MY ACCOUNT
Mikel Arteta hopes Arsenal are reeling from giving up a two-goal lead against Liverpool as the Gunners manager outlined the importance of luck in the Premier League title race.
Arsenal hold a six-point lead over Manchester City at the top of the table, although Pep Guardiola’s team have a game in hand.
The Gunners led 2-0 at Anfield on Sunday, but a thrilling match ultimately finished 2-2, with Aaron Ramsdale having to deny Liverpool a late winner.
Reflecting on that draw ahead of a trip across the capital to face West Ham, Arteta said: “When you concede in the last few minutes, you have to be upset.
“We wanted to win the game, but as well we have to be realistic. We have to accept that we had an exceptional period in the first half where we should have killed the game, but the reality is in the second half we had some really tough moments where we had to dig in. We could have conceded a few goals as well – that was the game.”
Asked about the importance of luck when it comes to the run-in, Arteta added: “You need luck in the right moments. Why that luck comes is really important, how you think about it and what’s going to happen. It’s another part of this sport; sometimes it’s about inches and those inches need to go your way.”
West Ham have been fighting at the wrong end of the table this season, though two wins from their last three league games have moved them onto 30 points.
David Moyes managed Arteta during his time at Everton, and the Scot is thrilled to see his former player thriving as a boss.
“They’ve got a great chance [of winning the title],” said Moyes. “Will they win the league, I don’t know, because they have good competition in Man City, but they have been playing some brilliant football.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Arsenal – Gabriel Martinelli
Martinelli has been involved in four goals in his four Premier League starts for Arsenal against West Ham (three goals, one assist), netting his first goal in the competition in this fixture in December 2019. Against no side has the Brazil international been involved in more league goals for the Gunners.
West Ham – Declan Rice
A reported transfer target for Arsenal, Rice remains an integral part of West Ham’s team and their chances of survival. The midfielder will be crucial if the Hammers are to keep Arsenal playmaker Martin Odegaard quiet on Sunday.
MATCH PREDICTION – ARSENAL WIN
Arsenal have won all five of their away London derbies in the Premier League this season, by an aggregate score of 11-0. Only twice before have they won six consecutive league derbies on the road, doing so in February 1989 and March 2014.
The Gunners have won eight Premier League games against West Ham after conceding the first goal, including a 3-1 victory in the reverse fixture at Emirates Stadium in December.
Arsenal have only lost three of their 26 Premier League visits to West Ham (W14 D9) and have won nine of their last 14 away games against the Hammers (D4 L1).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
West Ham win – 28.8 per cent
Arsenal – 42.8 per cent
Draw – 28.4 per cent
