West Ham manager, Slaven Bilic, admitted in his piece for the Evening Standard that the Hammers will have to do something special to beat Arsenal on Saturday but they’re more than capable.
West Ham beat us 2-0 on the opening day of the season – a match which still haunts many of us. Although we came back strongly and went on a good run, that initial slip-up highlighted our fragility from the off-set. Speaking ahead of our match against the Hammers at Upton Park, Bilic used the first match as an example of what his team can do and what they plan on doing again.
After hailing West Ham’s performance against us last time, he said, “It is the same as we go into tomorrow’s match. Okay we have grown as a squad but similar rules apply. We will have many talented players out on the pitch and if one or two of them can do something special and jump out of the pattern, then we have a chance against anyone.”
The Irons have been terrific this season and I’m far from confident going into the tie. Although we’ve played well over the last two Premier League matches, beating Everton away 2-0 and Watford 4-0, we’re far from bulletproof. West Ham have numerous big-hitters who enjoy putting goals past some of the League’s best keepers. Let’s hope we don’t become another ‘giant’ for them to slay.