Five reasons Arsenal will defeat West Ham

Leon edges scrappy FC Juarez to secure spot in playoffs </a> </li><li> <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/02/five-reasons-arsenal-will-defeat-west-ham/"https://playingfor90.com/2023/11/12/megan-rapinoe-career-defined-more-farewell-match-injury/"> Megan Rapinoe’s career defined by more than farewell match injury </a> </li><li> <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/02/five-reasons-arsenal-will-defeat-west-ham/"https://playingfor90.com/2023/11/12/barcelona-manage-comeback-alaves/"> Lewandowski scores twice as Barcelona come back to beat Alaves 2-1 </a> </li><li> <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/02/five-reasons-arsenal-will-defeat-west-ham/"https://playingfor90.com/2023/11/12/liga-mx-leon-puebla-finales/"> León chasing play-in spot; Puebla aims for higher seeding </a> </li><li> <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/02/five-reasons-arsenal-will-defeat-west-ham/"https://playingfor90.com/2023/11/12/tigres-goalie-america/"> Carlos Rodríguez emerges with clean sheet vs league leaders </a> </li></ul> </div> <p>The Hammers visited the Emirates on the first day of the 2015-2016 season. Arsenal dominated the match with 62% of the possession and 22 shots on goal to West Ham’s 8. Unfortunately games aren’t won on paper and the Gunners found themselves on the end of a frustrating 0-2 opening day loss.</p> <p>The rematch took place this past April at the Boleyn Ground. Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez gave Arsenal a two goal lead after 35 minutes. Then everything fell apart as Andy Carroll took center stage. The striker scored three times within seven minutes and 14 seconds to leave the Gunners reeling. Laurent Koscielny got one back late on for a draw. By then though, the damage was done.</p> <p>Arsenal players will head in to Saturday’s match with revenge on their minds.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/02/five-reasons-arsenal-will-defeat-west-ham/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Arsenal have Ozil and Sanchez </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h3>Arsenal will have both Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez on the pitch</h3> <div id="attachment_417068" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-417068" src=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/02/five-reasons-arsenal-will-defeat-west-ham/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F08%2F456476672-arsenal-fc-v-galatasaray-as-uefa-champions-league-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><p class="wp-caption-text">Arsenal will need Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez to be at their best this season</p> </div> <p>The Gunners are automatically at an advantage when Ozil and Sanchez are in the lineup. The two stars are performing at such a high level that there have been <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/02/five-reasons-arsenal-will-defeat-west-ham/"http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/10/13/how-mesut-ozil-and-alexis-sanchez-are-taking-arsenal-back-to-the/">comparisons to North London legends Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry.</p> <p>Ozil is an assist machine and has contributed seven goals of his own in all competitions. Sanchez is enjoying life as Arsenal’s central striker. He’s put the ball in the back of the net ten times in 17 appearances so far.</p> <p>Ozil and Sanchez have helped make other players better. Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud have benefited from the skill and speed their teammates bring to the squad.</p> <p>Both players are fit and are expected to be in Arsenal’s starting lineup.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/02/five-reasons-arsenal-will-defeat-west-ham/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> London Stadium has not been an advantage for West Ham </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h3>West Ham still don’t feel at home in the London Stadium</h3> <div id="attachment_426854" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-426854" src=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/02/five-reasons-arsenal-will-defeat-west-ham/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F11%2F621209590-west-ham-united-v-stoke-city-premier-league-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><p class="wp-caption-text">LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 05: General view inside the stadium, the Stoke City and West Ham United teams take part in a minutes silence in honour of Remembrance Day prior to kick off during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Stoke City at Olympic Stadium on November 5, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)</p> </div> <p>West Ham said goodbye to Upton Park at the end of last season. They now call the former Olympic Stadium home. The trouble is, it hasn’t felt like home yet for the club and certainly not for the fans.</p> <p>The Stadium was built specifically for the 2012 summer Olympics. It was not designed for football, but rather a place to hold track and field events. The running track still exists and therefore the fans are further away from the playing field.</p> <p>There has also been a problem with violence at the grounds. Fights have broken out between rival fan bases and even worse, between West Ham supporters.</p> <p>The team is working on solutions to deal with the troubles at the stadium. Recently the club’s Vice Chairman Karren Brady, along with stadium staff, <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/02/five-reasons-arsenal-will-defeat-west-ham/"http://www.espnfc.com/west-ham-united/story/3009173/west-hams-karren-brady-defends-london-stadium-to-london-assembly">met with</a> the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee.</p> <p>The bottom line is that West Ham’s new ground does not currently provide a home field advantage.