Football Preview | Arsenal v West Ham United

Arsenal v West Ham Preview

Arteta’s side will be looking to build on an impressive week after wins against Newcastle United and Olympiacos.

Author | DJ

Stadium | Emirates Stadium

Collage of pictures from Arsenal v Olympiacos

Arsenal remain among the favourites for the title this season, having finished as runners-up in each of the last three campaigns. They sit second in the table after six matches, with victories over Manchester United, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United, a draw with Manchester City, and a narrow 1-0 loss to reigning champions Liverpool.

Recent form for Arteta’s side

After a last-minute 2-1 win at Newcastle in their previous league outing and a 2-0 triumph over Greek side Olympiacos in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday, Mikel Arteta’s squad will be brimming with confidence back on home soil as they seek to strengthen their bid for a first Premier League title since 2004.

Arsenal team news

Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Martin Ødegaard could all start together for Arsenal for the first time when they host West Ham on Saturday.

Injuries have previously prevented the trio from lining up from the start, but Mikel Arteta may give them the opportunity against the Hammers.

READ MORE | Arsenal supporters discuss their win over Olympiacos

READ MORE | Newcastle United 1 - 2 Arsenal

West Ham perspective

In his first match as head coach, Nuno Espírito Santo oversaw a determined West Ham side that battled to a 1-1 draw on Merseyside. Jarrod Bowen scored his third goal of the season, his second in as many games, to secure the point.

View from the away end at Everton 1 - 1 West Ham

With only two training sessions to work with his players ahead of the trip to Hill Dickinson Stadium, Nuno has begun introducing his ideas. He now turns his attention to the short journey to the red half of north London, where he hopes for another strong performance and result.

In terms of team news for West Ham, Aaron Wan-Bissaka is on the cusp of coming back from a stomach issue and is training with the team ahead. Nuno should otherwise be working with an identical squad from that stalemate with Everton. 

Recent history between the two sides

When the sides met at the London Stadium in November 2024, a rampant first-half performance from Arsenal propelled them to a 5-2 victory. All of the goals came in a remarkable opening where Gabriel Magalhaes, Leandro Trossard, Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz put Arsenal 4-0 up inside 36 minutes.

Yet quickfire strikes from Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson gave West Ham hope, though their chances of a comeback were quashed when Bukayo Saka, who also provided two assists, added Arsenal’s fifth on the stroke of half-time. That was the last goal of the game.

In the second meeting between the clubs last season, West Ham shocked their hosts at the Emirates Stadium with a 1-0 win after a first-half goal from Jarrod Bowen.