Arsenal must win to keep Tottenham at bay in top-four race but West Ham may take hit to focus on beating Frankfurt

RARELY has a team still technically battling for Champions League qualification gone into a decisive London derby with their eyes so firmly fixed on the following match.

But make no mistake about it, that is exactly what West Ham are doing this weekend.

David Moyes and Mikel Arteta have different ways of reaching the same goal of Champions League qualificationCredit: Getty

West Ham could lose their fourth London derby in six weeksCredit: PA

For their opponents, though, this match – yet again – could make or break their season.

The Hammers take on Arsenal at 4.30pm at the London Stadium on Sunday in front of the Sky cameras.

They have lost their last three Premier League matches, and four of their last five including three London derbies at Chelsea, Brentford and Tottenham.

All 60,000 Irons fans inside the former Olympic Stadium would snatch your hand off for a fourth defeat in six weeks on Sunday if it ensured a two-goal win in Germany on Thursday, though.

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Latest updates from huge Premier League derby at the London Stadium

The Hammers were edged out 2-1 in the first leg of their Europa League semi-final against Eintracht Frankfurt and have it all to do in the reverse match.

A win by any means – in 90 minutes, after extra-time or on penalties – will set up a final against RB Leipzig or Rangers, the victor guaranteeing themselves a spot in the Champions League next season.

Even beating Arsenal would leave David Moyes’ side five points off the Gunners with three games to play.

Add into the mix the fact the Hammers barely have a centre-back available and the Gunners know they have a great chance of taking a giant step back towards Europe’s top table.

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I played for Man Utd with Ronaldo, but now sell luxury watches in Mayfair shop

Angelo Ogbonna and Issa Diop are injured, Craig Dawson is suspended and Kurt Zouma was rushed back to face Frankfurt.

Can Moyes really risk playing him three times in a week just yet?

As for Arsenal, they make the short trip to East London fresh from eight days off since beating Manchester United.

Spurs’ draw at Brentford later on that day means the Gunners hold the slim advantage – 60 points to 58 after 33 games each – over their bitter enemy.

Mikel Arteta hopes to be able to start Bukayo Saka and Takehiro Tomiyasu down the right flank together – but Thomas Partey and Kieran Tierney remain sidelined.

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Their inclusions, the current league form of both sides, different priorities and the stats all point towards an Arsenal win.

After all, the Gunners have lost just one of their last 13 Premier League away games against West Ham, securing a 2-0 victory in December, and have won a Premier League-record 50 matches in May.

Alexandre Lacazette has been involved in six goals in his last seven league appearances against West Ham and he could help his team win three consecutive matches scoring at least three for the first time since April 2018 when Arsene Wenger was in charge.

Arsenal kick-off after seeing how Spurs get on against Leicester – they will either have the chance to leapfrog their rivals or extend the gap.

Either way, it is must-win for Arteta and must-not-get-anyone-injured for Moyes.

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The best-case scenario for both teams is Champions League football next season.

An Arsenal victory against a much-changed West Ham on Sunday would help make that a realistic possibility.

Gabriel Martinelli opened the scoring at the Emirates in DecemberCredit: The Times

West Ham are fully focused on beating Eintracht Frankfurt in the Europa League semi-finalCredit: Alamy

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk

Arsenal must win to keep Tottenham at bay in top-four race but West Ham may take hit to focus on beating Frankfurt

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