As the season enters its seventh matchday, all eyes turn to North London where Arsenal host West Ham United in their first derby clash. Set for Saturday at 3:00 PM BST, the game at the Emirates Stadium promises to be hard fought, even West Ham’s recent managerial change and facing Arsenal for the first time since their triumphant victory back in February. A 1-0 win at the Emirates Stadium. No doubt Arsenal will be looking for revenge.
Head-to-Head History
The Hammers have won their last two Premier League visits to Arsenal without conceding a goal, including a 1-0 triumph last season that derailed the Gunners' title push. A victory here would make West Ham only the second team (after Manchester City) to claim three consecutive league wins at Arsenal's home. Overall, Arsenal have lost three of their last five encounters with West Ham across all competitions, matching the defeats from their previous 33 meetings. None of the last five league clashes between these sides have been won by the home team, adding unpredictability. However, West Ham's record in London derbies is poor—they've lost 134 such games, more than any other side, and eight of their last 11, conceding 27 goals in the process.
Current Standings and Recent Form
Heading into the weekend, the Gunners have accumulated 13 points from six matches (4 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss), boasting an impressive goal difference of +9 (12 scored, 3 conceded). Their recent league form reads W-W-L-W-D-W, with a standout 2-1 comeback victory over Newcastle United highlighting their resilience. In all competitions, they've been even more dominant, going unbeaten in their last six outings (W-W-D-W-W-W), including a 2-0 Champions League win against Olympiacos midweek. Mikel Arteta's side has won six of their last eight Premier League games, amassing 19 points in that span—more than any other team. At home, they've lost just four of their previous 42 league fixtures, making the Emirates a fortress.
Team News and Possible Lineups
Arsenal face several fitness concerns. Center-back Gabriel Magalhães is a doubt after a knock in the Olympiacos game, though he's optimistic about featuring—no long-term damage reported. New signing Piero Hincapié remains sidelined with a groin issue until after the international break, while Noni Madueke (knee), Kai Havertz (knee), and Gabriel Jesus (ACL) are out longer-term. Mikel Arteta, marking his 300th game in charge, emphasized the need to "dominate" and rectify past home defeats to West Ham. A possible lineup could see: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Ødegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyökeres, Eze.
For West Ham, midfielder Tomáš Souček serves the final match of his suspension following a red card against Tottenham, and young talent George Earthy is out for 4-6 weeks with a hamstring injury. Aaron Wan-Bissaka is nearing a return from a stomach issue and has resumed training. Nuno Espírito Santo, praising the club's support in his transition, plans a compact 4-1-4-1 setup focused on deep defending and quick counters. Expected lineup: Areola; Walker-Peters, Mavropanos, Kilman, Diouf; Magassa; Bowen, Fernandes, Paquetá, Summerville; Füllkrug.
Key Battles and Players to Watch
This derby could hinge on midfield control and set-piece execution. Arsenal's Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard will aim to dictate tempo against West Ham's Lucas Paquetá and Matheus Fernandes. Up front, Bukayo Saka—making his 200th Premier League appearance—has tormented West Ham, with eight goal involvements (4 goals, 4 assists) in his last seven league games against them. Eberechi Eze adds flair, with five involvements (2 goals, 3 assists) in his recent outings versus the Hammers.
For West Ham, Jarrod Bowen is the danger man. He's been involved in 11 goals over his last 12 league appearances (8 goals, 3 assists) and has five career strikes against Arsenal, including the winner at the Emirates last season. Their vulnerability from corners—conceding eight already this season, matching last year's total—could be exploited by Arsenal's aerial threats like Gabriel and William Saliba.