'Really dangerous': Mikel Arteta highlights West Ham's biggest threat, he's a big fan of one Hammers man
Today at 07:15 AM
Now, some West Ham United supporters may take issue with one comment Mikel Arteta made ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Arsenal at the London Stadium.
‘Really well coached’? Those are three words not often used to describe West Ham in the Julen Lopetegui era.
TBR reported just last week that West Ham contacted ex-Borussia Dortmund boss Edin Terzic – and Slaven Bilic’s former assistant – about potentially taking over from the under-fire Spaniard. The Hammers like one-time FC Porto manager Sergio Conceicao too.
But, after stopping the rot with a vital 2-0 win away at Newcastle, could that Jarrod Bowen-inspired triumph on Tyneside be the turning point in the Lopetegui regime?
Only time will tell, of course. And should West Ham suffer another heavy defeat to a London rival – Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur scored seven goals combined against Lopetegui’s team – the doubts over his future will quickly return.
Though, whatever happens this weekend, you won’t find Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta joining the pile-on.
Mikel Arteta hails West Ham United boss Julen Lopetegui
Arteta has enormous respect for a man born only half an hour’s drive from his San Sebastian home, having watched Lopetegui take charge of Porto, Real Madrid and Spain before winning a Europa League title with Sevilla.
“I know him. I have huge admiration for what he's done in the game,” Arteta said during his Friday press conference. “He's from the same area as I am in Spain.
“Obviously, [West Ham are] a team that are now on a high after their big win against Newcastle away. It's always a really tough opponent so we know that [it will be difficult].”
Arteta is wary of West Ham’s physicality, their duel-winning potential, and their threat at set-pieces.
Tomas Soucek opened the scoring at St James’ Park with a trademark header. And, while James Ward-Prowse may be a Nottingham Forest player these days, Emerson Palmieri can certainly deliver a dead ball.
“[West Ham have] various ways to create big problems. They are a really physical side,” Arteta adds. “Very good in direct play, really good at attacking second balls.
“When they have to dominate the game through the ball or they have space, they are a really dangerous team [with the] set-pieces and individual qualities that they have. The front players can create in any moment to cause you problems.
“They are really well coached.”
Arteta admits Gabriel Magalhaes is doubtful for Arsenal’s London Stadium trip
In addition to beating Newcastle on their own Tyneside turf, West Ham also brought about the end of the Erik ten Hag era at Manchester United. No wonder Arteta is leaving nothing to chance, with Lopetegui’s outfit saving some of their better recent performances for more high-profile opposition.
Arsenal’s hopes of preventing West Ham from adding another set-piece goal to their collection, meanwhile, could be damaged by the potential absence of Gabriel Magalhaes. Arteta did not rule out the big Brazilian centre-half, but did suggest that he faces a race against time to be available for Saturday’s 5.30 kick-off.
Gabriel scored, meanwhile, as Arsenal thrashed Sporting Lisbon 5-1 in the Champions League this week.
Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are back in the goals, while the return of Martin Odegaard has unsurprisingly coincided with a more fluid, free-scoring Gunners attack.
