Premier League: Nuno’s Hammers Head to the Emirates

Arsenal vs West Ham United

Premier League: Arsenal vs West Ham United has a slightly different feel to it than it would have a week or so ago. Following the sacking of Graham Potter, the Hammers moved quickly to appoint Nuno Espirito Santo to take the hot seat, and it seems he had an immediate effect as West Ham battled to a 1-1 draw away to in-form Everton. 

But Arsenal away is a rather different prospect to the Toffees. Mikel Arteta’s Gunners are hoping to go one better than their regular runners-up place and they have leaders Liverpool in their sights. The hosts come into the game on the back of a 2-1 win over Newcastle United and they were in Champions League action in midweek too. So the Hammers’ new manager has longer to prepare his team than his opposite number, but the latest Arsenal vs West Ham United betting odds suggest that is unlikely too help him.

 

Talking Points

Liverpool loss could spark an Arsenal surge

Since losing 1-0 to Liverpool back on the 31^st August, Arsenal have been unbeaten in six, dropping two points in the league in a 1-1 draw with Manchester City. In that tussle with the Sky Blues a 93^rd minute leveller from Gabriel Martinelli made the draw feel more like a victory, and had the feeling of a seminal moment in the Gunners’ campaign. Well another big moment came last week when Liverpool fell to a shock defeat to Crystal Palace and that allowed Arsenal to climb to within two points of the Reds at the top of the Premier League table.     

The leaders’ defeat made Arsenal’s meeting with Newcastle United last Sunday all the tastier and the Gunners were on the back foot again when Nick Woltemade gave the Magpies a first half lead. But two late goals from forward Mikel Merino and centre back Gabriel, with a trademark header from a set-piece, gave Arsenal a crucial three points. That never-say-die attitude could keep Arteta’s men in the title race and they made it three wins from three on Wednesday with a 2-0 Champions League victory over Olimpiakos, Martinelli and Bukayo Saka on target to see off the Greeks.

While Arsenal are still without Kai Havertz there was a return last week for skipper Martin Odegaard, and he climbed off the bench to tee up Gabriel’s dramatic winner which lifted them to second; and he followed that up with another assist on Wednesday. Odegaard’s return is another big moment for the Gunners and now they will be looking to gather some serious momentum, starting on Saturday against the Hammers.      

 

Nuno is the right choice for Hammers   

On the East London side of this clash, the big Arsenal vs West Ham United news is, of course, the managerial change which saw Potter potted and former Wolverhampton Wanderers, Tottenham and Nottingham Forest manager Nuno swing in. He wielded the axe immediately, leaving midfielder James Ward-Prowse out of the match-day squad for the trip and he saw some encouraging signs in a tough 90 minutes on Merseyside. His team went behind to an early goal from Everton centre back Michael Keane, but they stayed in the game and Jarrod Bowen scored an equaliser midway through the second half. West Ham had 48 per cent possession and 14 shots to Everton’s 12 and were good value for their draw.

But West Ham fans will have to get used to the idea that Nuno will play a defensive format with a low block and ask his team to break quickly on the counter attack. This is pretty much the opposite of Potters’ possession based, passing brand of football…but it does get results. In four years at Wolverhampton Wanderers Nuno made the All Golds a tough and dangerous opponent and, while he had little time to have any influence at Spurs, he worked wonders at Nottingham Forest. The Midlanders were favourites for the drop when he joined them in 2023 but he delivered European football within two years.

After the board mystifyingly sacked Nuno, Forest are looking over their shoulders again, in 17^th place and a point and two places above West Ham.

I know who my money is on finishing higher when May comes around.                     

 

History

In all encounters over the past three decades Arsenal have won 38, drawn ten and lost nine to West Ham while scoring 116 goals and conceding 48 in the 57 in that time.  

And in terms of recent form the hosts are much stronger, with five wins and a draw, while the Hammers have won one, drawn one and lost four. 

 

Betting Tip

Arsenal are the clear favourites at SBOTOP odds of 1.18 to win with the Draw at 6.50 and West Ham at 14.00. It’s a home win for me with the Gunners picking up a fourth 2-0 result in six outings.

   

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