West Ham vs. Arsenal: Preview, Team News, Projected Lineups

   

After defeating QPR at Loftus Road, the Hammers are ahead of another London derby, but this time the competition will be tougher, because Arsène Wenger and the Gunners will travel to Upton Park to get back on the winning track after last week's disappointing loss against Chelsea.

Saturday's late game will offer the collision of two complete different styles of football - the elegant, slick and catchy Gunners and Sam Allardyce's Hammers, who play unattractively and aggressively, but extremely efficiently, as well. So, who will win the tree points tonight? Only time will tell...

Vital quotes, said before the game :

Ahead of the latest London derby,  Arsène Wenger commented on Andy Carroll's return to the Hammers' squad: "Carroll has the quality and that will come out with time. We expect Carroll to be at his best - it is down to us to deal with that.'

'We can only focus on our own performance and be at our best. I rate Carroll, and don't think we have seen the best of him until now.

'He started very well, then he had to deal with a high level of expectation with a massive transfer on his shoulders [to Liverpool], going to an historic club where a lot was expected of him. Maybe it was a bit too early for him.

'Since I have seen him at West Ham, he looks back to the Carroll we have seen at Newcastle, that means with less pressure."  

Will Andy Carroll produce at the highest level against Arsenal is uncertain, but he will definitely be excited for the game and will try to do that. 

West Ham Team News:

Sam Allardyce has to decide whether Andy Carroll will start after suffering from injury, or will appear again as a substitute, like he did at Loftus Road on Monday night.

Against Queens Park Rangers, both Winston Reid and Joey O`Brien picked up injuries. Rumor has it that the former will play against Arsenal but that the latter will miss out.

Still not available for selection, though is Jack Collison who remains sidelined by his knee problem.

Yossi Benayoun may also start for the Hammers against the club he played for last year, whilst on loan from Chelsea.

                       Arsenal Team News:

For this fixture Arsenal will be hoping to welcome back, Per Mertesacker, who had shaken off a virus. But Arsenal will be without the services of their first choice keeper, Wojciech Szczesny, who is still unable to play due to injury and Abou Diaby will miss the game, as well. In other words, without Diaby, Mikel Arteta will have to be at his best to stop West Ham from dominating the midfield.

Jack Wilshere, who has been absent for over a year, is still fighting his way back to fitness, but has appeared for the reserve side recently which is extremely encouraging for the gunners' young hope.

Match Facts & Stats:

The omens do not look good for West Ham with Arsenal having won six and drawn two of the last eight meetings between the two clubs. Also, the Hammers' have not scored against Arsenal in their last three meetings and it will be hard to break that streak.

Moreover, the Gunners' Lukas Podolski and Gervinho are playing extremely well at the start of the season, having most recently scored on Wednesday's CL game against F.C. Olympiacos.

Referee:

Taking charge of this fixture will be Phil Dowd, ably assisted by his two assistants S. Ledger and M. McDonough and with Andre Marriner as the fourth official. Both clubs' fans do not have a good opinion about Dowd, so it will be interesting how he will perform on Saturday's game.

Match Prediction:

This will be a very competitive game, but I think that Arsenal has what it takes to break down West Ham's opposition.

Projected Lineups:

West Ham

Jussi Jaaskelainen; Winston Reid, Joey O'Brien, James Collins, Guy Demel; Kevin Nolan, Mohamed Diame, Matt Jarvis, Ricardo Vaz Te, Mark Noble; Andy Carroll



Arsenal

Vito Mannone; Carl Jenkinson, Thomas Vermaelen, Per Mertesacker, Kieran Gibbs; Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla; Lukas Podolski, Gervinho, Olivier Giroud