Arsenal have a golden opportunity this weekend. A win against West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium would bring them within five points of Premier League leaders Liverpool. With Manchester City set to face Arne Slot’s men on Sunday, the title race could take another twist.
Liverpool’s recent results suggest vulnerability. A pair of 2-2 draws against Everton and Aston Villa, sandwiched around an unconvincing win over Wolverhampton Wanderers, have made the gap at the top look less daunting. Arsenal, despite their injury setbacks and a quiet January transfer window, must capitalise.
Mikel Arteta is focused on one thing: winning on Saturday. “We have to do our job,” he said. “If we do that, we’ll be looking at that game on Sunday.” He refuses to get distracted by the bigger picture, but his team will know what is at stake.
Arsenal’s home form is an asset. They are the only Premier League team yet to lose at home this season and have gone 15 league games at the Emirates without defeat. A repeat of their recent thrashings of West Ham — 6-0 and 5-2 in the last two meetings — would send a clear message.
West Ham arrive in poor shape. Graham Potter has not provided the expected bounce since taking over, with the team picking up just four points from their last seven league matches. They sit 16th in the table but are still relatively safe from relegation, which might explain their lack of urgency.
Arsenal will have to navigate this game without key attackers. Arteta’s decision to deploy Mikel Merino as a makeshift striker against Leicester City paid off, but repeating that success will not be easy. “Every time you play a player, you are betting on that player,” the manager admitted.
The challenge is to keep belief alive. “Momentum is what we need,” Arteta said. “When your energy and belief increase, and results are behind you, anything can happen.” That is the mindset Arsenal must take into this weekend.
With 13 games left, the title race is still open. If Arsenal take care of business, they can put real pressure on Liverpool. Arteta knows the margins are slim, but the opportunity is there. Now, his team must take it.
