After a tough few games, Arsenal come into the Boxing Day clash hoping to get three points under their belt following the bore draw with José Mourinho’s Chelsea team in Monday. They are up against West Ham United, who sit in an ominous looking 17th position – only one point above the dreaded drop zone.
The Hammers have only won two of their home games this campaign, and pressure is really starting to mount on experienced boss Sam Allardyce. After netting 10 league goals last term, Kevin Nolan only has a solitary one to write home about this time around. The skipper returns to the squad for The Irons after injury, and Big Sam will desperately hope he can fill the void left by record signing Andy Carroll. Carroll’s absence has left West Ham shorthanded up top; Carlton Cole, Ricardo Vaz Te and Modibo Maiga are the only options at the moment and that is hardly a list that will keep Arsene Wenger up at night.
Wenger’s side have only picked up two out of a possible nine points in the last three games. The early season optimism is starting to dwindle, and a win on Thursday now seems like a necessity. The Gunners haven’t been firing on all cylinders; Olivier Giroud looks a shell of his early season-self and players like Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Özil are beginning to tire. It is time for the squad of the North London club to come to the fore – players like Santi Cazorla and Lukas Podolski must come in and relieve the pressure on the aforementioned duo.
Whatever Arsenal do, they will be doing it without Jack Wilshere, who sits out of the second game of his two match ban for swearing at the Man City fans in that 6-3 defeat. The away side will also be without Abou Diaby, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Yaya Sanogo. Star centre-back Laurent Koscielny faces a late fitness test following a tough collision two weeks ago at The Etihad Stadium.
James Tomkins is likely to be involved, despite his arrest in the past week, while Kevin Nolan returns for the home side following his three-game suspension for a horror tackle. Ricardo Vaz Te, Winston Reid and Andy Carroll are all absent.
It’ll likely be a tight affair, Boxing Day games can throw up surprises. Having said that, Arsenal should have too much class for West Ham. 2-1 is the outcome I’ll predict.
Betting Tips
Theo Walcott to win match of the match – 9/1: Theo Walcott has scored in his last three Barclays Premier League games against West Ham. Who would bet against him doing so again? BACK THIS MARKET HERE
Olivier Giroud to score anytime and Arsenal to win – 12/5: Arsenal fans have been yearning for a new striker in the wake of a few poor performances from the big Frenchman. Expect him to silence some critics with a bruising performance at the ground at which he scored his first league goal. BACK THIS MARKET HERE
Arsenal to win 2/1 – 8/1: Arsenal should have too much for a plucky West Ham side. However, being at home means that the Hammers will put up some sort of a fight. They might even take the lead. However, the class will shine through and Arsenal just might sneak it. BACK THIS MARKET HERE
