Arsenal's advantage
Arsenal could hardly have picked a better opponent than West Ham to end their poor away run.
The Gunners have failed to win in their last four top-flight away games (D2 L2), their longest run since a seven-game winless run between December 2019 and June 2020.
Before this difficult run, Arsenal had won 10 and drawn 1 of their 11 away Premier League games in 2024.
Playing away at West Ham gives Arsenal a lot of confidence. In the last 16 away games at West Ham, Arsenal have had 10 wins, 5 draws and 1 loss. Last season, they defeated the Hammers (West Ham's nickname) 6-0 away.
Bukayo Saka scored twice in Arsenal's 6-0 win over West Ham last season. The England star has been involved in 21 goals in his previous 25 Premier League London derbies (nine goals, 12 assists).
Saka is in fine form, having been involved in 12 Premier League goals this season (4 goals, 8 assists). Only Liverpool's Mohamed Salah (16) has been involved in more goals than Saka so far in the competition. Saka has scored and assisted in three different games, only Salah has done so in more games (4).
Arsenal have played 26 London derbies since the start of the 2022-23 season, losing just two - one of which was against West Ham. That was also a game in which the Gunners failed to score a goal.
On the other hand, The Hammers have lost two consecutive home London derbies, losing 0-2 to Fulham and 0-3 to Chelsea. The last time they lost three consecutive derbies was in December 2019.
Julen Lopetegui has had a difficult start as West Ham manager but they have picked up seven points from their last three home games, including wins over Man United and Ipswich. West Ham have picked up just seven points from their previous nine home games.
After beating Newcastle United 2-0 in the previous round, West Ham can win two consecutive Premier League matches for the first time since March 2024 and keep three consecutive clean sheets for the first time since a run of four clean sheets in the 2023-24 season.
The Gunners will be without Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu for this game, while defender Gabriel Magalhaes remains a doubt after being substituted in the 5-1 Champions League win over Sporting CP in midweek.
Lopetegui will be banned from direct contact after accumulating yellow cards, while Mohammed Kudus will serve the final of his five-match ban. Edson Alvarez returns from suspension but Niclas Füllkrug remains absent and Jean-Clair Todibo remains a doubt after coming off injured against Newcastle.
West Ham vs Arsenal head to head record
Historically, West Ham have never had a good record against Arsenal. In the Premier League, they have lost 36 times to the Gunners, including 15 at home. Arsenal is the most annoying opponent for West Ham in the history of the Premier League.
Arsenal have lost just one of their last 16 top-flight games against West Ham (W10 D5) and as mentioned, won 6-0 in the reverse fixture last season.
The West Ham vs Arsenal match will take place at 0:30 on December 1.
