Arsenal enjoy home advantage in Saturday's London derby when hosting West Ham United. The Gunners are aiming for the title, while the Hammers are in the relegation zone. Will this match follow the form? Flashscore's Frank Monkhouse offers his preview and predictions.
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Arsenal return to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday to play West Ham United in a derby that you can follow from 15:00 BST. The venue will be packed to capacity as Mikel Arteta's title challengers push for another valuable three points. Will they beat the Hammers and go a point clear at the top of the league? Online bookmakers believe so, making the home win favourite.
West Ham United are struggling in the early exchanges of the season. They travel from East to North London with only Wolverhampton Wanderers beneath them in the pecking order. Winless in three, many pundits fear the worst against an opponent that's unbeaten in three. Can West Ham upset the odds to win and get their season back on track?
The Gunners and Hammers have served up some classics over the years, including a memorable 1-0 away win here earlier this year. West Ham boasts a decent record at this venue in recent visits, and fans dream of another shock. Flashscore's Frank Monkhouse brings you up to speed on the stats, form, and betting odds before making his predictions.
Arsenal vs West Ham tips
Both teams to score @ 6/5 (bet365)
Arsenal win and both score @ 21/10 (bet365)
Odds courtesy of bet365. Correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
Arsenal going great guns
Arsenal head into Saturday's tantalising London derby off a solid foundation. The locals sit second in the Premier League after six matches, with their stats showing four wins, one draw, and a defeat. They've scored a dozen goals - the second-highest in the division, behind Man City - and conceded only three - the lowest in the league. A fifth win in seven and second on the bounce would send Arsenal top of the league, at least until Liverpool visit Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal were held to a draw by Man City at this venue, but quickly got back to winning ways. They did as expected when beating Port Vale in the League Cup, and ended September with a narrow win over Newcastle at St James' Park. October began on the front foot, with Arsenal making light work of Greek giants Olympiakos at this venue on Wednesday in the Champions League. A strong month could set Mikel and co on the path to greatness.
I expect plenty of goals in what's guaranteed to be an exciting match at the Emirates. A bet on over 2.5 goals would've earned you a profit in Arsenal's league wins over Newcastle and Nottingham Forest last month. It was also the correct approach when the Gunners blasted West Ham 5-2 last November in Stratford. Bettors and neutrals hope this renewal delivers plenty of goals and even more talking points.
Tip: Over 2.5 goals @ 4/7 (bet365)
Bet explanation: Three or more goals scored in the Arsenal vs West Ham match will land you a winning bet.
Gunners and Hammers to score
Things haven't been going well at the former Olympic Stadium so far this season. What started as a season of promise and new beginnings for the Hammers quickly turned into a nightmare. The club are stuck in the relegation zone, just one place above the bottom of the league. One win, a draw, and four defeats have the visitors in trouble during the early exchanges, and things could get out of hand quickly. Nuno Espirito Santo must ensure he stops the rot quickly.
West Ham opened with back-to-back defeats to Sunderland and Chelsea, conceding eight goals in the process. They ended August with a battling win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground, following their elimination from the League Cup by Wolves. Their troubles continued into September, with West Ham playing three league games and taking just a point. They lost 3-0 to Spurs and 2-1 to Crystal Palace, before drawing 1-1 at Everton.
Despite their unconvincing form, it's worth noting that West Ham have found the net at least once in each of their previous two games. They also scored eight goals in five meetings with Arsenal, including a narrow win in North London back in the winter. We're backing both teams to score and, with this bet, the winning team isn't important. As long as Arsenal and West Ham find the net, you'll bank a return.
Tip: Both teams to score @ 6/5 (bet365)
Bet explanation: Arsenal and West Ham must score at least one goal each.
Aim for higher odds
Our third prediction on Saturday is for followers seeking a better price. We're trusting the trends and backing Arsenal to win and both teams to score. You need both parts of this bet to land in order to boost your balance. The Gunners must win the match and take all three points, but you also need West Ham to keep things interesting by scoring one or more goals. A 2-1 win pays the same as a 5-1 win.
Both teams to score and Arsenal to win was profitable when the Gunners beat Newcastle 2-1 last month and West Ham 5-2 late last year. It's also worth remembering that West Ham managed to score when losing to Palace, Wolves, and Chelsea. The visitors may be second from bottom, but they've scored the same number of goals as Leeds United in 12th. Let's hope Santo gets the best out of his men.
Tip: Arsenal win and both teams to score @ 21/10 (bet365)
Bet explanation: Arsenal must win the match, but West Ham must score at least one goal.
Arsenal vs West Ham odds
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The odds, correct at the time of publication, are subject to change.