Flynn Downes has warned Arsenal's title dreamers West Ham are “due” a win against one of the big guns, saying: “We don't fear them.”
The Hammers return to the high-wire of their relegation battle for a date with the Premier League front-runners on Sunday looking to reboot their home form. They repaired the damage of a 5-1 drubbing by Newcastle – West Ham's first defeat at the London Stadium in 2023 – with a vital three points at Fulham to stay out of the bottom three last weekend.
In a fixture the Gunners have not always enjoyed since 2019, the Hammers have beaten Arsenal 1-0 and drawn 3-3 (after leading 3-0) and midfielder Downes said: “We are are due a result against a big team and I think it’s coming.
“We got a big win against Fulham the other day so it’s positives and we’ll take that into Sunday. Look at our team - our team is a good team. We don’t fear them, they are coming to our home, so we’re going to take them on and that’s it.”
West Ham preserved their dream of lifting a trophy with a hard-fought 1-1 draw in their Europa Conference League quarter-final first leg against Gent on Thursday night.
They will need to play better to reach the last four in the return leg next week and Downes admitted: “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, that’s the goal.”
Danny Ings' first goal in Europe gave the Hammers a foothold in the tie, and the former England striker said: “To stay in it and not lose was massive for us going into next week.
“We will go back to our stadium with our fans and it will be a completely different game. It’s one we need to take on the front foot and push on to go through.
“It’s been a few years since I was last in Europe, so to be back in it and score is really nice. But at the same time we were disappointed not to come away with a win to take into next week.”
