- West Ham United are 18th with three games to go
- The Hammers face Arsenal on Sunday
- The two clubs’ Under-18 sides meet on Tuesday at Little Heath Training Ground.
If omens are anything to go by in West Ham United’s quest for survival, the most recent one may be a telling one.
The Hammers are 18th in the Premier League – one point behind relegation rival Tottenham Hotspur – with three games to go. It’s looking increasingly likely that if West Ham are to preserve their top-flight status, they will have to secure an unlikely result from one of their unfavourable run-in.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s side face Arsenal on Sunday, Newcastle United the following week, and Leeds United on the final day. It’s against the title-chasing Gunners that West Ham can set the momentum for a successful survival charge. The fixture was played out on Tuesday afternoon between the two clubs’ Under-18 academy sides at Little Heath Training Ground.
The travelling Arsenal pack would secure a 2-1 win and take all three points in the U18 Premier League contest.
West Ham under-18s suffer Premier League defeat
The Hammers took the lead in the opening five minutes via Chuk Obi, the free-scoring 16-year-old, who finished from close range to notch his seventh goal in nine games. However, they would be pegged back not too long after by the visitors with a crisp volley finish from Evan Mooney.
Arsenal went in front after the break with another close-range effort, this time at the back post from right-back Louis Zecevic John, on the 47th minute mark, and would see out the result that denied the young Hammers the chance to complete the league double following the two’s seven-goal encounter just ten days prior.
West Ham’s under-18s are back in action against Norwich City on Saturday in their penultimate league fixture as Luke Smith’s side aim to end the season on a high.
Arsenal fans were revelling in the prospect of their seniors repeating the outcome. One commentator on X said, “Well done, young guns. West Ham 0-1 Arsenal.”
That said, such a close encounter on Sunday between the pair of first-teams would be welcomed. Although a similar result could bring West Ham a game closer to relegation, any inspiring performance would encourage an attack on the remaining two games and work in the Irons’ favour.
For more information on why all eyes are on West Ham vs Arsenal, read here.
