Last season, West Ham ruined our new year celebratations with a 2-0 win at Emirates. We had 75% possessions, 8 shots on target to theirs 3, a much better pass accuracy, lots of misses and 3 drop points. We took the revenge in reverse leg beating them 6-0 at London Stadium with 2 goals from Bukayo, both our CBs on the scoresheet, Trossard and Declan Rice scoring the other two goals. However, we can’t afford to be complacent today by keeping in mind the last visit and not the 2-0 loss at home. They aren’t doing good this season so far, but under Mikel, it’s the minions that has brought us damages.
We are playing well since Odegaard is back. Against Forest and Sporting, we looked in control, the right side looks refreshed and Saka gets all the help he needs to create chaos in the opposition half. That kid is going to be one of the best in the world. Martinelli is still not what we need from him, and that’s the reason we didn’t see him against Sporting. Hopefully he will pick up his last season’s form soon enough, we need that same level of chaos on the left as well.
We need to win today. And hope Pep do not loses tomorrow against Liverpool.
Team News
With Odegaard back into fold, we look much better. Mikel has his best options available. Timber and Calafiori are fit to start on either side, Thomas Partey, Declan Rice, Jorginho, Odegaard, Merino – all are available for the midfield and there’s no injury on the front.
If you ask me, I would stick to the back 4 of Timber (RB), Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; a midfield of Odegaard, Thomas and Rice and a front 3 of Saka, Havertz and Martinelli. I am tempted to give Nwaneri a start but it’s a very important game to do so. Gabriel may be a doubt after he was limping against Sporting but he is tough lad and he should make it. If not, I see one of Ben White or Tomiyasu making into the team today.
Expectations?
We need couple of early goals to not put ourselves under pressure. A 2-0 scoreline at half time will also put us in a condition to rotate, as we are going to play 8 games in a month (counting today’s and 01st Jan). Partey is in some form this season and we clearly see a lot of improvements in the midfield. Marti did score one against Sporting but he is still far off from his best days and if he gets to start today, I would love to see him build up his confidence on that goal in our last game.
2-0 to Arsenal, Marts and Saka on the scoresheet is what I am expecting.
Title challenge is getting crazier!
Liverpool are doing great under the Dutch manager. They have accumulated 31 points out of the 36 they have played in Premier League and have won all 5 of their Champions League games so far. Arne Slot is doing better than what everybody expected after Klopp’s departure. I don’t buy the ‘easy games’ narrative now since almost 1/3rd of the season is over and we are already in December (almost). Now, why am I talking about it? We are way behind the bin dippers and so does everyone else. We need to catch up and they need to drop points, and it’s one of those weeks where it ‘can’ happen.
A win today for us against Hammers will move us to 25 points, and there’s a City v Liverpool tomorrow. A 6 point difference will suit both us and City, I won’t mind if they both drop points as it will turn out to be a 3-team fight at minimum. Leave aside Liverpool, and there are 7 teams within 4 point difference and everyone’s going to make each other life’s miserable at some point.
Right, so to keep it simple, we need to win and hope Liverpool don’t.
Wrapping it up now. Happy Thanksgiving, and stay warm. Winter is here.
Oh, and I did get a chance to watch a West Ham game at London Stadium on 19th Sep 2021. CR7 started for Man United and since I was sitting in the West Ham stand, I was allowed to call them cunt through out the 90 min. Felt good.
Match day post is live..