English Premier
2024-11-30 - West Ham United vs Arsenal
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 30th November 2024 - Kick Off 5:30pm
This game is live on TV
West Ham United
A huge amount of pressure has built up on Julen Lopetegui as manager of West Ham United after a poor start to the season. The playing style has not significantly improved compared with David Moyes, which is building the frustration in the stands, but the Spaniard will have been very happy with his West Ham United team that showed some character and resiliency in winning 0-2 at St James' Park on Monday evening.
Like many teams that will visit that part of the North East, West Ham United had to weather a fair few attacks, but they were comfortable for much of the ninety minutes. A clean sheet is a huge boost and The Hammers are now 14th in the Premier League table and with an opportunity to make serious moves up the standings in the weeks ahead. They return home this weekend where West Ham United have a 2-1-3 record in the top flight.
West Ham United had won 1 of their 4 Premier League games played between the October and November international breaks, and that would have had Julen Lopetegui feeling a little nervous during the fortnight break between games. The win at Newcastle United provides a boost and West Ham United are unbeaten in 3 home Premier League games having won 2 in a row before the goalless draw with Everton.
Edson Alvarez is back from a suspension, but Mohammed Kudus is still concluding his own. Jean-Clair Todibo picked up a knock on Monday, which leaves him doubtful, and Niclas Fullkrug is hoping to be available next week.
Arsenal
It feels like Arsenal are coming out of a rough patch which has left them chasing leaders Liverpool in the English Premier League. The task for the players now is to put a winning run together and see where they stand at the end of the festive period, especially as the Arsenal fixtures look to be easing up compared with those that have already been played.
The 1-5 win at Sporting Lisbon was hugely impressive and puts Arsenal back on track for a top eight finish in the Champions League Group, which would come with the benefit of earning a Bye right through to the Last 16. Now the concentration is back on the Premier League where Arsenal sit 4th in the standings and 9 points behind Liverpool. The Gunners have a 2-2-2 away record having scored and conceded 6 goals in those matches.
Arsenal went into the November international break having won 1 of their previous 5 games in all competitions and even that was against Preston North End from the Championship in the League Cup Fourth Round. This past week has been much better with comfortable wins over Nottingham Forest and Sporting Lisbon and that gives the squad some momentum. Arsenal have not won any of their last 4 away Premier League games and earned just 2 points from a possible 12 in that run.
Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are both absent, but the new concern for Arsenal is the knock picked up by Gabriel on Tuesday and he is a doubt for this fixture.
Head to Head
Last season, West Ham United beat Arsenal 3-1 at home in the League Cup and then upset them 0-2 at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League.
The Gunners earned considerable revenge later in the campaign when winning 0-6 at the London Stadium in the Premier League.
That means Arsenal are unbeaten in 5 League visits to East London and they have won three times in that run.
Prediction
Credit has to be given to West Ham United for their success at Newcastle United on Monday night, but it was a game that could have easily swung if The Magpies had taken one of their opportunities when the game was still in the balance.
Julen Lopetegui has eased the pressure that has been building around the club, but things can quickly turn back around and West Ham United have been inconsistent at the London Stadium.
They are unbeaten in 3 here in the Premier League, but were extremely fortunate to beat Manchester United and played out an unwatchable goalless draw with Everton in that run. Suffice to say the visiting team this weekend are going to offer a lot more attacking threat having produced a big week out of the November international break.
Beating Nottingham Forest at home in the manner they did will have given the Arsenal squad confidence, and that has only been bolstered when thumping Sporting 1-5 in Lisbon. Recent away form in the Premier League has been disappointing, but it should be noted that Arsenal have played at Manchester City, Bournemouth, Newcastle United and Chelsea during their 4 game winless run on their travels.
It is not an excuse for the results, but those are tough fixtures and the absence of Martin Odegaard had made a big impact. Bukayo Saka was perhaps not at full health either, but both have shown their influence in the wins earned over the last week and that will give Arsenal plenty of confidence as they hope to close the gap to leaders Liverpool.
At the moment the only concentration has to be on making sure they keep winning their own games- Mikel Arteta will understand this and Arsenal do have the attacking firepower to really make things very difficult for West Ham United.
As good as the result was on Monday, West Ham United are still a little fragile and heads will be hard to pick up if they fall behind.
There is some pace and quality on the counter that could make the home team dangerous, especially if Arsenal are without two of what many would consider the first choice back five. However, the attackers can make up for that and the defensive depth is perhaps able to cover the likely absences of Ben White and Gabriel with Arsenal enjoying recent League visits to the London Stadium.
West Ham United have made things awkward for this London rival at times, including winning at the Emirates last season, but Arsenal look to have the bit between their teeth and they can secure a good looking win here on Saturday late afternoon.
The Statistics :
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Pick :
West Ham United 0-2 Arsenal
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Arsenal - 1.25 Asian Handicap at 2.04 with Bet365
