Arsenal will be looking to record their first points of the new season when they face Manuel Pellegrini’s West Ham on Saturday afternoon.
The Gunners have endured a miserable start to the season which has seen them lose to champions Manchester City and FA Cup holders Chelsea in successive weeks.
However, Unai Emery will be confident of picking up his first point as his side faces only one of three sides that have fared worse than the Gunners this season.
The Hammers were thoroughly dismantled 4-0 by Liverpool on the opening weekend before they imploded at home to Bournemouth to lose 2-1.
Both teams are still adapting to new styles of play and incorporating their summer additions into their starting XIs, with Arsenal’s Matteo Guendouzi and West Ham’s Felipe Anderson among the best performers for either side so far.
What time does it start?
Arsenal vs West Ham kicks off at 3pm (BST).
Where can I watch it?
The match will not be shown live on TV or online in the UK.
Independent Sport will keep you up to date with all the goals as they fly in on our live blog
Highlights will be shown at 10:30pm on BBC One.
It’s a big game for…
Unai Emery: The Basque has received notable support this week from Ray Parlour and Gary Neville regarding his man-management and tactical nous, however his methods must soon start to bear fruit and his side must shows more defensive resilience than was on display at Stamford Bridge. His side may not get a better chance to do so than against a faltering Hammers outfit.
Stat…
139: Arsenal’s Matteo Guendouzi has had the most touches of any Arsenal player this season, which after 180 minutes stands at 139.
Remember when…
Unai Emery will hope to avoid a third consecutive defeat in the league, but the Hammers did inflict a third defeat in a row on the Gunners in April 2007 thanks to this lob over Jens Lehmann from Bobby Zamora at Emirates Stadium. The loss left Arsenal just two points ahead of Bolton Wanderers in the race for the final Champions League place. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npWlimLX_z8
Player to watch…
Matteo Guendouzi : The 19-year-old has been the standout player in the new season and has made a combined 17 tackles and interceptions for the Gunners this term, more than any other midfielder in the league. With a 100% pass success rate in the first half against Chelsea, including a defence-splitting pass to Hector Bellerin, the former Lorient man will look to continue being the side’s metronome in midfield.
Past three-meetings…
Arsenal 4 (Monreal, Ramsey, Lacazette x2) West Ham 1 (Arnautovic), Premier League, April 2018
Arsenal 1 (Welbeck) West Ham 0, League Cup, December 2017
West Ham 0 Arsenal 0, Premier League, December 2017
Form guide…
Arsenal: LL
West Ham: LL
Odds…
Arsenal to win: 4/11
West Ham to win: 7/1
Draw: 21/5
(Odds provided by 888 Sport)
