As any self-respecting Hammers fan will tell you, West Ham
United were the last team to beat Arsenal at Highbury. As they aim
to be the first team to beat the Gunners at the Emirates, Matthew
Etherington admitted he's done his research on the new
stadium.
"It's meant to be unbelievable," he said. "I've spoken to a few people that have been there as spectators and a few players as well. They've all said it's in a different league. It'll be nice to play there but we can't really think about that.
"We've got to go out there and make sure we get some points on the board for West Ham and that's the main thing. We're at the stage of the season now where we can't really afford to be dropping many points and we need to go to Arsenal and get something."
Matthew scored the winning goal to give the Hammers a 3-2 win over Arsenal at Highbury last season and he believes this week's fixture is no less winnable.
"People will have probably looked at this fixture and thought we'd struggle to get anything," he said. "But we won at Highbury last year and played very well, we beat them at home this year as well. Maybe we've got a little something over them at the minute.
"But we know they're a great side and they've got great players. Technically they're very, very good. But we just have to stay tight as a team, don't let them get many chances and if we can, break on them, and do what we've done in the last couple of games. That will be the key I think, we just have to make sure we work hard as a team like we have in the last couple of games and take it from there."
While the 25-year-old midfielder's own performances have improved, he is pleased with the way the team have progressed as a unit.
"I'm starting to get very fit and feeling very sharp as well," he said. "I've been a bit stop, start this season and in and out of the team. You need a run of games really in the Premiership to get your fitness up and I think I'm starting to get that now.
"I'm pleased the boys have let me know my stats and they're improved a lot this season. They're up where they should be now and that's a good thing. I think the team are a lot more settled.
"We've put out more or less the same team for the last few games and that helps. You start getting to understand the other players and what they need. If the team's changing every week then it's hard to get any kind of rhythm or momentum going. It's definitely helped."
"It's meant to be unbelievable," he said. "I've spoken to a few people that have been there as spectators and a few players as well. They've all said it's in a different league. It'll be nice to play there but we can't really think about that.
"We've got to go out there and make sure we get some points on the board for West Ham and that's the main thing. We're at the stage of the season now where we can't really afford to be dropping many points and we need to go to Arsenal and get something."
Matthew scored the winning goal to give the Hammers a 3-2 win over Arsenal at Highbury last season and he believes this week's fixture is no less winnable.
"People will have probably looked at this fixture and thought we'd struggle to get anything," he said. "But we won at Highbury last year and played very well, we beat them at home this year as well. Maybe we've got a little something over them at the minute.
"But we know they're a great side and they've got great players. Technically they're very, very good. But we just have to stay tight as a team, don't let them get many chances and if we can, break on them, and do what we've done in the last couple of games. That will be the key I think, we just have to make sure we work hard as a team like we have in the last couple of games and take it from there."
While the 25-year-old midfielder's own performances have improved, he is pleased with the way the team have progressed as a unit.
"I'm starting to get very fit and feeling very sharp as well," he said. "I've been a bit stop, start this season and in and out of the team. You need a run of games really in the Premiership to get your fitness up and I think I'm starting to get that now.
"I'm pleased the boys have let me know my stats and they're improved a lot this season. They're up where they should be now and that's a good thing. I think the team are a lot more settled.
"We've put out more or less the same team for the last few games and that helps. You start getting to understand the other players and what they need. If the team's changing every week then it's hard to get any kind of rhythm or momentum going. It's definitely helped."