Mikel Arteta and Arsenal star David Raya have voiced their worries about West Ham’s biggest weapon ahead of their Premier League clash.
If some West Ham fans don’t appreciate David Moyes, his former captain Mikel Arteta is making up for it.
They say styles make fights and two very different approaches will be on show when Arsenal welcome West Ham to the Emirates for the last game of 2023.
West Ham have reverted back to a counter attacking style this season after failing to transition into a possession side last term. Arsenal do and will dominate the ball.
A point for the Hammers would see them go back above Man United to start the new year in the top six.
Arteta and star voice worries about West Ham’s biggest weapon
For Arsenal a victory is needed to to regain top spot in the Premier League table.
That title challenge is one of the key reasons former West Ham hero Declan Rice left the club for the Gunners.
Arsenal were were comfortably beaten 3-1 by West Ham at the London Stadium in the Carabao Cup last month.
And their manager and goalkeeper are warning Arsenal’s players not to underestimate Moyes’ side.
Arteta and Arsenal star David Raya have voiced their worries about West Ham’s biggest weapon.
‘Tricky to control them’
That deadly counter attack spearheaded by the Hammers’ Holy Trinity of Lucas Paqueta, Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen.
“They open the spaces and combine really well in certain areas and it’s very tricky to control them,” Arteta admitted on Arsenal’s website.
“The areas where you give the ball away are critical. We will try to nullify the strengths that they have tomorrow and play to our strengths…
“Very difficult. They are a really good side, really well coached. It’s incredible the success that they had last year. They are again this season showing a lot of consistency.
‘West Ham a great team that can hurt you in many ways’
“They beat Spurs and Manchester United and that tells you everything about the difficulty of the game tomorrow and we’re going to have to be really good.”
Raya agrees with his manager, saying the Gunners must be switched on to West Ham’s counter attacking prowess.
“West Ham are a great team that can hurt you in many ways, especially on fast attacks and counter-attacks, so we have to be very aware of their strengths,” Raya told Arsenal’s website.
“We just have to play our game and focus more on ourselves and what we can do to win the game.
“We played them in the cup as well so we know what to expect. In this league, every game is tough. Anybody can beat anybody so it’s going to be a tough match, as every game is in the Premier League.”
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