Assistant Manager Mervyn Day has some mucky memories of
facing Arsenal, when he played in goal for the Hammers
in the FA Cup quarter-final at Highbury in
1975.
"It was a very wet, horrible day," he recalls. "We won 2-0. It was the quarter finals of the FA Cup and the day Alan Taylor announced himself on the scene at West Ham. He scored both goals that day and went on to score two in the semi-final and two in the final. It was a very competitive game from what I seem to remember."
It was so competitive a game that Mervyn put in a memorable challenge which led to the Hammers' first goal - and a very unpleasant consequence.
"It was a through ball and the pitch was so wet, because it was pouring with rain, that I came sliding out and took man and ball," he said. "John Radford went flying over. It was 0-0 at that point and I think we went straight down the other end and scored.
"It didn't please the Arsenal fans, so much so that I did actually receive a piece of used toilet tissue through the post with writing to the effect of 'We will get you, Day,' signed from 'The Radford Boys'. It was a long time ago but that is the main reason I remember the incident after 32 years!"
Times may have changed, but Arsenal away is no less intimidating a fixture now than it was then.
"Arsenal is always a very difficult game wherever you play them," Merv added. "They haven't been beaten at the Emirates Stadium this season. Yes, they've lost their last couple of games but it's still the Arsenal team that is fourth in the Premiership, going very well and it's a tough game for us.
"Thankfully, we seem to have turned a bit of a corner and we've got a bit of confidence and momentum going for us. We're hoping to put in a good performance and a good result.
"I've watched a couple of games at the Emirates and it's an amazing place. But I think, by and large this year, our players have tended to rise to the bigger games. We won't be fearful; we'll be enjoying the atmosphere and trying to do our best."
"It was a very wet, horrible day," he recalls. "We won 2-0. It was the quarter finals of the FA Cup and the day Alan Taylor announced himself on the scene at West Ham. He scored both goals that day and went on to score two in the semi-final and two in the final. It was a very competitive game from what I seem to remember."
It was so competitive a game that Mervyn put in a memorable challenge which led to the Hammers' first goal - and a very unpleasant consequence.
"It was a through ball and the pitch was so wet, because it was pouring with rain, that I came sliding out and took man and ball," he said. "John Radford went flying over. It was 0-0 at that point and I think we went straight down the other end and scored.
"It didn't please the Arsenal fans, so much so that I did actually receive a piece of used toilet tissue through the post with writing to the effect of 'We will get you, Day,' signed from 'The Radford Boys'. It was a long time ago but that is the main reason I remember the incident after 32 years!"
Times may have changed, but Arsenal away is no less intimidating a fixture now than it was then.
"Arsenal is always a very difficult game wherever you play them," Merv added. "They haven't been beaten at the Emirates Stadium this season. Yes, they've lost their last couple of games but it's still the Arsenal team that is fourth in the Premiership, going very well and it's a tough game for us.
"Thankfully, we seem to have turned a bit of a corner and we've got a bit of confidence and momentum going for us. We're hoping to put in a good performance and a good result.
"I've watched a couple of games at the Emirates and it's an amazing place. But I think, by and large this year, our players have tended to rise to the bigger games. We won't be fearful; we'll be enjoying the atmosphere and trying to do our best."