English Premier
2012-10-06 - West Ham United vs Arsenal
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Saturday 6 October 2012 - Kick Off 5:30pm
This game is live on TV
West Ham United
The West Ham United fans are very proud of their history and the manner they have always played their football, but even the most proud of those supporters will admit that Sam Allardyce is the correct manager to make sure they are once again an established top flight team. The start to the new season would have also got these fans on side with what Allardyce is attempting to achieve at Upton Park.
Not many would have tipped West Ham to be as high as 7th in the Premier League at this stage, but a 1-2 win at Queens Park Rangers on Monday night has indeed put them in that place, one above Arsenal. They have a 2-1-0 record at Upton Park so far this season, scoring 5 goals and only conceding the 1 as Kevin Nolan's late equaliser against Sunderland ensured they are still unbeaten here in the League.
It wasn't the same in all competitions as a much-changed West Ham side were thumped 1-4 at Upton Park by Wigan Athletic. That result annoyed Allardyce as he gave some of the fringe players a chance but the defending was comical to say the least. The Hammers had failed to win in 3 in all competitions before the result at Loftus Road, while the loss to Wigan is the only one at home in 9 games.
Andy Carroll is back in the squad after playing 15 minutes at QPR and he should be back in the starting line up this week. Jack Collison is a doubt, but they have an otherwise full squad to choose from.
Arsenal
After all the plaudits given to Steve Bould in the early part of the season down to the number of clean sheets Arsenal earned, recent games have seen some of the old vulnerabilities return. Set pieces and crosses into the box and have caused problems for this backline and that isn't the best way to come into a game against a Sam Allardyce side.
Arsenal are 8th in the Premier League following a loss to Chelsea last week and that actually places them below West Ham United coming into the weekend. The side have a 1-2-0 away record in the Premier League, scoring 3 goals and conceding just the 1.
The side did keep clean sheets in their first 3 games of the season and that is when Bould was being lauded for his work in the Summer, but they have since failed to keep a clean sheet in 6 games in all competitions. Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 7 away games in all competitions going back to last season although they have recorded wins in 4 of those games.
Wojciech Szczesny, Bacary Sagna, Tomas Rosicky, Abou Diaby and Jack Wilshire will all be absent for Arsene Wenger, but may all be back in contention following the international break.
Head to Head
Arsenal hammered West Ham United 0-3 in their last meeting at Upton Park a couple of seasons ago and that game was more memorable for Avram Grant's reaction to the defeat as it seemed he was set to lose his job to Martin O'Neill.
Hindsight shows that Grant kept his job as O'Neill turned down the offer and the former Chelsea/Portsmouth manager took West Ham down to the Championship.
West Ham have failed to win any of their last 5 home games against Arsenal, while the Gunners have won 4 of those games.
Prediction
This could be a fairly entertaining game for the TV viewers on Saturday afternoon as I can see both sides troubling the other and I don't really know which may things are going to go.
I can't back Arsenal at 2.00 or less as they have begun to concede goals and that doesn't bode well for their trip to Upton Park. Arsenal have been conceding goals from corners (against Manchester City), crosses (against Olympiacos) and set pieces (both goals against Chelsea) and that isn't the best form coming into a game against West Ham who will be using Andy Carroll up front and will look to exploit set pieces and corners with their big side.
On the other hand, I don't want to back West Ham to avoid defeat either as they have a poor home record against Arsenal in recent seasons. However, Sam Allardyce has a strong record against Arsenal and Arsene Wenger, going 5-3-4 in games at home against them with Bolton Wanderers, Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers.
While I can't pick a winner, I think both sides will score in this game and I do think the 1.83 on over 2.5 goals looks worth backing in this one.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
West Ham United 1-2 Arsenal
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.83
