Chelsea’s Draw Could Be Arsenal’s First Step To The Title

Match Preview – Arsenal vs West Ham United – Premier League – 09.08.15

56 long days I’ve waited for the return of the Premier League and despite kick off only being a few hours away I am already impatient to see the boys line up in that glorious cannon crested red and white kit.

Technically it has been 77 days since the Premier League’s final whistle of the 2014-15 season blew but with a week of anticipating and celebrating our record 12th FA Cup victory and an unforgettable three generational holiday at a stunning villa in Greece where even had I had access to the internet I doubt I could have given much thought to anything beyond the sumptuous food and soul-enriching blue seas, skies and blistering sunshine.

Upon touching down at Heathrow yesterday afternoon and rejoining  modern civilisation with a healthy 4G connection my attention immediately turned to The Arsenal.

It’s the first game of the season so it’s hard to predict what will happen or how preseason has set the team up but for the first time in a number of years I think we can take a lot of confidence into the new season. Usually I start the season with hopeful confidence but this season it feels more like expectation.

Sadly I missed the Community Shield against Chelsea but I do plan to watch it immediately after finishing this article. Winning against Mourinho for the first time can surely only be a omen of good things.

We have ripped almost every monkey from our backs in the past two seasons and Arsenal’s detractors were fast running out of things to claim as the reason Arsenal can’t win ‘X competition’ and the latest being the Wenger vs Mourinho record. Of course some will say it was “just preseason” but to them I say bollocks.

Had Arsenal lost that match it would have been reported as another Mourinho tactical masterclass – more evidence of Wenger’s increasing inferiority to the media darling at the Bridge – and a blazing example of why Arsenal will never win the league with Wenger again. From what I have gleaned, Arsenal won that game fair and square and it was definitely not a friendly. Against Arsenal, Mourinho cannot be anything other than competitive and that loss will have hurt.

Seeing Chelsea lose yesterday after losing the Community Shield was just sublime. Okay, they drew but you only have to look at Mourinho’s face to see it felt like a loss to him. This was the reigning champions playing at home against a mid-table side – that probably hurt him too.

I think the greatest thing about that result was Courtois being sent off and knowing we’ll have Petr Cech lining up for us today.

Before I went on holiday I enjoyed the Sunday matches at the Emirates Cup and I was so impressed with Reine-Adelaide – or as I shall always refer to him, Jeff. I expect he’ll be involved quite a bit this season.

Looking at today I can’t see West Ham being a push over but I also don’t think they’ll present too much opposition if we keep calm and patient. They’re a different beast than they were under Allardyce and as such should be treated as an unknown entity.

Arsenal did not start last season well and the gap Chelsea opened up in the first 6 games proved to be the difference. This season we already have the opportunity to open up a 2 point lead on Chelsea and whilst it is early doors these are the kind of chances we shouldn’t squander.

Arsenal from; Cech, Ospina, Bellerin, Debuchy, Gibbs, Monreal, Mertesacker, Gabriel, Koscielny, Chambers, Reine-Adelaide, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Flamini, Coquelin, Özil, Ramsey, Cazorla, Walcott, Giroud.

Predicted Line-up

Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Özil, Ramsey, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Walcott

I expect to see substitute appearances from Giroud and Reine-Adelaide.

Match Quote

“Our ambition is to win the Premier League but we have to sustain that by performance and fighting spirit in every single game”  – Arsène Wenger

Last 3 Meetings

• Arsenal 3-0 West Ham (14.03.2015)
• West Ham 1-2 Arsenal (28.12.2014)
• Arsenal 3-1 West Ham (15.04.2014)

Form Guide

Arsenal Last 5 (inc preseason)
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West Ham Last 5
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Opposition watch

West Ham started their season early with Europa League qualification so in terms of competitiveness they have a small head start however they may find it hard to pick themselves up after exiting to Romanian side Astra Giurgiu in the third qualifying round.

They’re a bit of an unknown entity after changing manager in the close season but Arsenal’s superior players should win out.

Factfile

• Giroud and Walcott both boast 5 goals against West Ham
• West Ham have lost more times on the opening weekend than any other team (9)
• Arsenal have only lost one opening match in the past 14 seasons – in 2013, 3-1 to Anthony Taylor
• West Ham haven’t won away in the league since December 2014
• Arsenal are unbeaten in 10 fixtures against The Hammers

Prediction

I’m going to be bold and predict a stonking 5-0 win for the Gunners.

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