Remember a few weeks ago, Arsenal fans, when the new manager of West Ham issued us with a stark warning that we would find his team an impossible nut to crack when they turned up at the Emirates stadium next Sunday for our opening game of the new Premier League season?
I wonder if Slaven Bilic was regretting his rash boasting at Upton Park on Thursday night. He was sent off near the end of a Europa League qualifying game that went just about as badly as possible for the Hammers and made his earlier assertion that these extra games would be brilliant for his players and would have them poised to rip into Arsenal when we meet next week.
Instead they have to travel to Romania next Thursday, just a few days before coming to north London, in danger of being knocked out following the 2-2 draw this week. Having had their centre back James Collins sent off will make their job harder although he will be available for our league game.
Their main striker Enner Valencia will not though, as he picked up a serious injury in the first half of their European game. They also won’t be able to play our on loan right back Carl Jenkinson, so now how much is Bilic looking forward to the game next weekend?