please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Team News: (To Be Updated) Form Guide: please log in to view this image Three Key Match-ups: please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Overall Record vs West Ham United: Played: 120 Wins: 52 Draws: 36 Losses: 32 For: 184 Against: 138 Goal Difference: 46 Last Six Meetings: Arsenal 5 - 1 West Ham United West Ham United 1 - 3 Arsenal West Ham United 0 - 3 Arsenal Arsenal 1 - 0 West Ham United Arsenal 2 - 0 West Ham United West Ham United 1 - 2 Arsenal (FA Cup) please log in to view this image Manager's Views: (To Be Updated) My Team: please log in to view this image
A must win for me, because after this we have a tough away game to an in-form Newcastle and we have not won in four, so need a win to end that run. West Ham have been pretty awful this season, and have struggled without Carroll to lead their line. City and Chelsea won with ease at Upton Park, and we can't afford a slip up here.
Just before this thread kicks off in earnest, I like to take the opportunity to thank Super Jack Wilshere for doing these match threads each game for everybody else to enjoy. Also he keeps the prediction league going and there must be a lot of hard work involved to keep it all updated. So from me SJW, thanks and Merry Christmas mate
Yeah it was a subtle hint Seriously though mate, thanks for keeping this board looking good and giving our members the chance to get involved with those threads. I don't think it should be taken for granted. Anyway, to the game. Agree it's a must win really having dropped so many points recently. Also Chelsea and Everton are likely to pick up maximum points at home, so we need to keep them at arms' length. City play Liverpool though so at least one of those teams will drop points, maybe both ....
Fat Sam is no doubt going to revert to his 4-6-0 formation for this game and we have improve our passing from the Chelsea game if we are to break them down. First goal is massive, if we get it, I can see us winning comfortably, but the longer we do not score, the longer the afternoon gets.
Fat Sam will definitely park the bus, so we need to be patient. West Ham offer very little going forward, although they did manage to put 5 past the spuds in their last two meetings but that is the spuds and this is Arsenal. I think we need to stick to our task on Thursday and not get frustrated if things don't go our way as quickly as we'd like. In some ways it's better that this is an away game as the crowd won't get on their backs - and our away support is always top notch, best in the league. Let's hope we're singing some rounds of Jingle bells on Thursday at Upton Park.
fully expect west ham to play for 0-0 but arsenal to win and go top of the league so have a happy boxing day
Play Santi and Ozil to break them sown. Tell Rambo and Pod to shoot from distance. Once we score they'll open up and Theo can rape them on the counter.
I'd like to see us go for: ------------Sczc------------ Sagna---Mert---Kosc---Gibbs -----Flamini----Ramsey------ Walcott-----Ozil------Cazorla -----------Giroud----------- Subs: Flappy, Verm, Monreal, Arteta, Rosicky, Podolski, Bendtner/Gnabry But i think Arteta might start ahead of Flamini. With Wilshere back from suspension against Newcastle that'll be the first game of the season where we have available a full 18 man match-day squad that doesn't include any youth players or Bendtner. I think we have a strong enough team available to win against West Ham. They have no proper striker threat at the moment and against us they will be even less likely to commit anyone forward. I expect them to sit deep but i think we will have a lot of chances. Hoping for some shots from outside the box early on.
As there's so many 15:00 KO's today, if anyone stumbles across a good link can you post one up pls.... I'll do the same.
Arsenal XI: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Ramsey, Cazorla, Ozil, Walcott, Giroud
