There’s a London derby to enjoy in the Premier League on Saturday evening as Arsenal take on West Ham United at the London Stadium.

The Gunners have purred after the November break, with the return of Martin Odegaard improving Mikel Arteta’s side in a litany of areas. The skipper was influential as Arsenal downed Nottingham Forest 3-0 last weekend and Sporting CP, one of Europe’s form teams who hadn’t lost at home in 18 months, 5-1 on Tuesday night.

The title hopefuls are aiming to reduce the gap from league leaders Liverpool to six points before the Reds face Manchester City on Sunday.

West Ham caused Arteta’s side a few problems last year, but the Gunners more than made up for their two defeats in 2023 by thumping the Irons 6-0 in February. The Hammers enter Saturday’s bout off the back of a morale-boosting 2-0 win at Newcastle United on Monday night, but their form at the start of Julen Lopetegui’s reign has been stop-start at best. They sit 14th in the table after 12 games.

Here’s 90min’s preview of this Saturday’s Premier League clash.

West Ham vs Arsenal H2H Results (Last Five Games)

Current form (all competitions)

Lopetegui will be forced to watch from the stands on Saturday as a result of his one-game suspension, but the West Ham boss does have Lucas Paqueta available to him this weekend after the Brazilian avoided picking up his fifth yellow card of the season at Newcastle.

Mohammed Kudus, however, remains suspended.

The Hammers head into the contest with a relatively clean bill of health. The only injury-enforced absence will be Niclas Fullkrug, who’s dealing with an Achilles issue.

West Ham predicted lineup vs Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Fabianski; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson; Rodriguez, Soucek; Bowen, Paqueta, Summerville; Antonio.

The visitors have no fresh concerns from their midweek duel in Lisbon and Arteta could name an unchanged team for Saturday’s game.

Mikel Merino will be hoping for a return to the XI having started last time out in the Premier League, while Jorginho started ahead of Thomas Partey in the 3-0 win over Forest. Partey will likely retain his place at the base of midfield given his impressive form. Declan Rice, though, isn’t assured of his place in the XI on his London Stadium homecoming.

Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White are the only injury absentees.

Arsenal predicted lineup vs West Ham (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli.

West Ham may have secured a big domestic win last time out, but it’s hard to gauge whether Monday night’s triumph will facilitate a notable upsurge. The Hammers have failed to convince under Lopetegui thus far and are taking on an Arsenal team out for blood.

The Gunners are keen to restore themselves to the title race and will know that only a long winning run will suffice. They’ve been brilliant over the past two games and this West Ham team will struggle to offer much resistance keeping them at bay.

This should be a comfortable away win.

Prediction: West Ham 0-3 Arsenal

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