Chris Sutton has predicted that the clash between West Ham United and Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium will be a real battle on December 26.
It’s the first Premier League game back for the Irons and it promises to be a scintillating affair against the league leaders and London rivals.
Sutton confessed that West Ham United will be “tough” for Arsenal to beat despite playing away from home in the Boxing Day fixture.
“The break probably came at the worst possible time for them, because of the form they were in, and there isn’t a more significant player they could have lost to injury than Gabriel Jesus,” as quoted by BBC Sport.
“People might point at his lack of goals before the World Cup but Jesus is integral to them in the way they press, and with his link-up play.
“He is irreplaceable, certainly from within their squad, so the seriousness of his injury will probably decide whether they try to make some signings in January.
“I feel like I have backed West Ham to be better than they have been on plenty of occasions already this season, but the one thing they should be here is tough to beat.”
Sutton predicts that the game will finish 1-1.
Clean slate.
The dreadful first half of the Premier League can be put behind the Hammers as they look to make a bright start to the second half of the season.
West Ham United are currently starring relegation in the face, something that’s bizarre considering the amount of talent Moyes’ squad possesses.
In the long, harsh and unpredictable Premier League anything is possible and the Irons will want to avoid being roped into a relegation battle.
West Ham’s summer signings haven’t fully gotten going yet, with luck, the likes of Lucas Paqueta and Gianluca Scamacca will be far more settled in London now.
Key players like that dynamic duo are vital to whatever success the Hammer achieves this season, there is still plenty to play for.
Captain Declan Rice will also be a key cog within Moyes’ squad for the rest of the campaign and he’ll be needed to be at his very best when action resumes on 26 December.
