West Ham United vs Arsenal

London Stadium forms the backdrop for an all-London Premier League meeting between West Ham United and Arsenal.

Under-pressure manager Julen Lopetegui earned a lifeline at West Ham following an impressive 2-0 win at Newcastle United earlier this week, arresting the Irons’ sub-par run of back-to-back scoring blanks in the Premier League (D1, L1). More importantly, it was West Ham’s second consecutive clean sheet in England’s top flight and only their second across their last 29 league matches away from home. Lopetegui’s managerial credentials are on the line as the Hammers take on old foes Arsenal, a side they’ve only beaten nine times in 56 league H2Hs in the Premier League era (W9, D11, L36). The home fans can draw confidence from West Ham’s recent uptick in form at the London Stadium, where they’ve taken seven points from their last three league outings (W2, D1), as many as in their nine home outings prior (W1, D4, L4). 

On the other hand, Arsenal delivered a telling performance in midweek UEFA Champions League action, dismantling Sporting CP 5-1 in Lisbon to maintain their form resurgence after the international break. Indeed, Mikel Arteta’s side ran out 3-0 victors against Nottingham Forest in the previous Premier League round after going three matches winless before the hiatus (D1, L2). The Gunners can’t afford to rest on their laurels after falling eight points behind table-topping Liverpool. However, they can take confidence from their sterling recent record in the Premier League London derbies (W18, D6, L2). That said, Arteta’s men are winless across their last four away league matches (D2, L2).