Flynn Downes insists West Ham do not fear Arsenal and believes they are overdue a showpiece scalp ahead of Sunday’s meeting with the Premier League leaders.
The Hammers have eased relegation fears with two crucial wins, over Fulham and Bournemouth, in their last three League matches but remain just three points clear of the drop and face a daunting task as Mikel Arteta’s side head to the London Stadium.
David Moyes’s team have so far taken just two points from their eight matches against the ‘big six’ this term. That record is in stark contrast with last season, when they had League wins over Chelsea, Tottenham and Liverpool, and knocked both Manchester clubs out of the Carabao Cup.
Moyes’ men have, at least, made a happy habit of winning a string of vital relegation six-pointers in recent months, but Downes believes now is the time to deliver against one of the best sides.
“We are due a result against a big team,” said the midfielder. “I think it’s coming. We got a big win against Fulham, so it’s positives and we’ll take that into Sunday.
“I look at our team and [I think] our team is a good team. We don’t fear [Arsenal], they’re coming to our home, so we’re going to take them on.”
The Arsenal game will be followed next Thursday by the second leg of the Europa Conference League quarter-final against Gent, with the tie delicately poised after last night’s 1-1 draw in Belgium. The hosts were the better side, managing 20 shots to West Ham’s four, and Moyes conceded afterwards that the result was better than his team’s performance merited.
Downes feels next week’s second leg could provide a “special” night in front of a home crowd.
“That was a tough game,” he said. “We did well to get the 1-1. In the Premier League it obviously hasn’t been our best campaign but we’re looking at this competition like this is our chance to win a trophy. For the club and for everyone it’s massive.”
