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Arsenal are on a good run of form at the moment with five consecutive wins in all competitions. Their recent 5-0 beating of Porto in the Champions League Round of 16 second leg reinforced the point that this club, despite up and down performances throughout the season, seems to be coming together at the right time.

Arsenal sit in third position in the English Premier League table on 64 points, two behind league leaders Manchester United, and even with Chelsea. Chelsea hold the second spot by virtue of goal difference, however, and they have a game in hand over both Arsenal and United.

No less a luminary than Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson recently observed that he fears Arsenal’s potential. "I have a suspicion that they might yet mount the biggest challenge” said the Scot.

Fabregas is back from injury

Although injuries still plague the Gunners, midfield maestro Cesc Fabregas is fit again.

With Fabregas controlling distribution from the middle and contributing his share of goals to boot, Arsenal can be a capable side. Add to their capability the malevolent peskiness of Andrei Arshavin and Samir Nasri and the potential for fulfilling Ferguson’s fears is clearly tangible.

Although defender William Gallas’s injury keeps him from returning to the side, manager Arsene Wenger’s gamble on Sol Campbell in the January transfer window now looks to have been an inspired decision. The big former England international’s return to Arsenal has seen him used as fill in for Gallas in league matches as well as against European competition, and Campbell has responded with solid performances.

No longer melancholy, the Dane

Danish international striker Nicklas Bendtner has also displayed his capabilities lately. The big Dane scored a hat trick in the 5-0 win over Porto, and it was Bendtner who got the stoppage time winner in Arsenal’s 1-2 away win at Hull over the weekend.

Still involved in Champions League football and simultaneously threatening for the English Premier League championship Arsene Wenger has no reason not to be optimistic.

"We have eight games to go; we are in there; why should we not believe?" Wenger said.

Belief is an attribute of West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola too. Zola believes his West Ham squad, who now hold 16th place, can survive in the Premier League if they secure just 10 more points from their remaining 9 matches.

The Hammers are just three points above the relegation zone and can ill-afford to drop points. Yet their fixture list is a tough one as the season draws to a close.

Tough fixture list for the hammers

After traveling to Arsenal this weekend, West Ham will visit Everton, Liverpool and Fulham before the season ends. There are no easy fixtures there. At home West Ham will host Wolves, Stoke, Sunderland, Wigan and Manchester City for the run in.

Certainly there are winnable games in West Ham’s future, but no “gimmies.”

Saturday’s match up with Arsenal would seem the biggest obstacle among the nine remaining for the Hammers. But an away win over the Gunners is not unprecedented. West Ham beat Arsenal at Emirates Stadium three years ago.

Hammers Hammered by Chelsea last week

In truth, though, given West Ham’s current form, and Arsenal’s, the chances of the Hammers salvaging points this weekend seem slim. Zola’s men have lost three in a row coming into the weekend, including a 4-1 pasting by Chelsea last week.

Zola thought his club played better in that match that than the score line would suggest. "We played well and kept the control. Scott Parker was dominating in my opinion and I thought we could have got something. But Chelsea punish you when you make mistakes” Said Zola. "The result does not reflect the way the game was played.”

Zola spin zone?

Zola’s opinion sounds more like spin control than objective assessment. Everyone is entitled to an opinion of course, but the truth is that West Ham were exposed at the back time and again by Chelsea, in particular Florent Malouda on the left wing. Their loss to the Blues seemed inevitable almost from the start.

Injuries have taken a toll on West Ham and Zola’s selection options have been limited. The situation is easing some though. Julien Faubert, Guillermo Franco, Ilunga, and Noble are all potentially available for the Arsenal match.  On the other hand Luis Boa Morte and Zavon Hines are out through injury, while defender Manuel da Costa is suspended.

Even if Zola is right that 10 points will be enough to secure Premier League survival, the Hammers still have to get the 10 points. Their recent form suggests hard work and a bit of luck will be required. 
 

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