Wenger’s leaving could fire up Arsenal against West Ham

Arsenal host West Ham United in the Premier League on Sunday hoping to build some momentum for their upcoming Europa League semi-final against Atletico Madrid.

The Gunners are out of the running for a top four finish in the league, but manager Arsene Wenger will be eager to ensure his players maintain their focus against the Hammers.

Wenger’s announcement that he will step down at the end of the season will end a 22-year association with Arsenal and success in the Europa League would be the perfect way to finish at the club.

Sunday’s game pitches Arsenal against a West Ham side desperately looking to steer clear of trouble this season. Andy Carroll’s late goal against Stoke City on Monday earned a valuable point for West Ham, leaving them six points clear of the relegation zone with five matches remaining.

Arsenal are priced at 5/9 to win the game, with West Ham on offer at 19/4 and the draw available at 7/2. Use this ComeOn voucher code to boost your winning wagers on the match.

The Arsenal injury news tells us that Henrikh Mkhitaryan is back in training but won’t be fit for Sunday’s game, and Jack Wilshere is still out with an ankle injury. Aaron Ramsey is expected to return to the squad, while goalkeeper David Ospina is available again following his injury lay-off, although he is more likely to get a game against Atletico. Of course our little Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla remains a long-term absentee with an achilles problem.

James Collins could return for the Hammers, but Michail Antonio, Pedro Obiang, Winston Reid and Sam Byram are all on the sidleines.

Wenger could rest a number of players with the Europa League semi-final on the horizon, but whoever he brings in will undoubtedly be keen to impress.

Alex Iwobi and Sead Kolasinac could start, while Calum Chambers or Rob Holding may fill in for Laurent Koscielny, with the Frenchman carefully managing his troublesome achilles problem.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is expected to return up front and could play alongside the in-form Danny Welbeck.

Arsenal have won 14 and drawn four of their last 19 meetings with West Ham, with their only defeat coming at the Emirates Stadium in 2015. The visitors can be backed at 30/1 to match the 2-0 scoreline again this weekend.

The Gunners have only failed to score in one of their last 31 home league games – a 3-0 defeat against Manchester City in March.

Aubameyang has been involved in eight goals in his opening eight Premier League games for Arsenal – six goals, two assists. He is priced at 49/20 to open the scoring on Sunday.

Wenger’s decision to leave the club is likely to fire up his players this weekend and the Gunners look a decent bet at 19/10 to beat West Ham without conceding a goal.

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41 Comments

  1. Wenger’s resignation should be a big boost for the players to perform better. If they still produce lacklustre performance, then it would be the players’ fault, because Arsenal have been giving them huge salaries

    The West Ham game could show us which player is lazy and which one is determined to prove himself. I hope the lazy ones get benched and kicked out as soon as possible

    1. Yeah-DESTROY IT.Where else do you think we were going under Wenger?We are looking at a SIXTH place finish AT BEST.Are you pleased with that?Stadium with THOUSANDS OF EMPTY SEATS.Are you happy with that?An away record with the grand total of SIX POINTS against 10/11 teams in the bottom of the Premiere League.And you seriously call other fans clueless?
      It is now obvious that Wenger was SACKED.So not only had the ever increasing majority of supporters had enough but finally the Owner and the Board realised that Wenger had lost any hope of ever arresting the rapidly declining form he had overseen.
      Obvious to everyone but a few Wenger Lovers who will never let go.Thankfully he was SACKED before he could do any more damage.

      1. Phil. I read one of your post and you mentioned you have no feeling for the man and despise him.
        I Understand how you might feel but let’s move on and channel energies in to winning the last games and bringing home the europa cup
        AW will be the manager until the end of the season but we support the team and not the man
        For all the years we have been going backwards I still bask in the glory days and it still gives me great pleasure I spouting off to my spud mates…we went unbeaten. We done the double we have won cups…Hehehe
        AW was only part of the prob. Let’s see if the upstairs clowns do what they preach or is it all about lip service and pound notes. Only time will tell.

        1. I DO support the TEAM.I DO support the CLUB.But I have despised Wenger for 10 years or more and NOTHING will change that.
          I have had more faith in Ivan Gazidis these past few years than anyone on the Board since David Dein.He was keen to lmplement change But was continually frustrated by Wenger arse licking the Owner to get his own way.Well in the end that would only work if he kept the stadium full the supporters happy ( Champions League minimum requirement) and the money rolling in.Wenger failed to do this so got himself exactly what he deserved THE SACK

          1. Phil , we are always so alike in our thinking and on this post too. I have loathed WENGER IN INCREASING INTENSITY FOR TEN YEARS TOO. I am though quite happy to join in the tide of tributes he is now getting throughout football. Though I ALWAYS make plain that those tributes by me are for his first decade only. We must never, ever again, let any club employee be elevated in status ABOVE the club itself. A minor point , perhaps, but his first name being so close to the clubs name earned him extra plaudits with some of those who can not let go of the past. We must AWAYS look forward, not back.

