West Ham and Arsenal bidding to reach EFL Cup quarter-finals

West Ham vs Arsenal - 01/11/2023

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31/10/23

West Ham and Arsenal bidding to reach EFL Cup quarter-finals

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The fourth round of the EFL Cup serves up an all-Premier League clash, with West Ham United hosting London rivals Arsenal on Wednesday.

The Hammers booked their place in the last 16 with a 1-0 victory over Lincoln City, while the Gunners defeated Brentford by the same scoreline in the previous round.

Not our day in east London. pic.twitter.com/kH2WncWM2y
— West Ham United (@WestHam) October 29, 2023

With 10 points between ninth-placed West Ham and second-placed Arsenal in the Premier League table, Mikel Arteta’s men are favoured to advance in midweek. Can David Moyes’ boys upset the odds?

The Hammers made a hugely impressive start to the season, losing just two of their opening 11 matches while picking up seven victories.

Since then, however, West Ham have endured a four-game winless run, drawing with Newcastle United before suffering three successive defeats.

After losing 4-1 against Aston Villa, Moyes’ side suffered a 2-1 defeat against Olympiacos before recording a 1-0 home defeat to Everton last time out.

Having taken a solitary point from their last two home games, the Hammers will be eager to stop the rot on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Arsenal crushed Sheffield United 5-0 last time out, with Eddie Nketiah netting an impressive hat-trick.

As a result, the Gunners remain unbeaten in the Premier League this season, having picked up seven wins and three draws to cement second place in the standings.

When you look at the bigger picture, Mikel Arteta’s side have lost just one of their 15 encounters across all competitions this term, falling to Lens in the Champions League.

With five victories coming in their seven away games, Arsenal will back themselves to reach the EFL Cup quarter-finals at the expense of the Hammers.

Head-to-head: West Ham have failed to win any of their last eight meetings with Arsenal, suffering six defeats in that sequence.

To make matters worse for the Hammers, they have managed to win just one of their previous 16 matches against the Gunners.

Team news: West Ham possess a clean bill of health at the moment, with no injury problems to report. On top of that, Emerson will return from suspension on Wednesday.

Arsenal’s injury list contains Gabriel Jesus, Thomas Partey and Jurrien Timber, while Arteta is expected to rotate his starting XI.