Declan Rice returns to West Ham once again as the Hammers welcome Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday.
The last time the Gunners rocked up at the London Stadium in February, things did not end well for West Ham.
David Moyes’ side suffered their record home defeat as Arsenal romped to an embarrassing 6-0 victory.
To rub salt in wound, Declan Rice scored one of the goals of the season.
In fairness to the former Hammers captain, he refused to celebrate.
Somewhat perversely, West Ham had the last laugh come the end of the season as their 3-1 defeat at Man City stopped Rice winning the title with his new club.
West Ham’s own 2-0 victory at the Emirates before the turn of the year didn’t help Mikel Arteta’s side either.
This season has not quite gone to plan so far for West Ham or the Gunners.
Man City have fallen off their perch but it is Liverpool and not Arsenal who are taking advantage – so far at least.
West Ham have a new manager in Julen Lopetegui but had been terrible for the most part until Monday night at Newcastle.
Smug Merson has just done West Ham’s team talk for Arsenal
Both the Hammers and Arteta’s side have hit some form ahead of their meeting this Saturday.
West Ham were superb in a shock but deserved 2-0 win at Newcastle.
Arsenal cantered past Forest 3-0 and Sporting 5-1 before their short trip to east London.
Lopetegui will be desperate to show the Newcastle win wasn’t a one off.
The Hammers looked like a serious side at St James’s Park. They looked like the kind of team most predicted they would be after an impressive £155m summer spend.
Lopetegui’s compatriot Arteta will want to continue his side’s momentum. But then so did Eddie Howe and Newcastle who were off the back of three straight wins.
West Ham have absolutely no chance, though.
That’s according to one former Arsenal star turned pundit.
Smug Paul Merson has just done West Ham’s team talk for the Arsenal clash with a big Rice claim.
Last weekend Merson predicted the Hammers would be battered 3-0 at Newcastle.
In fact he stated anyone who thought West Ham could win there was ‘delusional’.
The fact West Ham have made Merson look silly doesn’t seem to have changed his opinion on them, though.
Rice will ‘destroy’ Hammers says Merson
Because Merson now says Rice is going to destroy West Ham, predicting another massacre at the London Stadium.
The pundit says he is ‘baffled how Newcastle lost to that West Ham team’ on Monday night.
Now he has stuck the boot in on Lopetegui and his side again, saying Arsenal will win with ease.
“I cannot see anything but an Arsenal win here,” Merson told Sportskeeda when predicting a 3-0 defeat for the Hammers for a second game running.
“I saw them in action against Sporting in the Champions League and Arsenal completely destroyed that team. The same thing happened with Nottingham Forest last weekend, I can sense Arsenal finding their mojo again after a few tough results.
“West Ham got an incredible win against Newcastle. But they are never going to keep this free-flowing Arsenal team out of the game. I have a feeling Arsenal will destroy West Ham’s midfield.
“If Thomas Partey, Declan Rice and Odegaard play together, it will be impossible to stop them. In comparison, West Ham’s midfielders are no match for Arsenal. I think this will be a comfortable win for the visitors.”
West Ham will hope they can prove Merson wrong again
To say West Ham’s midfield is ‘no match’ for Arsenal’s is a bit of a stretch.
Of course Arsenal have a better side across the pitch.
But Lucas Paqueta on his day is one of the top players in the Premier League.
Tomas Soucek is always dangerous no matter who he plays.
And Carlos Soler showed just why he was signed for big money by PSG with a top class performance at Newcastle.
Lopetegui could do a lot worse than pin Merson’s dismissive comments on the dressing room wall.
He’s writing West Ham off like we’re a second division side.
The Hammers will be hoping to prove Merson wrong for the second time in as many games.
This is always where West Ham are most comfortable, being underdogs and written off rather than hyped up.
It’s historically when the team and fans are at their best.
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