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West Ham vs Arsenal preview: Prediction, team news & lineups

By James Cormack

West Ham United's Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta (L) fights for the ball with Arsenal's Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium in London on December 26, 2022. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
West Ham United's Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta (L) fights for the ball with Arsenal's Norwegian midfielder Martin Odegaard during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium in London on December 26, 2022. - - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Arsenal are on the road once again as they visit the London Stadium on Sunday afternoon to take on West Ham.

The Gunners missed a massive opportunity to take full control of the title race last weekend when they raced into a 2-0 lead at Anfield before getting pegged back by a resurgent Liverpool. In the end, Mikel Arteta’s side were fortunate to escape with a point, but a draw on the Reds’ home patch shouldn’t be scoffed at.

Nevertheless, their lead at the top was trimmed to six points after Man City’s win over Southampton, and the Citizens’ current form suggests Arsenal can ill-afford to drop many, if any, points before the end of the season.

This is an absolute must-win for the visitors, and they’ll be expected to do so against a side that currently sits 14th in the Premier League table.

West Ham vs Arsenal preview: Prediction, team news & lineups

Here’s our preview of Arsenal’s trip to West Ham on Sunday afternoon.

Eddie Nketiah struck in the reverse fixture. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Eddie Nketiah struck in the reverse fixture. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) /

How to watch West Ham vs Arsenal on TV

When is kick-off? Sunday 16 April

What time is kick-off? 14:00 (BST)

Where is it played? London Stadium

TV channel/live stream? Sky Ultra HD, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League (UK) / USA Network, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, Telemundo (US) / fuboTV (Canada)

Referee? David Coote

West Ham team news

There may be more injury news after their clash with Gent on Thursday night. For now, David Moyes is expected to be without Gianluca Scamacca for the Gunners’ visit.

Lucas Paqueta could return from injury, but he may not start given his recent layoff.

Moyes would be wise to retain the 4-4-2 that worked a treat in the 1-0 win at Fulham last weekend.

Arsenal team news

We’re unlikely to see much rotation, if any, from Arteta at this crucial stage of the season, especially with a week’s rest. There’s not yet an update on William Saliba’s status for Sunday’s fixture, but it seems unlikely that he’ll return.

Eddie Nketiah returned to training in the week and should make the matchday squad, but Gabriel Jesus will almost certainly start up top at the London Stadium.

No changes are expected from Anfield.

West Ham vs Arsenal predicted lineups

West Ham: Fabianski; Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Cresswell; Bowen, Soucek, Rice, Fornals; Ings, Antonio

Arsenal: Ramsdale; White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.

West Ham’s recent form

Fulham 0-1 West Ham (08/04) – Premier League

West Ham 1-5 Newcastle (05/04) – Premier League

West Ham 1-0 Southampton (02/04) – Premier League

West Ham 4-0 AEK Larnaca (16/03) – Europa Conference League

West Ham 1-1 Aston Villa (12/03) – Premier League

Arsenal’s recent form

Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal (09/04) – Premier League

Arsenal 4-1 Leeds Utd (01/04) – Premier League

Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace (19/03) – Premier League

Arsenal 1-1 (3-5p) Sporting CP (16/03) – Europa League

Fulham 0-3 Arsenal (12/03) – Premier League

Prediction

Last week’s win at Fulham eased the pressure on Moyes’ Hammers and doesn’t render this contest a must-win despite their precarious position in the bottom half of the table. They also head into Sunday’s game off the back of a European encounter on Thursday night in the Conference League, so there’s a chance the hosts won’t be particularly fresh for the league leaders’ visit.

The circumstances play into the Gunners’ hands, and they can ill-afford to drop points before they visit the Etihad. Man City are firing on all cylinders right now, and it’s hard to envisage anybody stopping them down the stretch.

Arteta’s side should win on Sunday, but I don’t expect it to be a walk in the park. While West Ham were battered by Newcastle last time out on home soil, their xG and xGA numbers suggest they’ve been pretty unlucky at both ends of the pitch this season. They’re hardly a terrible side, and I think they’ll give Arsenal a run for their money this weekend. However, the Premier League leaders will come out on top.

Prediction: West Ham 1-2 Arsenal