West Ham United v Arsenal
Premier League, London Stadium, Sunday 1 May 2022, 4.30pm BST
West Ham United return to Premier League action on Sunday for a derby with Arsenal at London Stadium.
David Moyes’ men head into the weekend seeking to bounce back from defeats in both the Premier League and UEFA Europa League in the past week - 1-0 at Chelsea in the former last Sunday and 2-1 at home to Eintracht Frankfurt in the semi-final first leg of the latter on Thursday evening.
The Irons sit seventh in the Premier League table going into the weekend, with 52 points from 34 matches played, and remain in the race to secure European football for a second consecutive campaign, particularly with Manchester United in sixth collecting just one point from their previous three matches.
A sixth-place finish would secure Europa League football again next season, whatever happens in Frankfurt on Thursday evening, while seventh would see the Hammers qualify for the UEFA Conference League for the first time.
Arsenal go into the weekend fourth in the table with 60 points from 33 games played, two ahead of Tottenham Hotspur in fifth, and Mikel Arteta will hope to take the Gunners back into the Champions League after a five-year absence.
The reverse fixture at Emirates Stadium was played in mid-December, when two second-half goals secured a 2-0 victory for the north Londoners.
Ticket news
To enquire about Club London packages for our remaining home Premier League fixtures; please call 0204 551 0037 or click here.
Official Programme
West Ham United's award-winning Official Programme for Sunday's Premier League fixture with Arsenal is on sale now.
As the Hammers continue the quest for a second consecutive top-six finish, we've put together another 116-page issue packed with exclusive content.
Sunday's Programme features a feature interview with forward Jarrod Bowen, exclusive columns penned by manager David Moyes and Club captain Mark Noble, and the latest news and views from the Academy of Football, Women's team and Foundation as well as much, much more!
Issue 27 of a memorable 2021/22 season is now available to order online here for just £3.50, plus £1.49 postage and packaging*.
*For UK addresses only. Postage and Packaging £3.49 for Europe/£6.49 for Rest of the World
Update on supporter access to London Stadium
West Ham United can provide an update to supporters on their access to London Stadium for the remainder of the 2021/22 season, following the Government’s easing of COVID-19 Autumn and Winter Plan B restrictions.
In line with the latest Government guidance, COVID passes will no longer be a condition of entry to Premier League matches.
Supporters will no longer be required to complete a health declaration form before the match, nor present any form of COVID certification on matchday.
West Ham United, the Premier League and its clubs continue to urge fans to follow public health guidance to keep each other safe on a matchday, including wearing face coverings when indoors or in crowded areas.
A Code of Conduct remains in place and is updated to reflect the latest changes in Government and Premier League guidance. As COVID-19 restrictions ease, it is vital supporters continue to do all they can to minimise the risk of passing on COVID
Supporters should note that stadium access processes continue to remain subject to change, in line with changes to COVID protocols or guidance issued by the Government, Premier League and SGSA.
Travel news
Supporters are advised to check their journeys before travel, with resources such as TfL's Journey Planner or the TfL Go app helping to avoid some essential works across the transport network. Supporters may also wish to visit the National Rail website to plan their journey if traveling on the rail network.
There are some service disruptions that supporters should be aware of on Thursday 28 April:
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- Ockendon line - Services will start and terminate at Grays. Rail replacement buses will be in operation between Grays and Pitsea. Passengers for stations towards Shoeburyness should change buses at Pitsea.
- Rainham line - Due to Network Rail undertaking overhead line work between Barking and Grays, services WILL NOT RUN. Rail replacement buses will run between Upminster and Grays via Rainham. Ticket Acceptance is in place for passengers travelling to/from Dagenham Dock, who may use TfL bus routes EL2 or 287.
