West Ham v Arsenal
Upton Park, 4.15pm
FA Cup third round
Last meeting: West Ham 2-2 Arsenal (25-10-09) The Gunners charged into a 2-0 half-time lead thanks to a 16th-minute Robin van Persie strike and a William Gallas header from a corner. But West Ham fought back thanks to Carlton Cole. The striker scored his team’s first with 15 minutes to go and won a penalty six minutes later, which Alessandro Diamanti converted, despite slipping at the crucial moment.
The opposition: Arsene Wenger’s team have taken 13 points from a possible 15 since their 3-0 hammering at the hands of Chelsea last month. That run has seen them move to within two points of second-placed Manchester United, while they are four behind the Blues and have a game in hand over both of their title rivals.
Danger men: West Ham will be relieved that Robin van Persie is in the middle of a long spell on the sidelines through injury, while influential midfielder Cesc Fabregas is also a doubt after aggravating a hamstring injury during the 3-0 victory over Hull on Sunday – a game he changed by scoring two.
Did you know? Arsenal fans have just voted Dennis Bergkamp’s sensational goal against Newcastle United back in 2002 as the club’s number one goal of the decade. The Dutchman deftly touched a ball from Robert Pires round a bewildered Nikos Dabizas, pirouetting the other way before shrugging off the defender and clinically finishing beyond Shay Given.
Prediction: West Ham 1 Arsenal 3.
Betting tip: Alessandro Diamanti to score at any time during the match.
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