 41 Last six meetings West Ham United 2-5 Arsenal West Ham United 0-6 Arsenal Arsenal 0-2 West Ham United West Ham United 3-1 Arsenal (League Cup) West Ham United 2-2 Arsenal Arsenal 3-1 West Ham United please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image
HT. 0-1. Another drab, ineffective and toothless display. No different from the Leicester game. 63% possession, 9 shots and 1 on target. We're not going to break down a low block playing like this. Even if we had a striker, though it would help, it wouldn't solve everything because we've had issues against teams who set up like this throughout the entire season. West Ham were countering us and getting up the pitch so fast every time we lose the ball. We knew how they were going to play and we still played into their hands by having these tactics. Just not good enough. And now they have a lead to defend, so breaking them down will be even trickier. Also, Calafiori, what the hell were you doing? Why did you let Wan Bissaka have so much time and space to cross the ball? He didn't bother closing the angle down and intercepting. Not sure where our CBs were, either, as 5'9 Bowen shouldn't have a free header on goal. Just so, so poor.
Really shocked by the score and performance. West Ham can be so fragile confidence wise and you pretty much failed to lay a glove on them
Just like our game against them last season too. Anyone seriously good (who don’t sit back) or utterly **** we’ll do alright against. anyone in the middle ground who can do a remotely decent low block counter and we’re screwed as our forwards are far too poor to get through it. Teams like Forest and Everton will roll us over. Whereas we’ll probably put up a good showing at Anfield or against Real.
Did you watch us against Leicester? Why were you shocked? Both poor performances, but West Ham have better quality than Leicester and they showed it. Also, Potter has our number. He has 4 wins out of 5 at The Emirates. He knows how to beat us.
Cos you didn't even make their keeper work. For a team with the chance to get within 5pts and apply a bit of pressure it was a terrible showing.
It's funny how we are the only team ever accused of bottling it. When Liverpool or Chelsea get beaten by City thats never the narrative. How can we bottle a league where we've been 11 or so points behind Liverpool since October. ...and we are still 11 or so points behind them.
I get what you're saying, but the reality is, until we actually get over the line and win, people are always going to have these narratives about us. We need to create our own narrative and that will only be done once we win a major honour. Liverpool and Chelsea over the past 10 years have won a lot more than we have. Both teams have won the league and CL more recently than we have. So perhaps that's why they get a bit more leeway than us, who have 1 FA Cup in 8 years and nothing else. For me personally, next season is make or break for the project. If we get it right, we could be up there competing and potentially winning silverware for a sustained period of time. If we get it wrong, we'll slip down the table and be back in a top-4 scrap. I know it gets said a lot, but this Summer is absolutely CRUCIAL.
Summer is crucial. It looks like Zubemendi is coming in which is a big scoop. We absolutely have to buy a striker, which will happen. Personally I think we should go in big for Isak £120m. He WOULD be the difference in this team that would win us those games where we've drawn and narrowly lost. If we can't get him then Sesko, and in a dream world both, where Isak plays on the left with Sesko centre, Saka right, but I know I'm dreaming there I also think it's really important that we tie down Thomas Partey with another contract. He is such a key part of that midfield
I'd take Cunha/Barcola and Sesko/Ekitike/Aghehowa for the two attackers we need. Any two of them would be cheaper combined than Isak. Two of them + Saka would be very tasty. Martinelli, Nwaneri, Havertz, Trossard, Jesus backup. + Zubimendi + Garcia = transfers done. If Kiwior pushes to leave then replace with Hato. Move on Zinchenko, Jorginho and Trossard for £35-40m combined.
Raya Garcia Setford White Timber Saliba Gabriel Kiwior/Hato Calafiori MLS (shift to midfield to replace Partey in '26 and require a defender replacement) Tomiyasu (shift on and replace Summer '26) Merino Partey (shift on Summer '26 and be replaced with MLS) Rice Zubimendi Odegaard Nwaneri Saka Cunha/Barcola Martinelli Jesus (shift on and replace Summer '26) Sesko/Ekitike/Aghehowa Havertz
Rubbish. Was very unlucky not win the league last Season. Not to make excuses but we've been ****ed by injuries (as well as numerous weird VAR decisions.) Also Sarah is arguably having one of the best Seasons a player has ever had in the EPL - hard to mitigate for that. The failure to not bring anyone in this for cover January has nothing to do with Arteta. The reality is that he's built a side good enough to win the league, better than some of previous winning sides.. but there's still gaps and the team can be improved offensively.
