West Ham may have had a poor start to the season, but they are chasing a third straight victory over Arsenal at Emirates Stadium. BBC Sport explores some of the key themes before Saturday's match. Arsenal have only lost four of their past 42 home Premier League matches, but half of those have been inflicted by West Ham on their past two visits.
West Ham may have had a poor start to the season, but they are chasing a third straight victory over Arsenal at Emirates Stadium. BBC Sport explores some of the key themes before Saturday's match.
Arsenal have only lost four of their past 42 home Premier League matches, but half of those have been inflicted by West Ham on their past two visits.
The Hammers are now looking to become only the second side to win three successive Premier League away games against the Gunners after Manchester City managed six from March 2018 to February 2023 - while Arsenal have won only two of their past six against their east London rivals, albeit 6-0 and 5-2 victories at London Stadium.
Both clubs have suffered vastly differing starts to the season. Arsenal's only defeat in nine matches was a narrow loss at Liverpool and they secured another victory against Olympiakos in midweek to make it two from two in the Champions League.
Mikel Arteta, who will be taking charge of his 300th Gunners game, made six changes from the side that beat Newcastle as he again showcased the squad depth he now has at his disposal.
Beleaguered West Ham began life under Nuno Espirito Santo with a creditable draw at Everton on Monday, despite their new boss having just two training sessions with his players. It was their first point in the Premier League since the end of August.
Despite a tumultuous run under Graham Potter, the Hammers have actually only lost one of their past five Premier League away games (W3, D1) and their last 10 top-flight points have all come on the road.
Much of the tactical battle in this fixture is expected to come down to corners as Arsenal, the set-piece kings, face the team that concede the most.
Nine of the Gunners' past 14 Premier League goals have been scored via seven corners, one free-kick and one penalty, and the record of Arteta's side stands alongside the past masters of the set-piece in Tony Pulis and Sean Dyche.
These stats must give West Ham fans sleepless nights given their well-documented struggles with corners this season, having let in eight, five more than any other top-flight club.
To further emphasis the gulf between these London rivals, Arsenal are undefeated in 31 of their past 34 league matches - and in that same period of games West Ham have lost exactly half their top-flight fixtures.
Category: General Sports
