Arteta urges Arsenal to find consistency ahead of West Ham trip

Mikel Arteta urged Arsenal to find consistency ahead of their Premier League trip to West Ham on Saturday.

The Gunners produced one of their best performances of the season in a 5-1 thrashing of Sporting CP in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Arteta knows the challenge will be to continue that form in England's top division, where they sit fourth – some nine points behind leaders Liverpool.

“That's what we have to do. We have to find consistency,” said the Arsenal manager. “Do you want to challenge for the big things? You have to be consistent.

'Winning and winning again. [Sporting] It was a very different game, but we responded very well, now let's move on.”

A fluid Arsenal move pic.twitter.com/r3Ki7DvcSG

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 27, 2024

West Ham also recorded their best result of the season in their last outing after a 2-0 win over Newcastle United on Monday.

That win lifted the Hammers to 14th in the table and eased some of the mounting pressure on Julen Lopetegui, who will be suspended on Saturday due to a pile-up of bookings this season.

“The only thing we have control over is playing football, attacking and defending well, and combining the game better,” Lopetegui said of the victory in Newcastle.

“We will continue with this mentality. I am happy for the players, because they see that we can do well as a team. I am happy for them.”

On his suspension, he added: “I'm not happy. But more importantly, the players will be on the pitch. A win is always important. It shows that we can compete and trust ourselves.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

West Ham – Tomas Soucek

No player has scored more Premier League goals for West Ham this season than Tomas Soucek (three), who formed a dominant midfield duo with Carlos Soler in Newcastle on Monday.

17 of his last 18 goals for the Hammers have taken them either one goal ahead (12) or level (5) in the match.

Arsenal – Bukayo Saka

Only Mohamed Salah (16) has been involved in more Premier League goals this season than Arsenal's in-form Bukayo Saka (12 – four goals, eight assists).

Saka – who found the net against Sporting on Tuesday – has both scored and assisted in three different matches this top season, with only Salah doing more (four).

15 goals in 17 games this season.

Saka is just getting started. pic.twitter.com/ZgdR5SCyip

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) November 26, 2024

MATCH PREDICTION – ARSENAL WIN

Arsenal are the favorites heading into this London derby given their recent head-to-head record against Saturday's hosts.

The Gunners have lost just one of their last 16 Premier League away games against West Ham (W10 D5), winning this match by a remarkable 6-0 scoreline last season.

West Ham have also lost more games in this competition overall (36) and at home (15) against Arsenal than against any other opponent in the competition.

Their problems did not only occur against Arsenal, as West Ham lost their last two London derbies in the top flight, going down 2-0 to Fulham and 3-0 to Chelsea.

That form in derby day matches is in stark contrast to Arsenal, who have lost just two of their 26 Premier League matches against other London clubs since the start of the 2022-23 season (W18 D6).

OPTA CHANCE OF WINNING

West Ham win – 18.5% Draw – 20.3% Arsenal win – 61.2%