TipResumen

ARSENAL

There has been more criticism of Unai Emery and the methods he is employing at Arsenal but you have to think the board are going to give their new manager time to get things right. In all honesty Arsenal could not have had too many harder games than facing Manchester City and Chelsea in their opening couple of Premier League games, but failing to win this one on Saturday would be much harder to explain away to the fans. Emery will have taken some positives from the performances in the losses to Manchester City and Chelsea and some will consider Arsenal unfortunate to have lost at Stamford Bridge after coming back from 2-0 down to get back to 2-2. Better finishing from the big names could have changed the entire complexion of the match, but the chances created in the first couple of games will be something the new manager will highlight. Arsenal have lost 5 of their last 7 games in all competitions, but the exceptions were both wins against Burnley and Huddersfield Town. They have won 7 of their last 9 games at home in all competitions and Arsenal did win 15 of their 19 Premier League games here last season. There are a number of defensive injury issues which won't clear up in the short-term, but Arsenal still have a quality squad to call upon.



WEST HAM UNITED

The owners of West Ham United must have felt they had made the moves which would give the fans some positive direction in the season ahead after a difficult couple of years for the club. While Manuel Pellegrini is expected to get things right at the London Stadium, back to back losses will not have been what the fans were expecting to see and the pressure is on to get a result sooner rather than later. An opening defeat at Anfield won't have been a big concern, but failing to hold onto a 1-0 lead at home against Bournemouth in an eventual 1-2 defeat will have hurt the positivity of the fans. One of the main areas Pellegrini was hoping to improve The Hammers is their away record after winning just 1 away game at a team that finished above them in the Premier League last season. West Ham United were unbeaten in their final 3 Premier League games to end last season, but there is no momentum after losing to Liverpool and Bournemouth. The Hammers have won 1 of their last 8 away games in all competitions, while the bigger worry has to be the fact they were beaten in 6 of those games. Winston Reid, Manuel Lanzini and Andy Carroll are long term absentees for West Ham United.



HEAD TO HEAD

Arsenal took four points from West Ham United in the Premier League last season with the majority coming from a 4-1 win at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners also beat West Ham United 1-0 in the League Cup in this Stadium and that means Arsenal have won 8 of their last 9 at home against this London rival.



PREDICTION

It has been a tough introduction to life as a Premier League manager for Unai Emery, but Arsenal fans shouldn't be overly concerned in my opinion. Losing to Manchester City at home and Chelsea at Stamford Bridge is disappointing, but both clubs will be tough tests for the very best teams in the Premier League. The Gunners showed enough positives in both matches to think they will not drop from the recent standards set by the club. It will take time for Emery to get his methods really set in at Arsenal, but he has to stick to his guns as Arsenal get set to face a number of weaker teams. First up is West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium and The Hammers have had a difficult time under Manuel Pellegrini despite all of the optimism they came into the season with. Back to back losses will knock confidence of players and fans especially West Ham United's 1-2 defeat to Bournemouth in a Premier League game they were leading. Defensively West Ham United have looked a mess at times and I expect this Arsenal team to create plenty of chances. They did that at Stamford Bridge last Saturday and there is no doubting Arsenal have players who are capable of blowing away some of the weaker teams in the Premier League. Last season they won all 14 games played against teams below them in the League table at the Emirates Stadium and Arsenal have a very strong record against West Ham United. I wouldn't be surprised if West Ham United scored in this one, but they look very poor at the back and Arsenal can match the big margin of victory they secured in this corresponding fixture last season. Emery's tactics will give West Ham United opportunities, but the manager will stick with his principles and Arsenal have enough through the midfield and attacking areas to punish this side. Both Emery and Pellegrini had to know there would be some teething problems at their new clubs, but this is a good chance for Arsenal to get their first win of the new season and I think they will earn this victory. If Arsenal play anything near how they did in the first half at Stamford Bridge, they should have the opportunities to win this game and cover the Asian Handicap.