Prediction: Arsenal vs West Ham

Verdict: Arsenal win

Best Odds: 1/2

Bookmaker:

Aiming to mark their return to the Premier League on Boxing Day, Arsenal will welcome West Ham to the Emirates.

Arsenal

Starting with the hosts, while Arsenal may have missed out on a Champions League comeback last season, the Gunners have only continued on a remarkable purple smudge since opening the 2022/23 campaign . With the mood around the Emirates at an all-time high, Mikel Arteta's side mark their return to Premier League duties on Monday night by holding a five-point buffer at the top of the table. Now firmly in the midst of a shock title charge, the former Manchester City manager saw his youngsters earn nothing but a round of applause from across Europe. Seeking to set up another top scorer on Boxing Day, Arsenal have lost just one Premier League game so far this season. Similarly, last seen ahead of the enforced World Cup winter break with a 2-0 win over Wolves, it's also worth noting that Arteta's men have taken 22 points in their last eight encounters in Premier League.

Team News

In what has been a real blow to Arsenal, attacking talisman Gabriel Jesus is not expected to appear until February after suffering a knee injury while out with Brazil at this World Cup winter. Eddie Nketiah should lead Arsenal's charge here.

The Gunners have also confirmed that the duo of Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson will miss Boxing Day again.

West Ham

When it comes to the visitors, while West Ham may have had a famous campaign in east London last season reaching the European League semi-finals, David Moyes' men have really come down on earth. Failing to find any stability since the start of the 2022/23 campaign, the Hammers suddenly find themselves in the midst of a relegation tumble. Making their return to action on Monday night taking just one buffer point to slip into the drop zone, it's no secret that the former Manchester United boss has huge pressure on his shoulders. . Last seen before the winter break with a deserved 2-0 home defeat to Leicester, West Ham will be more than aware that they face a huge task on Boxing Day. Losing four of their last five top-flight outings, Moyes' struggling side are desperate to find some sort of Christmas boost.

Team News

Limping against Fulham last weekend in their final mid-season friendly, West Ham are sweating over the fitness of summer arrival Gianluca Scamacca here.

Similarly, with a thigh injury while out with Morocco at this winter's World Cup, it remains to be seen if Nayef Aguerd will be in attendance on Monday night. The Hammers have also confirmed that Maxwel Cornet will not return from a long-term issue on Boxing Day.

Key Factors to Consider When the two teams last met on May 1, Arsenal took a 2-1 win at the London Stadium. The Gunners have taken 10 points in their last four Premier League meetings against West Ham. Monday's guests had lost four of their last five Premier League clashes before the winter break. Arsenal have suffered just one Premier League defeat since the start of the 2022/23 campaign. Likewise, Arteta's top-flight side have taken 22 points in their last eight top-flight contests.

Conclusion

Building on what was a remarkable purple smudge before heading into the World Cup break, Arsenal will simply be looking to pick up where they left off last month. Marking their return to action with a five-point buffer over defending champions Manchester City, the Boxing Day hosts should feel a golden chance here. With West Ham in the midst of an extremely worrying struggle in the Premier League since the opener of the 2022/23 campaign, the Hammers find themselves in the thick of a relegation clash. Having lost four of their last five top competitions last month, it's hard to see anything other than a home win here.

Verdict: Arsenal win

Best Odds: 1/2

Bookmaker: