Arsenal vs West Ham betting preview: odds and predictions
CHRISTMAS Premier League leaders Arsenal return to the Emirates on Thursday night but a London derby with a West Ham side sitting sixth and flying again in Europe won’t be easy.
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Quick betting tips for Arsenal vs West Ham
- Both teams to score and Arsenal to win – 21/10 with Spreadex
- Jarrod Bowen anytime scorer – 5/1 with bet365
- Gabriel Magalhaes 1+ headed shot on target – 7/2 with Sky Bet
Arsenal vs West Ham odds
Here are the latest match odds for Arsenal vs West Ham from our top-rated football bookmakers. Odds are subject to change.
Arsenal vs West Ham betting preview
Arsenal will return to the top of the Premier League if they beat West Ham on Thursday but the task at hand looks a tricky one.
The Hammers have been going well, winning eight of their last 11 in all competitions and finding the net in all bar one of those matches.
David Moyes looks to be a manager who will never be fully accepted by some West Ham fans but it’s hard to argue with the job he has done in terms of winning football matches and the Hammers should not fear the short trip around the North Circular.
Still, this is also an Arsenal side with plenty of confidence right now. For the second season running, they reached Christmas top of the pile and in what looks a wide-open title race, they will be determined to learn from the harsh lessons of last season when they blew up in the run-in.
To keep things on the boil, they need to win home games like this though and the good news is they’ve been strong at the Emirates, dropping only four points in nine matches.
They’ve won the last eight at home to West Ham and should be good enough to make that nine.
While West Ham are going well, it’s worth noting they lost 3-1 in the league at Anfield (as well as 5-1 in the League Cup) and also took a 4-1 beating at Aston Villa.
Something similar may well unfold here with a home win and both teams to score looking a good way to go from a betting perspective.
With Jarrod Bowen in their side, West Ham should be able to trouble a tight Arsenal backline but the Gunners’ extra quality will likely shine through.
Arsenal vs West Ham key stats
- Arsenal have the joint-best defensive record in the Premier League, conceding only 16 times in their opening 18 matches.
- The Gunners’ total of 11 goals from set pieces is matched only by Everton this season.
- West Ham forward Jarrod Bowen has scored in eight of his nine domestic away games this season.
- In his last 17 home appearances (all competitions), Bukayo Saka has scored (11) or assisted (7) a total of 18 times.
- Kai Havertz is suspended for Arsenal after picking up five yellow cards. Leandro Trossard could replace the German. West Ham will hope Nayef Aguerd has recovered from the illness which forced him to miss the win over Manchester United at the weekend.
Arsenal vs West Ham best bets
Find our best bets for the Arsenal vs West Ham game below. Odds for the bets are provided by the best sportsbooks per our expert reviews. Odds in the betting tips are subject to change.
Both teams to score and Arsenal to win
A bet mentioned on these pages before but one which deserves another go here.
Arsenal have landed this in four of their nine home games this season. Going back further, it delivered in 11 of 19 last term.
The Hammers have scored in every away game bar their 5-0 thumping at Fulham when their squad was ravaged by illness. They’ve already been to the other members of the top four, losing at Anfield and Villa Park.
In short, a value way of getting with the hosts, who are odds-on to win by any means.
Back both teams to score and Arsenal to win at 21/10 at Spreadex
Jarrod Bowen anytime scorer
Bowen has played in nine domestic away games this season and scored in eight of them – it’s a remarkable record.
While this is a strong Arsenal defence he’s facing, it’s worth noting that his goals have come at Anfield (twice), Spurs and Aston Villa, among others.
A player in fine form is clearly West Ham’s most likely scorer and with Arsenal having conceded in six of their nine home league games so far, quotes of 5/1 simply look too big.
Back Bowen to score at any time at 5/1 at bet365
Gabriel Magalhaes 1+ headed shot on target
West Ham have proved vulnerable from set-plays with only Sheffield United conceding more shots from those situations this season.
No side has scored more goals from set-pieces than Arsenal so far, so it’s not rocket science to suggest shots, or indeed goals, could result in this one.
Gabriel is 9/1 to score in this game, as he did at Anfield on Saturday, but the safer option looks to be to back him for a headed shot on target at 7/2.
He’s landed this in his last two games and is the man most sought out by the Gunners at set pieces.
Back Gabriel 1+ headed shot on target at 7/2 at Sky Bet
How to watch Arsenal vs West Ham
- Location: Emirates Stadium, London, England
- Time: 20:15 GMT on Thursday, December 28
- Where to watch: Streamed live in the UK by Amazon Prime Video
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