- Basildon line - c2c will not have access to the line between Barking and Liverpool Street, due to roof works at Liverpool Street station. The line between Basildon and Shoeburyness will be closed due to Network Rail undertaking maintenance work. Services will be diverted to start from/terminate at London Fenchurch Street and will call additionally at West Ham. Services will start and terminate at Basildon with rail replacement in place between Basildon and Shoeburyness. Ticket Acceptance is in place for passengers in possession of a valid rail ticket and travelling to/from Stratford may use the London Underground Jubilee Line between West Ham and Stratford at no extra charge.
Greater Anglia
- Due to track and bridge renewal work, buses will replace trains between Stansted Airport and Waltham Cross, and between Hertford East and Waltham Cross. Train services will remain in operation between Cambridge North/Cambridge and Stansted Airport, and between Cheshunt/Waltham Cross and London Liverpool Street. Passengers travelling between Cambridge and London Liverpool Street should use train services between Cambridge and Stansted Airport, rail replacement bus services between Stansted Airport and Waltham Cross, and train services between Waltham Cross and London Liverpool Street.
TfL Rail
- A reduced frequency of four trains per hour will operate between Liverpool Street and Shenfield.
Hammersmith and City line
- No service on the whole line. Replacement buses operate.
District line
- No service between Tower Hill and West Ham. Replacement buses operate.
Metropolitan line
- A special service will run until further notice, please check before you travel.
Northern line
- There is no service between Moorgate and Kennington due to major upgrade works. London Buses Route 733 will operate between Moorgate and Oval via Bank, London Bridge, Borough, Elephant & Castle and Kennington.
How can I follow the game?
Kick-off on Sunday is 4.30pm BST, with the game being broadcast live on television by Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Ultra HD in the UK. Please check your local TV listings if you live outside the UK.
We will also be covering the game live with a blog and audio commentary on whufc.com and our Official App and across our social media channels, with goals, highlights and exclusive reaction to follow after the final whistle.
Team news
West Ham United will be without centre-backs Angelo Ogbonna (knee) and Issa Diop (ankle), while a third, Craig Dawson, is ruled out with a one-match suspension after being sent-off at Chelsea last weekend.
For Arsenal, Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey (groin) will not be available, while Scotland defender Kieran Tierney is hoping to be fit after suffering a knee injury. Mikel Arteta will be hoping top scorer Bukayo Saka is fit after being forced off in the match against Manchester United last Saturday.
The opposition – Arsenal
The UEFA Champions League and Arsenal went hand in hand for the vast majority of Arsène Wenger’s 22-year reign as Gunners manager.
During the Frenchman’s time in north London, Arsenal failed to qualify for Europe’s top club competition on just two occasions – his first season at Highbury in 1996/97, when only the top two Premier League finishers qualified, and his final campaign at Emirates Stadium in 2017/18, when his team finished sixth and instead went into the UEFA Europa League.
Wenger’s successor Unai Emery led Arsenal to the final of the Europa League final in his first season, where they lost heavily to Chelsea, before losing his job in November 2019.
His replacement, fellow Spaniard and Wenger’s former captain Mikel Arteta, won the FA Cup, but could only finish eighth in the Premier League and reach the Europa League round of 32, meaning the Gunners had to settle for Europa League football for a fourth consecutive season in 2020/21.
Last season was Arsenal’s worst since 1994/95, when they finished 12th and lost the European Cup Winners’ final to Nayim’s lob from the halfway line, as Arteta’s team struggled to another eighth-place finish and missed out on European qualification altogether.
When Arsenal kicked-off the current campaign with three straight Premier League defeats, Arteta’s position appeared to be under a real and immediate threat.
But the former Manchester City coach has shown the same calm, composed approach as his managerial mentor Pep Guardiola, putting faith in his squad to turn things around – and turn things around they have, reaching the semi-finals of the EFL Cup and steadily climbing the Premier League table to a point where they are now favourites to finish in the top four.
Arteta’s rebuilding job has been focused around a nucleus of young, hungry and talented players.
