Arsenal faces West Ham United today at the Emirates Stadium, needing three points to keep pace with Premier League leaders Liverpool. The match, starting at 3 p.m. GMT, marks Matchday 26 of the Premier League 2024/25 season.
With Arsenal coming off a solid 2-0 win over Leicester, they aim to secure another victory to stay competitive as they trail Liverpool by eight points—having played one game less. The return of key striker Mikel Merino now appears central to the Gunners' strategy, after the Spanish midfielder's late brace last week proved pivotal, covering for the absence of several injured stars, including Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka.
On the other hand, West Ham United, managed by Graham Potter, is desperate for points to avoid getting entangled near the relegation zone. Despite holding 27 points from 25 games, West Ham has struggled under pressure, registering only one win from their last five matches. The Hammers' spirits are low after their recent defeat to Brentford, raising questions about their performance today.
Teams for the match are as follows:
- Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Odegaard, Partey, Rice, Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard
- West Ham XI: Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Scarles, Cresswell, Alvarez, Ward-Prowse, Soucek, Kudus, Bowen
An interesting subplot to the match is West Ham's historical edge: They won last season's encounter at the Emirates 2-0, but since then, they have conceded 11 goals from two clashes with Arsenal. They will need to overcome the absence of their creative spark, Lucas Paquetá, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury sustained during training.
Notably, Jarrod Bowen will be one to watch for West Ham. Having netted six goals and provided four assists so far this season, his performance will be key against the formidable Arsenal defense.
The Emirates Stadium, which boasts a capacity of 60,361, will surely provide lively support for the Gunners. Manager Mikel Arteta emphasized the importance of entertaining the home fans and winning over critics, remarking, "We want to play well at home and entertain the home fans. It's fair to say we haven't done as much as we would have liked." His call to improvement resonates through the squad as they assess their momentum moving forward.
What remains to be seen is how West Ham responds to their struggles and whether Arsenal can seize the opportunity to apply pressure on Liverpool. Arteta underlined the need for consistency, stating, "There are still 13 games to go, and we must keep pushing to secure points within this tight league. We know how difficult it is to win, so we have to be at our best against West Ham."
This London derby adds yet another layer of intensity as both teams strive to prove their worth. Arsenal fans are hopeful for back-to-back wins, believing their squad can break West Ham's recent curse at the Emirates.
The match-up is laden with history: Arsenal has faced West Ham 152 times, claiming 73 victories over their rivals' 37, resulting also in 42 draws across all competitions. When considering Premier League matches only, Arsenal has 67 wins to West Ham's 30, showcasing their superiority since the league's formation.
Both teams are ushering significant pressure forward to shift their prospects today, with the Gunners eyes firmly set on the silverware at the end of the season. Fans and analysts alike anticipate what will undoubtedly be another thrilling installment of one of England's fiercest rivalries.
Stay tuned for live updates and commentary as we bring you every moment from the game between Arsenal and West Ham at the Emirates Stadium!