West Ham vs Arsenal preview: How to watch, top four, prediction, lineups, live stream

Arsenal have had over a week to recover for Sunday’s game as they make the short journey east across London to take on West Ham in the Premier League. Here is the match preview.

Never doubt football’s ability to play with one’s emotions. Three consecutive defeats, culminating in a 1-0 loss at Southampton, still had the Gunners firmly in the top four chase based on the table, although less so when factoring form.

The team was in dire straits, missing cornerstones of the starting lineup through injury and had the daunting task of facing Chelsea and Manchester United within the space of just three days.

They won both matches, scoring seven goals in the process. Go figure.

West Ham vs Arsenal match preview: Premier League, how to watch, top four race, score prediction, team lineups, live stream

A most remarkable turnaround has seen Arsenal move back into the somewhat undesirable ‘favourites’ slot, a position they were helped moving into by Tottenham drawing a blank away at Brentford.

Boasting a two point lead heading into the final five games, next up for both top four hopefuls is an eerily similar looking pair of fixtures. While West Ham are the stronger of the two teams, both they and Spurs’ opponents, Leicester, are expected to field weakened sides.

The duo are contesting the first legs of their respective European semi-finals either side of the weekend, with the Gunners’ opponents in particularly worrying circumstances ahead of Sunday.

Fielding a weakened team is one thing, and putting one out that only contains one senior central defender (Zouma is back) is another. As tough of a game as it may well still be, the cards are being drawn kindly for Arsenal who have to make the most of the opportunity.

Should Arsenal and Spurs win their games they then head into a period where even more ground could be made between the two. Arteta’s side will host Leeds after West Ham and Spurs will travel to Anfield for arguably the toughest fixture in European football. If all goes well – we said this about their away game at Man City, too – the North London Derby could take place with the Gunners boasting a five point advantage in the table.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Sunday will be a tough game. A derby game. And Arsenal have to plough on with their surge into the Champions League.

How to Watch on TV

When Is Kick Off? Sunday 1 May
What Time Is Kick Off? 16:30 (GMT)
Where Is it Played? London Stadium
TV Channel/Live Stream? Sky Sports (UK) fuboTV (USA)
Referee? Mike Dean
Who is on VAR? Darren England

Continued on next page…

Arsenal Team News vs West Ham – Takehiro Tomiyasu Returns

Aside from the goals scored, nothing that took place in the 3-1 win over Manchester United was met with such a warm embrace than Takehiro Tomiyasu’s return from injury.

Making his first appearance in 90 days after recovering from a calf problem, in the one or two minutes he was on the pitch he already managed to draw a yellow card from Cristiano Ronaldo. Oh how we’ve missed him.

However, it was no more than two minutes on the pitch. He’s back in full training now but it would be premature to suggest he’s match ready. We wait with anticipation.

The only other concern was with Bukayo Saka, who was withdrawn 15 minutes from time clutching his thigh. It appears as if the move was only precautionary, though, with the club optimistic that he’ll be available for selection.

As for the hosts, rotation will be crucial for a David Moyes as they prepare for the second leg of their Europa League semi-final tie with Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday. Even with that in mind, there are still injury concerns.

Fortunately for the Hammers, Zouma returned in midweek (ages ahead of schedule) and looks available to start again on Sunday, although they may not risk him again. As for fellow central defensive duo Issa Diop and Angelo Ogbonna, they are out with injury, while the only other senior centre-back, Craig Dawson, is suspended for the game following his red card against Chelsea.

It means a reshuffle is due, perhaps with Declan Rice starting in central defence.

Continued on next page…

Arsenal Predicted Lineup to Face West Ham – 4-2-3-1 Once Again?

West Ham: Fabianski; Johnson, Rice, Alese, Cresswell; Noble, Soucek, Yarmolenko, Vlasic, Masuaku; Benrahma

Arsenal: Ramsdale; Cedric, White, Gabriel, Tavares; Elneny, Xhaka, Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Nketiah

West Ham vs Arsenal Score Prediction

This is such a huge opportunity for Arsenal. Not only do West Ham enter this game without a senior central defender to select from, they will also likely rest players such as Jarrod Bowen, Michail Antonio and Fornals ahead of their Europa League semi-final.

Opportunities like these can’t slip, as while West Ham remain a strong side with plenty of fire power, it’s been a long season for their small squad and their focus is now firmly centred elsewhere.

Arsenal won’t get far if they repeat their defensive performance against Manchester United. While they’ve won back-to-back games, they shipped two at Chelsea and somehow just let one in against the Red Devils.

At this stage of the season while it is only the results that matter, there is only so long you can ride your luck.

Confidence will be soaring across the team for Sunday’s game, one that is one of two standout fixtures left on the calendar along with the North London Derby. Right now Odegaard is purring again, Saka is flying and Mohamed Elneny is reborn. Add to that the possible return of Tomiyasu and this is a game Arsenal should have enough in.

Concerns at the back might not make it a smooth one, mind you.

Score Prediction: West Ham 1-2 Arsenal