Lletget ready for Gunners test

Sebastian Lletget is aiming to help the Development Squad get back to winning ways when they take on Arsenal in the Barclays Under-21 Premier League on Monday.

Last time out the young Hammers fell to a 2-0 defeat against Liverpool at Rush Green, demoting them to eighth place in the table.

Lletget and his teammates have had two weeks to ponder their defeat to the Reds and the midfielder believes the whole squad are now keen to defeat the Gunners.

He told West Ham TV: "We're looking forward to it. We lost against Liverpool and that was a shame, but we're definitely ready to bounce back and get the win against Arsenal.

"They always produce great players as they've shown throughout the years and ever since I've played them from a young age, they've always produced good teams. I think we're just as good as them, I don't think they have anything that we don't.

"I haven't played them for about a year, but every time I have played them we seem to have done well, so hopefully we can get another win on Monday."

Prior to the loss against Liverpool Nick Haycock's side had recorded consecutive wins against Southampton and Reading as they looked to mount a challenge for a top-four spot.

Three points against an Arsenal side who are without a win in their last five league games would help to resurrect those aspirations and Lletget feels victory on Monday could be the catalyst for a good run of results.

"It will change the momentum in our season if we win. I know there's only five more games left, but I think we can look to finish well if we win this one.

"I think Nick tries to look every game the same. No one really intimidates us, we don't care about the badge of that particular club. We go out and play every game thinking that we have to beat whoever's in front of us.

"Naturally against the top four teams, or whatever you want to call them, there's definitely a bit more in it. I'm pretty confident that we'll do well against Arsenal."

A friendly win against a Leyton Orient XI last Tuesday served to keep the Hammers ticking over in their break from league action.

While the U21s picked up a couple of injuries against the O's, Lletget felt the game had set them up nicely for when they take on the Gunners.

"We got a couple of injuries which is a shame. It kept us ticking over for the Arsenal game and I think we're more than ready to play them.

"I haven't looked at the table since the last game. All we're focused on is beating them and moving up the table."

*Text commentary of the Development Squad's behind closed doors game against Arsenal at London Colney will appear on whufc.com from 1pm on Monday afternoon, with post-match reaction to follow.