WEST HAM VS ARSENAL. 17.30. 06/10/12
Another london derby is on the horizon (like we’re not tired of them already). This time its a relative short journey from the emirates down to upton park. Arsene wenger will once again pit his wits with his one time tormentor in chief in the form of sam allardyce(which gunner can forget allardyces’ bolton team), and hope to get the better of the west ham manager. The arsenal manager would be seeking his 350th win in charge.
The hammers are finally readjusted to life in the premiership after a shaky start and allardyce would try to take advantage of the difference in playing styles. He would definitely urge his players to get in the oppositions faces and deny them time on the ball. Arsenal ,however have come up against similar opposition so far this season against the likes of stoke and sunderland and done relatively better than they would have done in previous seasons.
Striker andy carroll could be called back into the first team after making a 20 min cameo against QPR last weekend, while joey obrien and winston reid are injury concerns for the manager. Vito mannone is likely to keep his place in goal for the visitors with the the first and second choice kepers still injured. Per Metasacker should be in line for a recall, after missing the last two games through illness.
West ham have lost seven of their last nine premier league encounters with the gunners ,with their last win coming in april 2007. Arsenal,however have lost five of their last ten domestic games after champions league ties. The gunners would be seeking their 350th win under current maager arsene wenger, while holding the best-joint away defensive record in the premiership so far this season.
I expect a hard fought away win for the gunners, simply because i think they have too much ammunition for the home team to handle. I also think wenger should start with Giroud up front; he gave arsenal a different dimension when he came on as a sub on Wednesday, and i think they'll need that against the hammers.
This weekend kick starts a relatively easier run of games for the gunners as compared to what they have faced so far, so i expect them to take full advantage of the situation if they are to be serious contenders for the title. Dont get it twisted, wenger would have it in the back of his mind ,that the guy in the home dugout is always delighted to spoil the mood in the emirates camp.....o how we wish he fails!
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