Gianfranco Zola’s West Ham United take on Arsenal in the Premier League at Upton Park on Sunday.
His plan to play offensive will not change, he said this about Arsene Wenger:
“He is one of the managers I admire the most … he is one of the managers I look up to. I like the way he manages the team and the way his team play. In England, Arsenal probably belongs to the top three or four teams and they are a very young team and can only get better and better and can achieve a lot.
“We are going to try to attack. If you sit and wait they will find a way to beat you anyway as they are very good. The danger can come from so many players. What teams like Arsenal don’t like is when someone tries to hit them back. We will try to play our game and see if they are better than us. Simple as that.”
The Hammers go into this clash with Arsenal hoping to get back to winning ways after defeat in their last two matches against Hull City and Bolton Wanderers. West Ham are currently 8th in the Premiership, but have not won since a 2-1 victory against Fulham at Craven Cottage in September.
Arsene Wenger’s team will go into this London derby full of confidence, having beaten Everton 3-1 last weekend at the Emirates Stadium and humbling Fenerbahce 5-2 in the Champions League on Tuesday. Wenger will want his side to come away with all three points in what has been a tricky tie for the Gunners in recent times.
Zola will be without striker Dean Ashton (trigonum syndrome) as well as defenders Jonathan Spector (thigh) and Danny Gabbidon (groin), with long-term absentee Kieron Dyer (broken leg) also to miss the visit of Arsenal.
Arsenal are set to welcome back defenders Kolo Toure and William Gallas, who have both recovered from injury, while Bacary Sagna (ankle) is not quite ready to return against the East London side. Eduardo (broken leg) and Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) are still on the side lines at the Emirates, though Eduardo should resume full training soon.
West Ham United:: (from) Green, Neill, Ilunga, Lopez, Parker, Bellamy, Cole, Boa Morte, Upson, Collins, Faubert, Behrami, Stokes, Walker, Lastuvka, Tristan, Davenport, Reid, Bowyer, Tomkins, Collison, Di Michele, Sears, Stech, Eyjolfsson, Hines, Jeffrey, Widdowson
Arsenal: (from) Almunia, Clichy, Gallas, Toure, Djourou, Fabregas, Walcott, Denilson, Diaby, Ramsey, Nasri, Adebayor, van Persie, Bendtner, Eboue, Vela, Wilshere, Song, Silvestre, Fabianski, Mannone, Bischoff, Coquelin, Gibbs, Hoyte, Lansbury, Merida, Ogogo, Randall, Simpson, Frimpong.
A game West Ham need to win at home or Zola may face some critiscism from the fans and press as West Ham will slowly slide futher down the league.
COYI Prediction League: West Ham 2-1 Arsenal
August 22nd, 2009 | 
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