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5 keys to Arsenal versus West Ham

By Rucker Haringey

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Reece Oxford and James Tomkins of West Ham United jump for the ball along with Olivier Giroud of Arsenal during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on August 9, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 09: Reece Oxford and James Tomkins of West Ham United jump for the ball along with Olivier Giroud of Arsenal during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and West Ham United at Emirates Stadium on August 9, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 02: Cheikhou Kouyate of West Ham United is shown a red card by referee Mark Clattenburg during the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and Crystal Palace at the Boleyn Ground on April 2, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 02: Cheikhou Kouyate of West Ham United is shown a red card by referee Mark Clattenburg during the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and Crystal Palace at the Boleyn Ground on April 2, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /

3. The physicality of the midfields

While Arsenal has the advantage up front in the skill positions, West Ham has the edge with their physicality. Nowhere is that superiority more apparent than in the defensive midfield.

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West Ham’s combination of Mark Noble and Cheikhou Kouyate have to dominate Arsenal’s Mohamed Elneny and Francis Coquelin. That’s the best way for West Ham to really gain a foothold in the match.

Kouyate, whose red card from last week has been rescinded, making him eligible for the match, could be the real key. He has the unique ability to shield the Hammer back four while also picking the right time to carry the ball forward. Bilic will hope he can really take advantage of the Gunners’ inexperienced pairing.

If the Arsenal duo can simply hold their own in terms of the match’s physical play then it should give their club enough time on the ball to succeed. This is one area of the pitch where West Ham simply has to dominate to give their team enough firepower to win the match.

Next: Dimitri Payet free kicks

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