Wenger expects Arsenal to regain momentum after Cup blow
LONDON: Arsene Wenger is confident Arsenal will get back on track after their surprise League Cup exit when they face London rivals West Ham on Saturday.
Wenger’s side were beaten 2-0 at home by Southampton in the quarter-finals on Tuesday, while West Ham also crashed out of the competition with a 4-1 thrashing at Manchester United.
But while they have that unhappy experience in common the two London clubs have had contrasting fortunes so far this season.
Arsenal have once again qualified from their Champions League group and are in contention to challenge for a first English title since 2004.
Slaven Bilic’s Hammers, on the other hand, suffered an early Europa League exit and, in their first season with the London Stadium as their new home, have amassed just 12 points from their first 13 league fixtures to sit precariously above the relegation places.
Looking for a quick recovery, Wenger is confident Arsenal will banish the memory of their Cup disappointment, which ended their 19-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
“I don’t think I can moan about the momentum in the Premier League,” he said.
“I knew that in the League Cup that could happen, but it was more disappointing to lose the game than the run we have. We want to keep the run in the Premier League going now.”
Arsenal will have to do without Santi Cazorla however as the Spain play-maker has been ruled out for three months by an ankle injury.
Cazorla was injured in October but instead of a November return that had initially been expected he will now fly to Sweden next week for surgery on his right leg
West Ham have had injury problems of their own with Andy Carroll missing since August with a knee injury and fellow forward Diafra Sakho ruled out for six weeks by a hamstring problem.
Carroll scored a hat-trick in West Ham’s home match with Arsenal last season, which ended 3-3, and could return for the latest instalment. - AFP