Chris Sutton predicts result of West Ham showdown v Arsenal for BBC Sport
West Ham United will extend their winless run in all competitions to seven matches when they face Arsenal on Sunday 11 February, according to Chris Sutton.
The BBC Sport pundit believes that David Moyes’ side will be unable to bounce back from their 3-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester United, predicting that Mikel Arteta’s side will claim all three points at the London Stadium with a 2-0 win.
Arsenal have won three straight Premier League matches and sit just two points off of league leaders Liverpool and Sutton thinks the Gunners will be out for revenge after West Ham beat them in December.
Writing in his BBC Sport Premier League predictions (8 February) he said: “West Ham beat Arsenal at the Emirates at the end of December when the Gunners huffed and puffed but just could not score.
“The Hammers will have exactly the same approach at home, looking to sit in and counter, and using their threat at set-pieces too. This time, though, I think Arsenal will find a way through – and carry on their celebrations.
“Mikel Arteta’s side will have a point to prove after what happened last time against West Ham, but their motivation here is more about the fact they have just put themselves in the thick of the title race, and they cannot afford to slip up.
“West Ham last did the double over the Gunners in the 2006-07 season, and I think they will have to wait a bit longer to do it again.”
Arsenal will mount the pressure on David Moyes at West Ham
A good run of form before the turn of the new year has ensured that the pressure from the majority of the West Ham United fanbase has remained off of Moyes, but some sections of the support base are beginning to make their unhappiness known.
The Hammers’ recent run of form has been nothing short of abysmal, with a six-game winless run including clashes with Championship side Bristol City and draws with lowly Sheffield United. The results simply have to improve.
Arsenal are flying towards the top end of the table and very few fans would be betting on the Irons to claim all three points, but the poor recent record means this game almost becomes a must-win for Moyes and his side.
Hopefully, the Irons will be able to pull off another upset against the Gunners. If Sutton’s prediction comes true, there could be an ugly atmosphere at the London Stadium on Sunday.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers have set a £4.3million asking price for one never-before-seen star
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