Whether you think we’re safe yet or not, the likelihood of us being caught now is extremely minimal.
That said, the likelihood of us getting a positive result at the Emirates tonight are almost just as minimal, despite Arsenal’s current form and injury problems.
With little else to worry about other than the highest possible finish in the table, Arsene Wenger was right in saying that we will be fearless tonight. We have performed well in our last two games, exceptional in our defeat to Liverpool last weekend, and that’ll give us the confidence to get something from Arsenal tonight.
If we can replicate that Liverpool performance tonight then there would be every reason to believe we can snatch all three points from Arsenal and all but end their Champions League hopes, which I believe would be right up there with beating Spurs twice at White Hart Lane this season.
However, we all know that Allardyce doesn’t approach away fixtures in the same way and, as a result, it’s more likely that we’ll see ourselves sitting back and inviting pressure for pretty much the entire 90 minutes.
Either way, we can begin to feel safe in the knoweldge that we’ll be playing in the Premier League next season and a summer rebuild is, hopefully, going to make us a stronger and less vulnerable outfit next season and ahead of your move to the Olympic Stadium.
Verdict: Goalless draw.
Team News:
Arsenal (5th, 64 points)
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (groin), Nacho Monreal (dead leg) and Lukas Podolski (leg) are all doubts.
Olivier Giroud, Laurent Koscielny and Wojciech Szczesny are all expected to return to the starting XI after being rested for the Gunners’ FA Cup semi-final with Wigan on Saturday.
West Ham United (11th, 37 points)
Kevin Nolan faces a late fitness test due to a hamstring injury, which could see either Mohamed Diame or Antonio Nocerino drafted in to deputise in the middle of the park.
George McCartney and Marco Borriello are definitely sidelined through injury.
Last 10 Meetings:
Match in Numbers:
6 – Arsenal have won their last six league matches against the Hammers.
1 – West Ham scored just once in their last five visits to the Emirates Stadium.
7 – The Hammers have won seven of their last 13 Premier League fixtures.
13 – West Ham have kept 13 clean sheets in the league this season, bettered only by Chelsea.
17 – West Ham have dropped 17 points from winning positions this season, the second worst record in the league.
15 – Arsenal have gone 15 home games unbeaten at home, with their last home defeat coming against Aston Villa on the opening day of the season.
100 – Winston Reid is set to make his 100th first-team appearance for West Ham.
50 – Matt Jarvis could make his 50th league start for the Hammers.
50 – If he features, Ricardo Vaz Te will make his 50th league appearance for the Hammers.
Score Predictions:
@WestHamWorld 1-1 take a point#COYI
— ciarancusack (@uptonhammer) April 15, 2014
@WestHamWorld 1-0 West Ham
— Bob Dazzler (@BobbyDazzler1_2) April 15, 2014
@WestHamWorld 2-1. The Irons!
— peter james cooke (@kiwihammer123) April 15, 2014
@WestHamWorld cheeky 1-0 win Carroll to score OR 0-0 #COYI
— Adam Loveday (@AdamLoveday16) April 15, 2014
@WestHamWorld 1-2
— Phil (@phil_whu) April 15, 2014
Head-to-Head (all competitions):
| Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | GD +/- | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 177 | 50 | 45 | 82 | 233 | 318 | -85 | 28.25% |
