Oct 25
Match Preview: West Ham United v Arsenal (Premier League)
New West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola has a tough task on his hands when West Ham United take on Arsenal in the Premier League at Upton Park tomorrow afternoon..
The Hammers go into this clash with Arsenal hoping to get back to winning ways after defeat in their last two matches against Hull City and Bolton Wanderers. West Ham are currently 8th in the Premiership, but have not won since a 2-1 victory against Fulham at Craven Cottage in September.
Arsene Wenger’s team will go into this London derby full of confidence, having beaten Everton 3-1 last weekend at the Emirates Stadium and humbling Fenerbahce 5-2 in the Champions League on Tuesday. Wenger will want his side to come away with all three points in what has been a tricky tie for the Gunners in recent times.
Injury News
Zola will be without striker Dean Ashton (trigonum syndrome) as well as defenders Jonathan Spector (thigh) and Danny Gabbidon (groin), with long-term absentee Kieron Dyer (broken leg) also to miss the visit of Arsenal.
Arsenal are set to welcome back defenders Kolo Toure and William Gallas, who have both recovered from injury, while Bacary Sagna (ankle) is not quite ready to return against the East London side. Eduardo (broken leg) and Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) are still on the side lines at the Emirates, though Eduardo should resume full training soon.
Predicted Line-Up’s
West Ham Predicted XI
Green
Neill – Upson – Collins – Ilunga
Behrami – Parker – Bowyer – Etherington
Di Michele – Cole
Arsenal Predicted XI
Almunia
Eboue – Toure – Gallas – Clichy
Walcott – Fabregas – Diaby – Nasri
Adebayor – van Persie
Match Prediction: West Ham United 1-2 Arsenal
Catch all the post-match reaction and player ratings here on Gooner Talk seconds after the final whistle.
Leave your views and predictions of tomorrow afternoons game in the comments section below.
Line up:
Almunia
Touré Gallas Silvestre Clichy
Walcott Fabregas Denilson Diaby
van Persie Adebayor
Prediction: 1-3
Goals: Adebayor, RVP
Line up:
Almunia
Touré Gallas Silvestre Clichy
Walcott Fabregas Denilson Diaby
van Persie Adebayor
looks pretty good to me, but don’t feel comfertable about toure playing as an RB.
Prediction: 0-3
Goals: Ady, RvP and Nasri
Unknown girl, How does Nasri score in your line up? You didn’t include him.
Is Wenger continuing with the Song as RB experiment? I’d like to see Eboue out there, to be honest. And maybe drop Theo (the poor dear’s had a lot on his plate lately) and bung Nasri on the right, Diaby on the left. Or something like that.
We should win regardless of line-up. And if we’re serious about the Premiership, we will.
Line up should be the same as against Fener with Toure coming in for Song. I’m not sure Gallas will be selected.
Almunia(C)?
Eboue Touré/Gallas Silvestre Clichy
Denilson Fabregas Diaby Nasri
van Persie Adebayor
Prediction
3(van Persie, Adebayor, Denilson)-1(Cole)
The team confirmed.
Almunia
Eboue – Gallas(c) – Silvestre – Clichy
Walcott – Fabregas – Denilson – Nasri
Van Persie – Bendtner
Subs: Fabianski, Silvestre, Song, Djourou Diaby, Ramsey, Bendtner
good match both sides were attacking van persie was unlucky to miss 2 goals but good substitute by wenger by putting ade in the field the defenders were superb! and almunia also