Of his regular starters, only captain and centre-forward Alexandre Lacazette is aged 30 or over, while the vast majority of his preferred XI are aged 24 or younger.
Defenders Ben White, Gabriel and Kieran Tierney are all 24, goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu and midfielder Martin Ødegaard are all 23, attacking midfielder Emile Smith Rowe is 21, while forwards Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are just 20.
In a world where modern football demands positive results immediately, Arteta and Arsenal are refreshingly bucking that trend and seemingly planning for sustainable future success.
White, Ramsdale, Smith Rowe and Saka are also now regular members of Gareth Southgate’s England squad, boosting the Three Lions’ hopes of challenging at this winter’s FIFA World Cup finals in Qatar.
But Arsenal supporters’ immediate aim is a return to the UEFA Champions League – an aim that looks eminently achievable bar a late-season collapse.
Previous meetings
West Ham United meet Arsenal in the Premier League for the 52nd time.
Arsenal have had much the better of the previous 51. The Gunners have won 34 to West Ham’s eight victories, with nine draws.
Sunday's opponents have won four of the last five Premier League meetings, with West Ham’s last victory coming at London Stadium on 12 January 2019, when Declan Rice’s goal secured a 1-0 win.
However, last season's game at London Stadium ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw in March 2021, with goals from Jesse Lingard, Jarrod Bowen and Tomáš Souček seemingly putting West Ham in control before Mikel Arteta's side came back to secure a share of the spoils.
The Irons’ best Premier League results against the Gunners were the 2-0 wins achieved at Highbury on 30 April 1994 and at Emirates Stadium on 9 August 2015.
A 7-0 First Division hammering of the north Londoners at the Boleyn Ground on 7 March 1927 represents West Hams biggest-ever competitive win over Arsenal. Alongside Vic Watson’s treble, Joseph Johnson and Jimmy Ruffell also found the net, while the Gunners’ Tom Parker and Bob John compounded their own misery by scoring own-goals!
Match officials
Referee: Mike Dean
Assistant Referees: Ian Hussin & Darren Cann
Fourth Official: Simon Hooper
VAR: Darren England
Assistant VAR: Matthew Wilkes
Mike Dean was born in Wirral, just across the River Mersey from Liverpool, in June 1968, making him 53.
A Tranmere Rovers supporter, Dean began his refereeing career in the Northern Premier League before graduating to the Football League list of assistant referees in 1995.
After two seasons running the line and three as a Football League referee, Dean was promoted to the Select Group of Premier League officials in 2000.
Since then, Dean has refereed a succession of high-profile fixtures, including the FA Cup and League Cup finals and Championship Play-Off final.
Dean also took charge of international qualifiers and friendly matches up until 2013, when he reached FIFA’s mandatory retirement age of 45.
The first Premier League referee to show 100 red cards, Dean has refereed West Ham United on 63 occasions, including the 3-2 win over Manchester United in the final game at the Boleyn Ground in May 2016.
This will likely be Dean's final Hammers appointment, on the pitch at least, as he will reportedly move to a VAR-only role at the end of this season.
Saint Francis Hospice
The West Ham United vs Arsenal Premier League match marks the selected fixture to raise awareness for Club Charity Partner Saint Francis Hospice, of which Club legend Sir Trevor Brooking is a Patron.
Saint Francis Hospice are a local charity in Havering-atte-Bower providing outstanding end-of-life care for people who are living in Havering, Brentwood, Barking and Dagenham, Redbridge and West Essex.
There is no cost to those who need their services. Kind and generous donations from local people like you help to make sure that everyone who is under the care of Saint Francis Hospice has round-the-clock support.
Experienced consultants, doctors, nurses and other health and social care professionals, are on hand to care for local people in need whether they choose to be at home, in the hospice itself, in hospital or in a care home.
Your support enables them to reach out to more people across the community who need their help.
Please help to make a difference today by donating to their cause here.
