The Premier League is back, with a full ten game slate being broadcast on Amazon Prime Video. We’ve previewed the London derby between league leaders, Arsenal and West Ham United for you, as well as providing you with our best suggested bets.
Arsenal vs West Ham Tips
Arsenal (1/2) enter this Boxing Day clash top of the table, with just one defeat all season. Mikel Arteta will be raring to get going again and had no midweek Carabao Cup distractions to deal with.
The loss of start striker Gabriel Jesus to a long term injury will be a big blow and it will be interesting to see if they attempt to replace him, in the January transfer window.
West Ham (11/2) had a really poor run of form pre-Qatar, winning just once in their last six and losing three straight. Manager David Moyes will have been glad for the break and the chance to work with his remaining squad.
Injuries remain for the Hammers though and they look light up front without the likes of Cornet, Antonio and Scamacca, meaning Jarrod Bowen will be on his own up front.
Team news:
Both sides are missing several players here via injury or unavailability due to the World Cup.
Arsenal are without Gabriel Jesus, who injured his knee and will be out for 3 months. Joining him are Reiss Nelson, Emile Smith Rowe, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Albert Sambi Lokonga who will all likely miss out. William Saliba was involved with France in the World Cup final and will probably need some rest before rejoining the first team squad.
David Moyes is also likely without Nayef Aguerd and Alphonse Areola who went to the latter stages with Morocco and France. Kurt Zouma and Maxwel Cornet definitely miss this one through injury, while Gianluca Scamacca, Michail Antonio and Aaron Cresswell will all be last minute decisions.
Lucas Paqueta 1+ shot on target – 6/4
The attacking midfielder had a very decent World Cup for Brazil, scoring once and assisting another in four games and should be full of confidence right now.
The 25-year-old is leading the Hammers charts for shots (2.4pg) and shots on target (0.9) and can get another one on target here, in an advanced role.
Arsenal win to nil – 7/5
That said, West Ham have been atrocious away from home, winning just one in seven and scoring just three goals.
I firmly expect the Gunners to win this one comfortably and even without Saliba, they can keep a clean sheet in doing so.
