A rare 3pm Saturday game for Arsenal this week.

In addition to our extensive pre-match coverage of the game, we’ve gotten our writers together for a short prediction on how they think the game will pan out.

And if you think we’re just going to throw these predictions out there and then forget about them, fear not.

We’ll be back to take a look at how we did and laughing at the person who got it wrong more than anyone else.

Lee Hurley Win 3-0

The penny has finally dropped with Arsenal, right?

They know what’s required week-in, week-out and aren’t going to down tools just because it’s WestHam and not Manchester United, right?

Let’s be honest, we’ve loads of practice with this sort of situation and after such a big high we can often be found turning up and underwhelming.

I don’t see that happening this week, and maybe that’s because my heart is in charge of this prediction instead of my head (I let them take turns).

I fancy a professional win with an early goal to knock the fight out of West Ham who might have their eye on more important games. That’s as long as Arsenal aren’t also doing the same and already in Monaco.

Helen Trantum Win 3-1

Arsenal have beaten West Ham in each of their previous five encounters, by at least a two goal margin.

However, the Irons have a habit of scoring first and making life difficult for us – in fact the festive fixture this year was the only occasion where they didn’t take the lead!

Arsenal had a tough game on Monday, but West Ham are coming off the back of a terrible run of games. With each of the bottom five to play in their next seven fixtures, they’d be forgiven for having one eye on the weeks ahead. A dangerous position though if they approach the game with nothing to lose.

I’m expecting a tight game with a few goals – Arsenal should get some joy down the Hammers’ patched-up right hand side, but Sakho in particular has the pace and movement to test our defence at the other end.

I’m expecting a hard-fought victory, and I reckon Cazorla is overdue a goal although Sakho is probably good for a consolation for the Hammers. The crowd can make a real difference if they pick up where the away support left off on Monday and get us off to a good start – the first goal will determine whether this is a tough day at the office. 3-1 Arsenal.

Stephen Bradley Win 3-1

This is the classic “Trap” game.

A big win during the week, a massive game coming up on Tuesday, home game against a team struggling with injuries. It’d be very easy to lose focus and not be sharp for this game.

But with Man United playing Spurs on Sunday, followed by Liverpool playing at in-form Swansea on Monday night, this is a huge opportunity to put some pressure on both of those teams and stretch out a little bit of a gap in the table.

So apart from maybe Alexis getting a rest and Walcott starting (he has to start soon, surely?) I can’t see us making any changes to the team from Monday night.

If we play like that again, we win. 3-1.

Paul Williams Win 3-1

West Ham at home almost feels like the perfect game for Arsenal to continue the feel good factor engendered by Monday’s win at Old Trafford.

Player to player, we know West Ham can’t compete with Arsenal and, after a bright start to the season, they have not so much faded as switched off in 2015.

Further, Sam Allardyce’s record against Arsene Wenger, despite the propaganda, is atrocious.

As long as Arsenal can avoid the “after the Lord Mayor’s show” syndrome, they should have far too much for West Ham.

3-1

Sylvain Jamet Win 3-0

After the superb performance at Old Trafford, we can only expect a home win against West Ham.

The race for the Champions League places is tight so the best available team should be playing considering the Monaco away game need to be won by 3-0.

Up front I expect Sanchez, Giroud, and Wellbeck with Walcott, again on the bench.

I’m positive about the game and I would say 3-0 Arsenal.

Lewis Ambrose Win 3-0

West Ham have faltered of late, their early season form was never sustainable.

As ever they’re better at home than away, but with Allardyce in charge they’ll be looking to shut us out.

If we don’t manage to play quickly we could find ourselves stifled, but I don’t see that being likely with the form Özil in particular finds himself in.

It would be nice if we could act quickly – a calm second half would be welcome ahead of an away Champions League game.

It’s imperative that the players don’t focus on that just yet, though and I see us carrying on where we left off on Monday.

Arsenal 3-0 West Ham United

Nia Griffiths Win 3-0

After beating West Ham away earlier this season at Upton Park, a feat that’s proved impossible for a few top teams, I’m reasonably confident we’ll get a comfortable win at home this weekend.

We’re coming off the back of a tremendous win away at Old Trafford, while their results have plummeted south considerably since we last met.

West Ham have slipped down from the top four into mid-table, while we hold third place, currently four points off second (come on Burnley!)

It’s likely we’ll have a slightly changed team from our FA Cup tie on Monday, however, with the momentum of such a positive result, I think we’ll carry on with winning ways.

Andi Foster Win 2-1

Given how Jekyll and Hyde Arsenal have been this season following big games, I’m finding this one quite hard to predict as it really depends which Arsenal show up.

We could well see an ahead-of-Monaco-thumping (especially with West Ham being without Jenks) or we could well see a scraping victory.

Unfortunately, if I’m honest I’m leaning towards the latter.

I’ll go for 2-1 to Arsenal (I even fancy a Walcott goal)

Sean Ferguson Win 3-0

West Ham have been on a poor run of form recently so I’d expect us to win this fairly easily.

Coming off the back of a morale boosting win at Old Trafford we should be looking to put this game to bed as soon as possible.

With Man United playing Spurs on Sunday we should be looking to capitalise on whoever drops points in that one.

It’ll be interesting to see who plays with Monaco coming up in midweek and I imagine we’ll see Ospina come back in with the same back four who started at Old Trafford.

I’d like to see a midfield of Le Coq and Ramsey with Ozil in front of them, with Welbeck and Alexis on the wing and Giroud up top.

I can see us winning this 3-0, Giroud with a brace and Alexis nicking the third.

Mark Fine Win 3-1

The Hammers have had a terrible run of form lately.

They haven’t won since Andy Carroll last played a full 90. That was a 3-0 win against Hull on the 18th of January – their only win of 2015.

That would have changed against Spurs on Feb 22nd, had former Gunner Alex Song not given away a penalty in the dying seconds of that match.

Andy Carroll, Carlton Cole, Enner Valencia, and Winston Reid are all out until at least next week. Carl Jenkinson is also ineligible due to our loan agreement.

With not much of an attack up front, a midfield that goes soft in the second half, and an even worse defence we should have no problem running ramshod over them if we’re patient.

As I’ve said before, we should have no problem beating anyone, let alone a 10th place side.

The only two things that concern me are: First, our tendency to come off big games far too much on the high side of the confidence roller-coaster. Second, our tendency to underestimate lesser teams.

I prefer to think we’ll have put both of those aside and come away with a 3-1 win.

Anita Sambol Win 3-0

How can this be anything else but a win?

A great performance on Monday, a great result in this tie earlier in the season, no (major) issues in the team.

I’m wondering who will start in goal, will Wenger stick with Ospina in the league or shall Wojciech keep his place after Monday?

I’m gonna be a copy cat and say 3-0 too, an easy one for us this weekend.

Gotta grab that 2nd place!