Arsenal will host West Ham United for the last London Dery of the calendar year. Thanks to a 1-1 draw with Liverpool on Saturday night, the Gunners finished the first round of the league top-ranked. Earlier in the day, the Irons defeated an underperforming Manchester United 2-0.
Preview (Arsenal vs West Ham United)
Due to Aston Villa’s inability to continue their incredible home winning streak in the Premier League against Sheffield United on Friday night, Arsenal and Liverpool entered the Anfield cauldron with the knowledge that the winner would undoubtedly win the title of “winter champions” on Christmas morning. A fourth-minute goal by Gabriel Magalhaes put Mikel Arteta’s team on course to end their 11-year run without a top-flight victory on Liverpool’s ground. It was also their fastest-ever Premier League goal at Anfield. However, just 25 minutes later, a vicious finish by Mohamed Salah tied the score for Jurgen Klopp’s team.
Arsenal rode home to North London with the point that kept them above the Reds in first place. They emerged unscathed from a controversial Martin Odegaard handball decision and a five-on-one counterattack. However, Gooners should have held back on their Christmas celebrations. They didn’t win the league in a season where they sat at the top on December 25. In addition, if both Liverpool and Villa win on Boxing Day, Arteta’s team could drop to third place. Although their current record of just one victory in their last four tournament games may seem dismal.
After a dull first half between West Ham and Man United, neutrals supporters could have been forgiven. However, the irrepressible combination of Marshall Kudus and Jarrod Bowen produced a strong second-half performance. They condemning Erik ten Hag’s out-of-sorts charges to an all too familiar Premier League defeat. With a flawless final performance at the London Stadium in 2023, the Europa Conference League champions are vying for a spot in the Champions League in sixth place in the standings. However, similar to Arsenal, they could also fall a few spots based on how Man United and Newcastle United.
Team News
Liverpool did not come out of their match with Arsenal unscathed physically, but Arteta’s team does not have any fresh injury worries going into Thursday’s match. The Gunners manager does, however, need to consider a disciplinary issue for the derby. The dynamic Kai Havertz, who has already had five bookings this season, is suspended and will not play against West Ham. In his place, Jorge Guerra, Martin Odegaard, and former Hammer Declan Rice will form a midfield trio. The hosts are currently without Thomas Partey (thigh), Takehiro Tomiyasu (calf), Fabio Vieira (groin), and Jurrien Timber (knee), but there is hope that the latter two will be available for Arsenal’s FA Cup third-round match against Liverpool.
Before West Ham’s victory over Man United, the team was still afflicted by the dreadful winter flu. Maxwel Cornet and Yayef Aguerd were both too ill to play in that match, although Aguerd recovered last week. Although Cornet is unlikely to break into the starting lineup anyhow, Aguerd should be strong enough to replace former Arsenal defender Dinos Mavropanos, who will likely be replaced on the bench by Lukasz Fabianski. With his persistent knee issue, Michail Antonio is the only injury concern for the visitors.
Arsenal 2-1 West Ham United
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