After taking only one win in the last four matches, West Ham may have slipped from the lofty top four places recently, but that has not prevented Sam Allardyce from aiming a victory when his team take on Arsenal at Upton Park.

The hammers have improved massively compared to last season. They now boast an impressive strikeforce which is more than capable of troubling any defence on its day. Defending has been a major issue for West Ham’s next opponents, Arsenal. Despite possessing German star Per Mertesacker, they have struggled to have an authority in defence.

Allardyce says that he is confident that his team can take advantage of the frailties, which have been exposed by several teams like Stoke in recent weeks. After losing 2-0 against Chelsea last week, West Ham need a return to winning ways sooner rather than later. West Ham did not pose a lot of threat against Chelsea, but they are expected to have several opportunities against the gunners.

Allardyce was facing the threat of being sacked from his job at this stage last season, but he now has pointed out to the six months that his team have taken at home in the last seven matches.

West Ham have also beaten the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool at Upton Park this season. “We have to bounce back from the Chelsea loss and I am relying on the home form that we have shown over the last seven games to be there in abundance. The last seven home games have been six wins and one draw, so it shows the type of form we are in at Upton Park. We have turned it into a real fortress again and I hope that is going to be the case against Arsenal,” said the West Ham boss.