At a Glance:
- Arsenal host West Ham United in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
- Manchester City take on Brentford on Saturday evening.
- Paul Merson has predicted the outcome of both games.
Arsenal are on the brink of winning the Premier League title, with Mikel Arteta’s team set to face relegation-threatened West Ham United on Sunday afternoon in a game that could define their campaign. Paul Merson has made a bold prediction ahead of this clash.
North London erupted on Tuesday night when Arteta’s side reached the Champions League final by beating Atletico Madrid. This is just the second final in Europe’s elite club competition that the Gunners will participate in, and it’s therefore not surprising that their fans were overjoyed when the full-time whistle was blown at the Emirates against Diego Simeone’s men.
However, attention now has to swiftly turn back to domestic action for Arteta and his players. They are three wins from lifting the English top-flight title for the first time in 22 years, and West Ham will present the biggest stumbling block on their way to doing so.
Paul Merson makes West Ham vs Arsenal prediction
In the reverse fixture at the Emirates, Arsenal strolled to a comfortable 2-0 win over the Hammers. Declan Rice gave the Gunners the lead mid-way through the first half, before Bukayo Saka’s penalty doubled the home side’s advantage.
A repeat of this would do for Arsenal in the encounter at the London Stadium, and Merson believes his old team can indeed get the victory they need. Following Gary Neville’s lead, the pundit predicted Arsenal to claim an easy 2-0 win in East London.
| Rank | Team | Pts | Pld | GD |
| 1 | Arsenal | 76 | 35 | +41 |
| 2 | Man City | 71 | 34 | +37 |
“This game is definitely the last hope for Manchester City in terms of Arsenal slipping up in the title race again,” Merson wrote for Sportskeeda.
“After this, Arsenal have Burnley at home and Crystal Palace away on the final day of the season. If Palace reach the Conference League final, they will definitely rest all their main players against Arsenal.
“West Ham will know this is a tough game. They have to come out and play since they are trailing Spurs. I don’t think that will suit them against Arsenal.
“Bukayo Saka looks fresh, Myles Lewis-Skelly has been incredible in the last couple of games. The thing is, Lewis-Skelly hasn’t played 50 or 60 games like Declan Rice or Martin Zubimendi. He provides fresh legs in midfield at a crucial stage of the season.
“Both Saka and Lewis-Skelly have been like new signings for Arsenal in this final run-in for the title. I believe Arsenal will get a comfortable win here. All over for City!”
Merson’s prediction: West Ham United 0-2 Arsenal
Paul Merson on Man City vs Brentford
Arsenal will take on the added psychological pressure of playing after Manchester City this weekend. The Citizens host Brentford on Saturday evening, almost a full 24 hours before the Gunners play West Ham.
If City slip up at the Etihad against the Bees, then Arsenal will know they have a golden opportunity to essentially wrap the title up on Sunday. However, a City win will remind the Gunners that the job is far from done yet.
Merson has had his say on the game that is set to unfold in the north-west at 5:30pm on Saturday.
“To think they drew against Everton is a big disappointment for Manchester City,” he wrote.
“But can you imagine if Jeremy Doku did not score that late goal? It could have been a lot worse for City.
“I still think Arsenal win the league and I feel they may not have to win all the remaining games to do it either!
“This is a dangerous game for City because we know how good Brentford can be on their day. Let’s not forget that Brentford are still in with an outside chance of European qualification. With the game against Crystal Palace and Liverpool at Anfield on the final day of the season, it isn’t the best of runs for them, but they will still believe in themselves.
Merson’s prediction: Manchester City 2-1 Brentford
