It is a case of friends reunited when West Ham welcome Arsenal to to the London Stadium in the Premier League.
West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui and Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta know each other well.
The Spaniards hail from the same Basque area of their home country.
Both have been feeling some heat this season amid raised expectations for the Hammers and Arsenal.
West Ham fans were expecting much better than what had been served up so far under Lopetegui.
Especially after spending £155m to add to quality players already at the club like Jarrod Bowen, Mohammed Kudus and Lucas Paqueta.
Gunners fans meanwhile have been disappointed that it is Liverpool and not them that have taken advantage of Man City’s unprecedented drop off – thus far at least.
Pressure had been mounting on Lopetegui until a 2-0 win out of the blue against Newcastle on Monday night.
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Had the Hammers lost that game heavily, the 58-year-old could have been sacked according to reports.
West Ham’s majority owner David Sullivan is said to be encouraged by the performance.
But the club want to see proof it was not just a one-off.
Mikel Arteta the Arsenal Manager and Sevilla Manager Julen Lopetegui exchange Jose Antonio Reyes shirts before the Emirates Cup match between Arsen...
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Gushing Arteta sends clear message to Sullivan over Lopetegui
Just when Lopetegui needs to build some momentum, though, Arsenal present a very difficult match for the Hammers.
Arteta’s side beat Forest 3-0 with ease last weekend before battering Sporting 5-1 away in midweek.
There is every chance a heavy defeat could pile the pressure back on Lopetegui’s shoulders.
Especially ahead of what now looks a tougher trip to Leicester where Ruud van Nistelrooy will be taking charge of his first home game when West Ham visit on Tuesday night.
But as the owners wait to see more conclusive evidence they don’t need to change manager, there are some interesting comments from north London.
Gushing Arteta has sent a clear message to Sullivan over Lopetegui ahead of Arsenal’s visit to West Ham.
Speaking ahead of the game, the Gunners boss has told Sullivan it is clear to see West Ham are being well coached.
And he lauded Lopetegui while pointing out ‘dangerous’ West Ham will be a real threat to Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, looks on prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between Sporting Clube de Portugal and...
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Arteta has ‘huge admiration’ for West Ham boss
“I know him (Lopetegui), we are friends,” Arteta said in his pre-match press conference.
“I have huge admiration for what he has done in the game.
“He is from the same area as I am in the north of Spain.
“It’s a team that’s now in a high after the big win that they had against Newcastle away and it’s always a really tough opponent, we know that.
“(Under Lopetegui, they have) various ways to create big problems. They are a really physical side, really good in direct play, attacking second balls where they have to dominate the game through the ball.
“Or when they have the space they are a really dangerous team. Set pieces, and then individual quality they have, the front players can create in any moment any situation to cause you trouble.
“They are really well coached.”
Managers are always full of praise for one another before games.
So we can’t read too much into Arteta’s comments. Especially as he openly admits he and Lopetegui are friends.
It’s high praise, though, nonetheless.
West Ham fans will want more than a glowing reference from Arteta for their money, though.
The way the team played at Newcastle must be the norm.
And how West Ham get on against Arsenal will answer a lot of questions.
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