Arteta speaks on up coming Westham Match

When Arsenal plays West Ham tonight, a rival team in London, manager Mikel Arteta will be hoping to take his team back to the top of the Premier League.

With a victory at the Emirates Stadium tonight, Arsenal hopes to reclaim the top spot in the Premier League standings against an in-form West Ham team.

After their 1-1 draw with title rivals Liverpool last weekend—who they’ll pass if they manage to take all three points tonight—and their 2-0 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor on Boxing Day, Mikel Arteta’s team will face yet another tough test during this hectic holiday season.

In his pre-match press conference yesterday, Arteta acknowledged Hammers boss David Moyes and his recent success in east London, even though the Gunners have only lost once in their last ten games across all competitions. He also highlighted how Moyes’ longevity in the Premier League could be a crucial factor in tonight’s match.

“They will be extremely difficult,” he declared. They are a very good team with excellent coaching, and based on their performance this season and their accomplishments from the previous campaign, they appear to be very consistent.

“The fact that they defeated Manchester United and Spurs says it all about how tough the game is. We will need to perform exceptionally well tomorrow. It’s not easy when you consider [how few] managers in this league have managed for this long and have achieved greater success than him.

“How long he has done it, how he has done it in teams, and how he has done it. Of course I knew him. I adore him and am incredibly appreciative of all that he did for me and our time spent together.

“In my view, he is an exceptional manager who approaches his work in a very unique way. Without drawing too much attention, I think what he has done at West Ham is amazing.”

After Kai Havertz received his fifth yellow card against Liverpool last weekend, Arteta was left with a difficult choice regarding who would play the attacking role from midfield. Havertz is currently in form. Although he hasn’t started a game since the 5-0 victory over Sheffield United in late October, Emile Smith Rowe is a real contender.

Other than that, almost the whole team is prepared to face Moyes’ team when the Gunners host the Hammers at the Emirates Stadium tonight. The injuries to Thomas Partey and Takehiro Tomiyasu, as well as longer-term problems for Fabio Vieira and Jurrien Timber, will affect the team.

When Arsenal plays West Ham tonight, a rival team in London, manager Mikel Arteta will be hoping to take his team back to the top of the Premier League.(Image: Getty Images/Photo by Michael Regan)

With a victory at the Emirates Stadium tonight, Arsenal hopes to reclaim the top spot in the Premier League standings against an in-form West Ham team.

After their 1-1 draw with title rivals Liverpool last weekend—who they’ll pass if they manage to take all three points tonight—and their 2-0 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor on Boxing Day, Mikel Arteta’s team will face yet another tough test during this hectic holiday season.

In his pre-match press conference yesterday, Arteta acknowledged Hammers boss David Moyes and his recent success in east London, even though the Gunners have only lost once in their last ten games across all competitions. He also highlighted how Moyes’ longevity in the Premier League could be a crucial factor in tonight’s match.

“They will be extremely difficult,” he declared. They are a very good team with excellent coaching, and based on their performance this season and their accomplishments from the previous campaign, they appear to be very consistent.

“The fact that they defeated Manchester United and Spurs says it all about how tough the game is. We will need to perform exceptionally well tomorrow. It’s not easy when you consider [how few] managers in this league have managed for this long and have achieved greater success than him.

“How long he has done it, how he has done it in teams, and how he has done it. Of course I knew him. I adore him and am incredibly appreciative of all that he did for me and our time spent together.

“In my view, he is an exceptional manager who approaches his work in a very unique way. Without drawing too much attention, I think what he has done at West Ham is amazing.”

After Kai Havertz received his fifth yellow card against Liverpool last weekend, Arteta was left with a difficult choice regarding who would play the attacking role from midfield. Havertz is currently in form. Although he hasn’t started a game since the 5-0 victory over Sheffield United in late October, Emile Smith Rowe is a real contender.

Other than that, almost the whole team is prepared to face Moyes’ team when the Gunners host the Hammers at the Emirates Stadium tonight. The injuries to Thomas Partey and Takehiro Tomiyasu, as well as longer-term problems for Fabio Vieira and Jurrien Timber, will affect the team.

Goalies: David Raya, Aaron Ramsdale.

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