The 2014/15 season has seen West Ham United have their best season since I can’t remember when. Not only have West Ham latterly remained consistent they’re also currently sitting pretty in fifth position in the Premier League. Their current form is: LWLDWLWWWDDLWWWDWL. Arsenal’s match against them on 28th December is important in more ways than one. If Arsenal win AND Southampton lose we go back into Champions League qualifying territory (our favourite fourth position). If Arsenal AND Southampton win we move into fifth place (due to the Saint’s better goal difference). If West Ham win then we give our arch-rivals Tottenham a chance to overtake us! Our Boxing Day match against QPR showed that Arsenal can come out all guns blazing. We need to do this again against the Hammers. Olivier Giroud is having to sit it out in the first of a three match ban and Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Mesut Özil and Serge Gnabry are still on the injury list. Now is a great time for Lukas Podolski to prove to Arsene Wenger why he should be considered for a starting position in the upcoming games and beyond.
1. James Tomkins
James Tomkins, the 25-year-old central defender, has made his way up through the West Ham United academy system since he was just seven years old. Although he initially started out as a striker he soon made the switch to his current position. Although Tomkins has never played for England at senior level he was called for the final squad of the Great Britain Olympic team in 2012. Unfortunately for Arsenal, Tomkins shows more discipline on the pitch than he does off it (vis-a-vis his conviction for assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest and being drunk and disorderly). The 2014/15 season has seen Tomkins score one goal and rack up two assists. Tomkins has an exceptional skill at winning aerial duals and has strong concentration skills but is not so good at passing the ball. Defensively he’s good at clearing the ball. Statistics from this season show he’s won 76% of aerial duels and is currently averaging 10 clearances per game. Standing tall at 6’4″ he’s almost 1′ taller than our current top goalscorer, Alexis Sánchez. Let us hope Alexis can get a shot on target right through the middle of those very long legs; either that or Tomkins doesn’t see Alexis coming in the first place!