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/02/five-reasons-arsenal-will-defeat-west-ham/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> West Ham are struggling </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><h3>West Ham are currently one point above the relegation zone</h3> <div id="attachment_426856" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-426856" src=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/02/five-reasons-arsenal-will-defeat-west-ham/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F11%2F624385540-tottenham-hotspur-v-west-ham-united-premier-league-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><p class="wp-caption-text">LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 19: Aaron Cresswell of West Ham United is dejected after the final whistle during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United at White Hart Lane on November 19, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Broadway/Getty Images)</p> </div> <p>West Ham had a magical 2015-2016 campaign under manager Bilic. This season so far has been a disaster. The Hammers currently sit 16th in the table on 12 points. At this point last year West Ham were in sixth place with 21 points.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia"> <div id="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-position="slideshow_inline" data-slot="inline_426786" style="width:300px;margin: 0 auto;"> <script> googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.defineSlot("/175840252/fansided.com/Playingfor90/mpu",[300, 250], "minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet") .addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.enableServices(); googletag.display("minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet"); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>The team’s defense has been a major source of concern. The club has let in more goals than they have scored and have an unhealthy -10 goal differential.</p> <p>It’s pretty apparent that West Ham’s players are experiencing a lack of confidence. You can see it in some of the players’ body language.</p> <p>Of course there have been rumblings that the manager may soon be fired. In a recent <a href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/02/five-reasons-arsenal-will-defeat-west-ham/"http://talksport.com/football/west-ham-boss-slaven-bilic-does-not-fear-sack-despite-premier-league-struggles-161125218448">interview Bilic was asked about being sacked. His reply was, “I’m not fearful, I feel pressure of course because we are not producing, we’re not delivering and don’t have enough points to feel happy and feel safe.”</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #0" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/02/five-reasons-arsenal-will-defeat-west-ham/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> West Ham have a striker crisis </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—></p><hr id="pagebreak"><h3>West Ham are having trouble scoring goals</h3> <div id="attachment_426857" class="wp-caption alignnone"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-426857" src=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/02/five-reasons-arsenal-will-defeat-west-ham/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fplayingfor90.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2016%2F11%2F626114752-manchester-united-v-west-ham-united-premier-league-850x560.jpg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><p class="wp-caption-text">MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 27: Diafra Sakho of West Ham United scores his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United and West Ham United at Old Trafford on November 27, 2016 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)</p> </div> <p>West Ham have scored just 14 goals in the first 13 league matches. Making things even worse is the fact that until last weekend, none of the goals had come from the striker position. (Diafra Sakho scored in the Hammers’ 1-1 draw at Old Trafford).</p> <p>Record signing André Ayew has played in just three matches so far due to injury.</p> <p>Argentinian Jonathan Calleri has not impressed Bilic and may leave the club in January.</p> <div class="related-category right"> <div class="related-main-title">More from <span class="related-name">Arsenal FC</span></div> <ul> <li> <a class="related-link" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/02/five-reasons-arsenal-will-defeat-west-ham/"https://playingfor90.com/2023/08/12/arsenal-season-opener/" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="related-category-shortcode">Gunners do just enough to claim victory in season opener</a> </li> <li> <a class="related-link" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/02/five-reasons-arsenal-will-defeat-west-ham/"https://playingfor90.com/2023/07/28/arsenal-bottled-dont-care/" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="related-category-shortcode">Arsenal: We bottled it but I don’t care</a> </li> <li> <a class="related-link" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/02/five-reasons-arsenal-will-defeat-west-ham/"https://playingfor90.com/2023/07/15/arsenal-complete-record-deal-declan-rice/" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="related-category-shortcode">Arsenal complete record deal for Declan Rice</a> </li> <li> <a class="related-link" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/02/five-reasons-arsenal-will-defeat-west-ham/"https://playingfor90.com/2023/07/02/arsenal-transfers/" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="related-category-shortcode">Arsenal splurges on transfers as they aim to collect silverware</a> </li> <li> <a class="related-link" href=https://playingfor90.com/2016/12/02/five-reasons-arsenal-will-defeat-west-ham/"https://playingfor90.com/2023/06/29/arsenal-complete-signing-kai-havertz/" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="related-category-shortcode">Arsenal complete the signing of Kai Havertz</a> </li> </ul> </div> <p>On loan striker Simone Zaza has been a bust so far in his eight appearances.</p> <p>Former Manchester United academy player Ashley Fletcher is just 21. He has not been given a real chance yet to play regular football. He may have helped his cause this week by scoring West Ham’s only goal in the club’s EFL Cup loss to Manchester United.</p> <p>Often injured Carroll has played just once this season. He is finally back in training and likely to start against Arsenal. Even though he ran riot the last time the two teams met in the league, it’s doubtful that a player just coming back from injury will be fully match fit.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">