NEWSNOWWest Ham v Arsenal Preview (1)
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As Reported by The BBCÂ
Upton Park
Saturday, 29 September
Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage on the BBC Sport website,
BBC Radio Five LiveÂ
highlights on Match of the Day Â
BIG-MATCH FACTS
The 101st London league local derby between West Ham and Arsenal is staged on the eve of Arsene Wenger’s 11th anniversary as manager of the table-topping Gunners.
Arsenal are bidding for a fifth successive Premier League victory to maintain their two point lead at the summit; West Ham are seeking the win that could see them leapfrog Chelsea and become London’s second highest placed club.
The Hammers have won only one of their last eight London Premier League derbies; that victory being 0-1 over Arsenal at the Emirates on 7 April.
Arsenal are undefeated in 17 in all competitions; won 12 and drawn five since losing to West Ham on 7 April.
West Ham are chasing a fourth successive Premier League victory over Arsenal.
CLUB FORM
WEST HAM UNITED
1. The 3-1 defeat, away to Newcastle on Sunday, ended a four-match unbeaten sequence in the Premier League (three wins, one draw).
2. Won 50% of their Premier League games this season (three of six).
3. Gone 10 league games since suffering back-to-back defeats; away to Sheffield United and home to Chelsea on 14 and 18 April respectively.
4. One of six clubs with a 100% record when scoring first in a Premier League match this season (won three of three).
5. Completed 25 Premier League fixtures since recording a goalless draw; away to Fulham on 23 December 2006.
6. Hoping to add to their one home league victory this season; 3-0 against Middlesbrough in the most recent league fixture at Upton Park on 15 September.
7. Failed to score in one of the last eight home Premier League matches; the 0-2 opening day defeat to Manchester City on 11 August.
ARSENAL
1. Unbeaten this season (nine wins, one draw) in 10 league and cup games; won the last seven.
2. Won more Premier League games than any other club (five).
3. One of two clubs still holding an unbeaten Premier League record. The other is Liverpool.
4. Most prolific scorers in the Premier League; 15 from six, at one every 36 minutes on average. Also they are one of just two clubs to have scored in every Premier League game this season. The other is Fulham.
5. One of four clubs who’ve got double figures in the “Goals For” column in the Premier League table. The others are Fulham, Liverpool and Tottenham.
6. On the longest unbeaten sequence in the Premier League of 13 matches; won eight and drawn five since losing to West Ham on 7 April.
7. Only banked 16 points after the first six games of a Premier League season once before; in 2004-05 when they ended as runners-up.
8. Not beaten in five away league games; won one and drawn four since losing 4-1 against Liverpool at Anfield on 31 March.
9. Been awarded more penalties in Premier League competition this season than any other club (four), but only converted three of them.
10. This match precedes Tuesday’s Champions League Group H fixture in Romania, against Steaua Bucharest.
KEY PLAYER NOTES
WEST HAM UNITED
Dean ASHTON and Craig BELLAMY are West Ham’s joint top scorers with three goals each; ASHTON has scored in each of West Ham’s last three games.
The Hammers’ joint top Premier League marksmen are ASHTON, Lee BOWYER and Matthew ETHERINGTON, with two each.
If he plays:-
ETHERINGTON will be making his 250th career league appearance (Peterborough, Tottenham, Bradford City and West Ham).
Danny GABBIDON will be making his 50th league start for the Hammers.
Luis BOA MORTE will be facing a former club. The 30 year old Portugal international made 39 appearances (25 in the league) and scored four goals for Arsenal between June 1997 and August 1999.
Fredrik LJUNGBERG will also be facing a former club. The 30 year old Sweden international made 328 appearances (216 in the league) and scored 72 goals (46 league) for the Gunners between September 1998 and July 2007.
Matthew UPSON will also be facing former colleagues. The 28 year old defender made 56 appearances (34 in the league) for the north Londoners between May 1997 and January 2003.
Richard WRIGHT will also be coming up against former team mates. The 29 year old keeper made 22 appearances in a year with Arsene Wenger’s side from July 2001.
ARSENAL
Cesc FABREGAS and Emmanuel ADEBAYOR are Arsenal’s joint top scorers with six goals each.
ADEBAYOR, who scored a hat-trick against Derby last Saturday and has netted five goals in three league appearances, is the clubs top Premier League marksmen with six.
Arsenal have never lost when ADEBAYOR has scored; winning 16 and drawing two of the 18 matches in which he’s netted.
FABREGAS has scored in four successive Premier League matches for the Gunners; the longest such sequence since Thierry HENRY netted in the first four league games of 2007.
If on the field from the outset:-
ADEBAYOR will be making his 50th start in an Arsenal shirt.
Alexander HLEB will be making his 50th Premier League start in an Arsenal shirt.
If he plays:-
Manuel ALMUNIA will be making his 50th appearance for the Gunners.
HEAD TO HEAD
Marlon Harewood came off the bench to score a late winner in this corresponding fixture on Guy Fawkes Day last year. The celebration of then manager Alan Pardew so angered his opposite number, that Wenger famously refused to shake hands afterwards, which cost him a £10,000 fine.
Five months later the Hammers brought an end to Arsenal’s league record at the Emirates Stadium and wrapped up a first ever Premier League ‘double’ over them, and first against their London rivals since 1964-65.
Home and away
League (inc PL): West Ham 27 wins, Arsenal 43, Draws 30
Prem: West Ham 6 wins, Arsenal 13, Draws 5
at West Ham only
League (inc PL): West Ham 14 wins, Arsenal 18, Draws 18
Prem: West Ham 2 wins, Arsenal 5, Draws 5
REFEREE
Alan Wiley (Burntwood, Staffordshire
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Good stuff – I make stat 4 probably the most crucial there; we need to score first, although I would say not too early for my money. Keep it nice and tight and get at ‘em for 20-30 minutes and slot one in on about 43 minutes; now that would be my ideal gameplan.
Its all about who gains the most confidence, We know for certain Arsenal hate playing at West Ham because of the WHU fans, it puts them on edge with the supporters being so close to the pitch, at emirates there like 3 miles away lol.. but its true, 1st goal is vital and we have a record now of winning after scoring 1st goal, i prefer us to score very early in the game and possibly a 2nd on 43 minutes, and then a strong midfield/defence around the 60 minute mark.
I have a gut feeling this is 1 game wenger isnt looking forward to, especialy now it looks like bellamy and ashton up front. Ljunberg, ethers, bowyer, noble in the line up too. putting out a good team tomorrow. could be maybe a 2-1 win to us.