Football News: Premier League Previews 23 September 2018

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West Ham United v Chelsea

After finally putting their losing streak to an end last week against Everton, West Ham have the opportunity to win back-to-back Premier League matches for the first time since January 2017, having failed to do so at all last season.
But of course, they face a Chelsea side who could win each of their opening six games to a Premier League season for the third time - and they went on to win the title on both previous occasions they achieved the feat.

West Ham have won three of their last six home league matches against the Blues (also losing three), which is as many as they had in their previous 12 combined. So they have done well at home to Chelsea of late, and won this exact fixture 1-0 last season thanks to a Marko Arnautovic goal.
Indeed, Chelsea failed to beat West Ham in both league meetings last season having also drawn 1-1 at Stamford Bridge - they last went three league games without a win over the Hammers in March 2000 (four games).
West Ham manager Manuel Pellegrini has an even record against the Blues in the Premier League, winning two, drawing two and losing two of six meetings when he was Man City manager.

But he will find it tough to win here against a hugely in form Chelsea side, with Maurizio Sarri already impressing his style onto the Blues. Sarri could become only the third manager to win each of his opening six Premier League games after Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola - something which would be a real statement to the rest of the Premier League should he achieve it.

Key players:
Andriy Yarmolenko - With two goals in his first ever Premier League start, the Ukrainian will be brimming with confidence going into this match, and that will be crucial for the Hammers if they are to get a result against a Chelsea side who have won each of their opening six matches this season in all competitions.

Olivier Giroud - Having been directly involved in nine goals in 10 Premier League appearances against West Ham (six goals, three assists), the Frenchman does not have better such record against any other side in the competition. He has linked up incredibly well with Eden Hazard this season and has assisted three goals in his last two matches. How West Ham handle his hold up play (should he start of course) could be key to deciding this contest.

Arsenal v Everton
After losing their first two games of the season, Arsenal have now won four in a row in all competitions, and face an Everton side against which they have a fantastic record. 24 home games without defeat against them in all competitions and they have 105 Premier League goals against the Toffees - more than any other side has against another in the competition's history.
Everton come into this game off the back of their first league defeat of the season, and could go four matches without a win in the Premier League for the first time since January (six games) should they fail to earn three points here.

Just one win in their opening five league matches is not the start Marco Silva will have been hoping for to life as Everton manager, and this won't be an easy game for him to improve upon that, with Everton having never won at the Emirates.
Arsenal's home form, too, is pretty impeccable - winning eight of their last 10 at the Emirates in the league, not to mention their victory over Vorskla Poltava in midweek. They have scored 30 goals in those 10 games, netting 3+ times in all of those victories. They are ruthless at their home ground, and will take some stopping for Everton here.
Meanwhile, Everton have won just two of their last 12 away league games, and those wins were over the relegated Stoke City and another side who were close to the relegation zone last season in Huddersfield. They must improve away from Goodison if they are to improve their chances of fighting higher up the table than they did in 2017-18.

Key players:
Aaron Ramsey - Although yet to score or assist a goal in the Premier League this season, Ramsey has scored six in his last four against Everton in the competition, including a hat-trick last time out in February. That's more goals than he has against any other side in the Premier League, and he will be hoping to haunt them again here today.
Theo Walcott - Returning to his old stomping ground, Walcott will be key to Everton's hopes of a result here. He has two goals and an assist to his name already this season and how he performs at what used to be his home stadium will be vital to Marco Silva and his team.

Written by Reid the Red September 23 2018 10:31:21