West Ham vs Arsenal preview

December 27, 2014
By: Nemanja Lazarevic

west ham arsenalHaving failed to get anything from the Chelsea game, West Ham will be looking to fare much better when they host Arsenal at Boleyn Ground.

The Gunners, on the other hand, recorded a hard-fought victory over QPR, but will have bigger fish to fry on Sunday afternoon.

Even if they dropped out of the Premiership top 4 after the loss at Stamford Bridge, West Ham players have every right to be proud of their efforts so far.

But, having done so well in the first part of the season, the Hammers will want to get the most out of this opportunity and try to finish the campaign in European positions.

That will be no easy task even if West Ham currently sit above the likes of Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool in the standings.

The Hammers now need to prove their top 6 credentials against Arsene Wenger’s side and they can be backed at 3.60 (13/5) to emerge victorious.

Sam Allardyce will be hoping to welcome back James Tomkins from a hamstring injury and have a fully fit squad to select from.

Alex Song and Diafra Sakho are set to be recalled after they were rested at Stamford Bridge, while Morgan Amalfitano is likely to play a part as well.

Probable starting line-up (4-4-2): Adrian – Jenkinson, Tomkins, Reid, Cresswell – Amalfitano, Kouyate, Song, Downing – Carroll, Sakho.

What should have been an easy home game against the side with the worst away record in the league almost proved a real nightmare for Arsenal.

The Gunners were well in the driving seat at half-time despite scoring just one goal, but Olivier Giroud’s red card completely changed the course of the match.

Arsenal did well to score with ten men, but then had to fight for their lives after Charlie Austin had converted a penalty some ten minutes later.

The Gunners somehow managed to secure a very important victory and are now available at 2.20 (6/5) to see off top 4 rivals West Ham as well.

Olivier Giroud is banned after he was sent off against QPR, but Calum Chambers should be recalled to the starting line-up.

Laurent Koscielny and Aaron Ramsey could return, while Mikel Arteta, Jack Wilshere and Mesut Ozil remain on the sidelines.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Szczesny – Debuchy, Chambers, Mertesacker, Gibbs – Rosicky, Flamini, Cazorla – Sanchez, Welbeck, Podolski.

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