Arsenal kick-off their 2015/16 Premier League campaign off tomorrow, playing city rivals West Ham at home.
Three points will be vital here in order to get the team on a good start for a title challenge, something that failed them last season.
Arsène Wenger’s side have come off a great run of form, being unbeaten in pre-season (scoring 14 and only conceding one), and retaining the Community Shield against English champions and bitter rivals Chelsea, results which sets the north London side up well for the new season.
There will be a major striking dilemma tomorrow, concerning Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott. The Frenchman has hit five in five against the Hammers, but Walcott has scored more against West Ham than any other side (five as well). With both strikers offering something different to an attack, it depends on Arsène Wenger’s tactics for the game.
The last time the two met, Arsenal thrashed West Ham 3-0, with great goals from Olivier Giroud, Aaron Ramsey and Mathieu Flamini. Team balance was at an all-season high at that point, and as a result led to some amazing football being played. This Gunners side appears to gel very well, so expect to some some great team play arising from N5 this season.
West Ham will have a new manager in the dugout as opposed to the last time West Ham came to the Emirates, in Slaven Bilic. The former Besiktas man coaches an attacking, aggressive style of play, something that’ll challenge all teams.
However, they’ve recently come off a defeat, losing 2-1 to Romanian side Astra Giurgiu. Surprising, as that West Ham side were predicted to go far in the competition. Their Europa league run hasn’t been pretty, with 4 dismissals in 3 rounds of play – ironic, considering the Hammers only obtained their European slot through fair play.
Players such as Dimitri Payet, Pedro Obiang and Angelo Ogbonna will be the new boys in claret tomorrow – it remains to be seen whether they’ll make an appearance or not. This sets up a very challenging West Ham side, with new talent and a promising manager, which will give Arsenal a run for their money.
Match facts
– Arsenal have won nine of their last 14 opening day fixtures
– West Ham losing nine out of 14, more than any other Premier League team.
– West Ham were the second highest scorer of headed goals last season…
– …Arsenal conceded the highest proportion of headers in 14/15 (36%)
Team News
Arsenal have lost Jack Wilshere for up to 6 weeks in a training ground clash with Gabriel Paulista – leaving him with a hairline fracture of the fibula. However, with the current talent in the Arsenal midfield, it doesn’t look like this injury will trouble the Gunners too much.
Danny Welbeck and Tomas Rosicky are still recovering from knee injuries, and are predicted to be back in team selection within this month.
Alexis Sánchez made his return to training this week after his elongated summer break, having won the Copa America, but this game will come too soon for the Arsenal star – he looks to kick his Premier League campaign off on matchday two.
West Ham have several striker injuries which will hinder them on Sunday. Enner Valencia picked up a serious knee injury last week against Astra – with Bilic describing it as “significant knee and ankle injuries” – and will be on the treatment table alongside Andy Carroll for the next two months.
Joey O’Brien, Pedro Obiang and Winston Reid have all returned to training after recovering from muscle problems – it remains to be seen whether they’ll be risked.
Carl Jenkinson is unavailable for this match under the terms of his loan agreement from Arsenal – he’ll be spending his second season at Upton Park this campaign.
Predicted Line-Ups:
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Cech; Bellerín, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Cazorla, Coquelin; Ramsey, Özil, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Giroud.
West Ham (4-4-2, diamond midfield): Adrian; Cresswell, Tomkins, Collins, Ogbonna; Noble, Kouyate, Payet, Amalfitano; Zarate, Sakho.
Prediction:
It will be a fast-paced match on Sunday, with both sides adopting an attacking mindset for the weekend. In terms of the result, West Ham will have a goal in them, coming from Diafra Sakho. However, Arsenal’s sheer quality will overpower them, with three goals in red and white coming from Olivier Giroud, Mesut Özil, and a penalty from Santi Cazorla – altogether, 3-1 to the Arsenal. It promises to be an exciting match, and hopefully one that can reward Arsenal with the three points that’ll set them up well for a campaign of great expectations.
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