HAMMERS face their biggest test of the season so far on Saturday
when London rivals Arsenal visit the Boleyn Ground.
Alan Pardew's team have had plenty to smile about this season, with 10 points from five games and sixth place in the Premier League table.
But the Gunners are a dangerous proposition, and Pards knows that his team will face a huge test of their Premiership credentials on Saturday.
"With all due respect to the teams we've played before, we are definitely stepping up a class in this game," said Pards.
"Our expectations can't be too high against the level of team we are playing against, but we want to win the game though and I'm sure the Stadium will be in very good voice.
"This is a step up in class and we have to make sure we can deal with it, but up to now we have looked more than capable in this League.
"After Chelsea we have scored the most goals, and more importantly for us we have only conceded four. For a promoted team that's excellent."
Arsenal are a big threat, but are also a fantastic side that have impressed Alan immensely and have one of the world's leading managers in Arsene Wenger.
"Arsenal are not far from me, only down the road, so I've seen a lot of them and I'm a great admirer of the way they pass the ball. I think they are probably the best passing side in the Premiership.
"I've met Arsene Wenger on a couple of occasions and I think he's been marvellous for English football.
"He's set the standard for the conditioning of players over his nine year tenure, and he plays a type of football which I think is hugely entertaining.
"They've had a difficult start, the two losses he wouldn't have wanted, but he's a great manager and they're a great team."
When asked about the absence of Thierry Henry, Pards simply smiled and said: "I'm very glad."
"He's a massive player and you can't get away from the fact that it's a bonus he isn't playing."
Whoever the opposition however, the Hammers boss will always go out with a winning mentality and a desire to play attractive, attacking football.
"We don't have a philosophy here where we think "that'll be OK". We aim to win every game," he stated. "Sometimes tactically we set ourselves up to win it in different styles of course.
"We are not the type of team to shut up shop and hope we get something, we don't play like that.
"I like to play with pace and attacking football and players with an attitude to win the game."
"There are obviously different ways to win games but I think that the way the team is set up at the moment and the way the team is playing, I would do them a disservice by making changes to the way we approach games.
"So lets see how we get on, we're going to play very similar to the way we have been this season and see how we go.
"Every manager's got to work with what they've got, and I've got a team that;s exuberant and has its tail up. I don't want to take that away from them."
"I've worked five full seasons to get to the Premiership, and to come up against someone like Arsene Wenger is fantastic for me and for our players too, because they're coming up against names like Jose Antonio Reyes, Gilberto Silva and Ashley Cole."
Many of the Hammers team will be facing the toughest opposition of
their careers in the Gunners, but the manager believes firmly in
the ability of his squad and is quick to praise the individuals who
have contributed to the great start this season.
"Nigel Reo-Coker, who stars for the England Under-21s, hadn't played at this level before, and Anton too," he said, "They've been two of my best players so far.
"Matty Etherington has been terrific and hasn't had as many plaudits as some of the others for the run we've had.
"He balances the team up and you really notice Matty when he's not playing, which is a great compliment to him.
"The team has gone up a level because the individuals within it are playing so well and hopefully that continues against Arsenal on Saturday."