The Premier League biggest pundits have not learned their lesson when it comes to West Ham it seems ahead of the big Arsenal clash.

West Ham were completely written off ahead of their trip to Newcastle on Monday night.

Nobody gave the Hammers a prayer of a result as speculation mounted Julen Lopetegui could be sacked by the Arsenal game.

The likes of Jamie Carragher and Theo Walcott even went viral for laughing at West Ham’s chances of a result just before kick-off.

Arsenal legend Paul Merson stated anyone who thought West Ham could get results against Newcastle and Arsenal were ‘delusional’.

They were all left with egg on their faces as the Hammers turned in their best performance of the year to win 2-0.

The performance came out of nowhere and bought Lopetegui time.

Now Arsenal visit the London Stadium and many think it is a completely different proposition.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta says he has ‘huge admiration’ for his compatriot Lopetegui.

And he is complimentary – and wary – of ‘dangerous’ West Ham ahead of the London derby.

It seems Arteta is paying the Hammers more respect than most, though.

Because from Carragher to Mark Lawrenson the big six pundits doubt West Ham again for the Arsenal test.

Carragher’s blunt West Ham prediction says it all

Every single one of the Premier League’s big prediction pundits has West Ham down to lose to the Gunners.

Although some don’t think it’s as cut and dried as others.

Predicting the score for Sky Sports, Carragher talked about the games involving the title hopefuls.

But he didn’t even mention Arsenal’s trip to West Ham.

Because he clearly believes it’s a given and West Ham have no chance, predicting a 2-0 win for Arsenal.

Shearer impressed by Hammers and two stars but backs Arsenal

Alan Shearer watched his team Newcastle beaten by the Hammers on Monday night.

The Premier League’s record goalscorer was suitably impressed too.

Particularly with West Ham duo Max Kilman and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

Shearer still think the Gunners will have ‘too much’ for the Hammers, though.

“It was a great result for West Ham on Monday,” Shearer told The Metro.

“I was really impressed with the way they nullified Newcastle and Wan-Bissaka did really well. I thought Max Kilman was superb.

“We saw Arsenal’s result in the Champions League and now going to West Ham, I think they’ll have too much quality in forward positions and will take the three points.”

Baffled Merson says Arsenal will destroy West Ham

Merson was less considered than Shearer in his prediction for the game.

Merson said he is ‘baffled how Newcastle lost to that West Ham team’.

And he say Arsenal will destroy West Ham, particularly in midfield, to win 3-0 – the same score he predicted the Irons would lose by at St James’s Park.

“I cannot see anything but an Arsenal win here,” Merson told Sportskeeda.

“I saw them in action against Sporting in the Champions League and Arsenal completely destroyed that team. The same thing happened with Nottingham Forest last weekend, I can sense Arsenal finding their mojo again after a few tough results.

“West Ham got an incredible win against Newcastle. But they are never going to keep this free-flowing Arsenal team out of the game. I have a feeling Arsenal will destroy West Ham’s midfield.

“If Thomas Partey, Declan Rice and Odegaard play together, it will be impossible to stop them. In comparison, West Ham’s midfielders are no match for Arsenal. I think this will be a comfortable win for the visitors.”

Sutton thinks West Ham vs Arsenal will be ‘very tight’

Chris Sutton does not think it will be as easy as Merson makes out.

Making his prediction on BBC Sport, Sutton said he thinks Martin Odegaard will be the difference-maker in a ‘very tight’ 1-0 win for Arsenal at the London Stadium.

“Julen Lopetegui really needed Monday’s win at Newcastle after a difficult start as West Ham boss,” Sutton said.

“He and his side will be buoyed by that but this is not a good time to be playing Arsenal, who are purring again now Martin Odegaard is back from injury.

“The Gunners were not in great form without Odegaard, but he makes them a different proposition and I am going to say he will make the difference in a very tight game.”

Lawrenson delivers emphatic Arsenal win prediction

Like Merson, Mark Lawrenson can only see the Gunners thrashing West Ham.

And like Merson, Lawro also predicted A 3-0 win for Arsenal.

Like Merson, that was the same scoreline he predicted for West Ham’s trip to Newcastle on Monday.

So Hammers fans will be hoping he too is wrong again.

“Arsenal will win this,” Lawro said.

“I think they pose a bigger threat to Liverpool’s title hopes than Manchester City to be honest.

“They’re all back and fit, they had a good result in midweek, and I see them kicking on now.”

Sky Sports expert predicts narrow Arsenal win

Sky Sports’ leading football analyst Lewis Jones thinks Arsenal are the best team in the top flight.

And he believes they will edge a 1-0 win at West Ham to underline their title credentials.

“I’m still a believer that this is their time having gone close before and they possess the ruthless streak to put winning runs together built around one of the best defensive units ever seen in the Premier League,” Jones said in his Jones Knows column.

“That defence can lead them to another win to nil victory here…

“I can see a typical Arsenal away performance built on being defensively focused, sapping the energy out of the game before striking when on top.”

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