            1. I knew you had a soft spot in there somewhere Jon, however I agree with you about the tributes even though there were times at the Emirates when I would literally be screaming at him to get off his arse. I would like to remind people that apart from a 2-1 defeat away to Chelsea, George Graham came within one game of having an invincible year in ’91

              1. Bear in mind chaps that I also remember the Graham days and at one point we were so good and untouchable
                Then for whatever reason we start to flog of our core home grown player. Rocky. Thomas and co
                Then we started to decend
                Houston. Ricoh and bit of pat and then Wenger
                Some glory years flowed the doom and gloom
                My question to you guys and girls
                Do we do a chelski and bring in and then sack and then bring in and then sack tje manager but in between they win everything
                Or
                Do we be patient with the new manager and wait for the build and hope we pick a few things up along the way
                Me I take the latter if o can see good foundations being laid but not sure on a majority who want success now

  2. I hope it fires them up for these last few games & results in lifting the Europa league cup! Starting with West Ham…. COYG

  3. Over hear in Nigeria that was the best arsenal related news we’ve heard all year. In my opinion that announcement couldn’t have come at a better time. Now I can support him and the team I love till the season is over irrespective of the results. I have nothing but love and respect for the man. Wenger by all means is a LEGEND and am sure everyone over hear in Nigeria feels the same as well. COYG!!!

  4. Play well and earn the attention of incoming manager.
    Flop and you are out of the team. The players know.

  5. Wilshere, Cazola, BFG are set to leave

    Ramsay, Monreal, Bellerin and Kos could be next to leave

    Xhaka and Mustafic too

    most players will leave either this or end of next season….

    1. And what about the Supporters who have continually stated life without Wenger will not be worth living.Will they leave too?

      1. They could follow Wenger to PSG, Real Madrid or Barcelona

        I reckon Wenger would be successful again in another big team with a highly established system, such as Barcelona with their La Masia or Real Madrid with their excellent training facilities and transfer policy

        1. And why exactly do you believe he would even be considered by both Barcelona and Real Madrid?Even those clubs know Wengers frailties as a Manager.He won’t get a call from those clubs I bet

    2. BFG is set to stay as Arsenal’s new defender coach and to assist the new German speaking manager with Lehmann

      It would be a clean slate for the new guy

  6. The players are no longer in their comfort zone.
    play bad and the new manager will not be impressed.

    dailymail reporting that luis enrique will be the new arsenal coach.

    1. Goal.com reported that legendary Lionel Messi will join if Luis Enrique is appointed as the new Arsenal manager

      1. Yeah and I’ve heard that BEST CRUYFF PELE MOORE MARADONNA and DAVID HILLIER are signing as soon as SIR ALF RAMSEY is confirmed as Manager.

  7. As long as Iwobi doesn’t play we should be fine.

    I can’t see any new manager keeping such a mediocre player so fingers crossed I won’t have to see him many more times in an Arsenal shirt

    1. Let’s just say Wenger took over another Club and let’s assume it’s either Monaco or PSG.Which Arsenal Players would improve those sides?Not too many.Which Arsenal players would even get a look in to their SQUADS?No doubt a few.But I can tell you Iwobi would not be anywhere near a place.In other words not good enough to get close to a PSG or MONACO.But Wenger plays this worthless excuse for a footballer at Arsenal.
      That pretty much sums up the problems with the CLUB WENGER and IWOBI

      1. I genuinely doubt he would get a loan to any good lower league clubs. He doesn’t actually do anything.

    2. The new manager could turn him into a good box-to-box midfielder ala Edgar Davids or Vieira, because he has a good height, strength and ball control

      1. Yeah right-can’t pass can’t dribble past opponents can’t shoot can’t score.And you think someone can work with THAT.He will be playing for Brentford in two years.Thats his level at best

      2. The only thing he does consistently is flap his arms!!!! Surely he’ll be gone when the new manager comes in, along with a few others!

        1. It’s his version of tongue out, look at the sky that Giroud used to do

      3. @gotanidea

        Strength = constantly falling over and being mugged off the ball

        Passing = exclusively to cech

        Height = no idea. I usually try and turn away when he has the ball

  8. I wish Steve Bould is also leaving along with Wenger…. So we can have some fresh Assistant Manager with ideas along with new fresh Manager…. Pat Rice much better…. This may not be coincidence that when Rice left Arsenal since then we are looking very fragile and weak in our plays..

  9. Its still only sinking in. He made the right decision by announcing it but I would have liked it a bit earlier because he deserves to remember what the fans used to be like when he seemed untouchable. He’s such a huge part of all of our history so it will be nice seeing the fans on his side for a change. Really hope he can add this European cup, it will give the next guy a bit of a jolt because he will know exactly which comps he has to do well in.

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