Arsenal are now just 24 hours from the game that could make or break their season. A win at Upton Park will surely give the Gunners the confidence and impetus to carry on winning against less daunting opponents, but a defeat could knock the stuffing out of our whole season.
Arsene Wenger is well aware that our London neighbours are much improved in this campaign under Slaven Bilic, and is most impressed with the quality shown by his fellow Frenchman Dimitri Payet. “I have known him for a long, long time,” Le Prof said on the official Arsenal website. “When he played at St Etienne, he was there for a few years and we watched him many times. He has all the attributes to be a top, top player and he is that.
“He is 29 years old already, but this season he has matured a lot as he has come back into the national team when he looked to be out. That shows he has been much more consistent. He has always had top talent, even when in periods he has been a bit up and down.
“I think the emergence of Dimitri Payet has given West Ham a lot of creativity and efficiency. [With] Cheikhou Kouyate, Mark Noble, Manuel Lanzini and Payet they have a strong midfield and a good striker with Diafra Sakho.
“That makes them efficient and that is not a coincidence. They have had a very good campaign but when you look at the quality of the players they have, individually they have a good midfield, good strikers and they are solid at the back.”
This is definitely one of our hardest opponents of the season. Not only did the Hammers beat us in the opening game of the season, but they are also unbeaten in their last nine games in all competitions. If you are looking for their last home defeat you have to go all the way back to August last year, so that gives you a clear idea of the task facing Arsenal tomorrow.
But we just have to believe that we have the quality to overcome all obstacles, especially when our backs are against the wall, so it’s time for West Ham to be taken down a peg or two.
Come on you Gunners!! Onwards and Upwards!