West Ham vs. Arsenal Odds
West Ham Odds | +350 |
Arsenal Odds | -130 |
Draw | +270 |
Over/Under | 2.5 (-115 / -115) |
Day | Time | Sunday | 11:30 a.m. ET |
How To Watch | USA Network | fuboTV |
Odds updated via BetMGM. Get up-to-the-minute soccer odds here. |
A pivotal game in the race for European positions will be played Sunday when West Ham United hosts Arsenal in Premier League action at London Stadium.
The Gunners are fighting for a spot in next season's Champions League, while the Hammers are competing to return to the Europa League or Europa Conference League.
Of course, West Ham is still fighting for a place in the UCL, but that would come via winning the Europa League, where it's currently in the semifinals.
So, how will this key league fixture go down? Let's take a look at this match.
West Ham Unlikely To Offer Full Effort
As mentioned above, the Hammers are competing in the Europa League and a title in that competition would automatically qualify them for next season's Champions League.
Because the ramifications of a UCL berth are so significant, West Ham has rightly emphasized the event over its league exploits in recent weeks. And you can expect that to continue in this fixture.
On Thursday, West Ham dropped the first leg of its semifinal tie with Eintracht Frankfurt on home soil. That result is an extremely disappointing one, and it'll force the club to exert itself to the maximum in the reverse fixture in Germany.
That said, look for a rotated lineup to come and it largely explains the hefty price that's being given to Arsenal by oddsmakers.
Arsenal in Desperate Need of Results
If I haven't emphasized the importance of the Champions League enough, I'll do it even more. A failure to earn the fourth position in the English top flight and drop into the Europa League next year would absolutely kill Arsenal.
The failures of Tottenham and Manchester United have given Arsenal a prime opportunity to return to Europe's most elite competition, so botching the end of the season would have a major impact on the years to come.
As such, this is another great opportunity for Arsenal to pick up three points in a setting that would typically be tougher. The Gunners have earned two wins on the bounce against solid opposition, with this being another game that could increase the separation it has with fifth-place Tottenham ahead of their gargantuan game.
Betting Analysis & Pick
Looking at recent form, it's clear West Ham's goal of winning the Europa League has had a drastic impact on its EPL results and there's no reason to believe that won't continue in this match.
With only two days of rest and an all-important game coming up Thursday, this is an excellent opportunity to back a motivated Arsenal side.
The Gunners have earned positive expected goal differentials in four consecutive games, while West Ham has only done that in two of its last five contests.
If West Ham musters a big performance or Arsenal can't deliver, so be it. However, this price should be more toward the road favorite.
Pick: Arsenal ML (-130)