After a difficult run of Premier League matches, Arsenal are back on home soil tonight as they host West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium tonight.
In an unusual turn of events, Arsenal travelled to Upton Park on Saturday currently looking up the League table at the Hammers having endured a poor run of results.
While these two teams tend to get on, with both sharing a hatred for Tottenham Hotspurs and the Blues, when it comes to match day they are far from friendly.
WTTGT has assembled together three of the most memorable clashes between the two London clubs over the past number of years.
So take a wonder down memory lane at three of the standout matches.
Arsenal 0-1 West Ham United
Saturday 7th April 2007
With the Gunners looking on course for a finish in the Champions League, struggling West Ham United arrived at the Emirates Stadium needing a win to stay in the division.
The Hammers had been on an extraordinary run, with Carlos Tevez bossing every match he turned up at as the visitors looked to pull off a great escape.
Despite Arsenal’s dominance, West Ham came away from the match not only with all three points but as the first ever team to beat the North Londoners at the Emirates.
Rob Green enjoyed an outstanding afternoon, keeping out Gilberto and Emmanuel Adebayor among others, while Bobby Zamora’s first-half chip over Jens Lehmann proved to be enough to secure the victory for the relegation-battlers.
West Ham United 2-2 Arsenal
Saturday 24th August 2002
Defending champions Arsenal travelled to Upton Park, looking to set an English record for 15th consecutive clean sheets.
They would fall short of that record after Joe Cole smashed the hosts in front just before half-time.
The Hammers were the stronger team coming out the blocks for the second half, and led the Premier League champions 2-0 after Freddie Kanoute doubled their advantage.
The Gunners, however, were far from down and out, as 12 minutes later Thierry Henry brilliantly spun past his marker before launching an absolute missile into the back of the Hammers net to bring Arsenal back into the fixture.
West Ham had the chance to restore their two-goal lead from the penalty spot, but Kanoute’s poor effort was easily stopped by David Seaman, who then watched on as Sylvain Wiltord snatched a draw for Arsenal two minutes from time to cap a thrilling game of football.
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham United
Wednesday 24th April 2002
With Arsenal closing in on the Premier League title, a home fixture against West Ham United was certainly a must-win for the challengers.
The Gunners were in fine form coming into the game, but found breaking down a solid Hammers side a lot harder than first expected.
It was the away side who should have gone in front, but despite the ball appearing to be over the line, Ashley Cole was deemed to have successfully cleared Freddie Kanoute’s shot in the first half.
West Ham still stood strong and it took until the 77th minute for Arsenal’s man of the moment Freddie Ljungberg to put the hosts1-0 up before the Swede turned provider for Kanu to double the home side’s advantage.
The victory was a crucial triumph in the North Londoners season, as Arsenal went on to bring the Premier League title back home to Highbury.
You can find Ljungberg’s goal around the 1:20 minute mark.
And last time out….
These two sides met at Upton Park earlier in the season and, having gone behind to a Mohamed Diame goal, the Gunners secured a 3-1 victory against their London rivals.
Olivier Giroud equalised with his first Premier League goal for Arsenal, before Theo Walcott came off the bench to put the visitors ahead, and then Santi Cazorla added a third in magical fashion,
Matt Cotton
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