Game Week 19 Predictions: Arsenal to beat West Ham

Arsenal vs West Ham match preview: Analysis of key players, tactical strategies, and predictions for Thursday's clash.

Arsenal can only return to the top of the table if they beat West Ham on Thursday, it's in their hands. (Photo credit: 90Min)

 Arsenal vs. West Ham

Emirates Stadium

9:15pm

Arsenal gave a great performance to earn a point at Anfield, a ground where they used to visit and return emptyhanded. They led, got pegged back, and settled for a point.

West Ham is in a good place, through to the knockout phase of the Europa League, climbing high every game week in the league and can earn something at the Emirates to climb above Manchester United, into sixth on the log.

Arsenal gave everything against Liverpool. They can count themselves lucky for the incident that had five Liverpool players running at Declan Rice before Trent Alexander Arnold rammed the ball onto the crossbar to let Arsenal off the hook.

West Ham beat Manchester United. Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus were both on target, and you wonder how the Hammers will cope when the Ghana international heads to Africa for the Cup of Nations next month.

Arsenal will return to the top of the table only if they win this game. They cannot afford to drop points, and with Manchester City back from the Club World Cup and straight into victory at Everton and Liverpool dusting Burnley to go top, Arsenal must win.

West Ham was one of the teams that stopped Arsenal’s title charge last season. The 2-2 draw at the London Stadium damaged Arsenal, and Jarrod Bowen is still burning with passion and precision. Arsenal must stop him from hurting them again.

Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is back in training and will be available for selection, but the Gunners will be without Kai Havertz, who picked up his fifth yellow card in the stalemate against Liverpool. Partey is that player that fans thought would be key to their season, but he hasn’t contributed much so far.

Bowen and Kudus will be key to West Ham’s game play, but Lucas Paqueta is another player Arsenal must keep an eye on. He is a little volatile; there’s something in there if you can rile him up, but he is a proven creator, and you won’t expect him to be at West Ham for long.

Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard are two players that need to do more than they currently do for Arsenal, two talented players with room for improvement. Declan Rice is in the running for the signing of the season; he has been that figure in Arsenal’s midfield, and he will be immense on Thursday.

Verdict: Arsenal to win