eSPORTY’s Abbi Summers threatened to leave the studio after Tottenham broadcaster Sonny Snelling claimed he will support Arsenal this weekend.
Both sides of north London face fixtures that could massively affect the outcome of their respective seasons.
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The Hammers will welcome Mikel Arteta’s side to the London Stadium, hoping to escape the drop zone.
However, this is far from a dead rubber for the Gunners after Manchester City dropped points against Everton on Monday night.
A win for Arsenal could see them go eight points clear at the top of the table, subject to City losing to Brentford on Saturday
Simultaneously, Spurs host Leeds United in their own fight for survival, desperately hoping to remain ahead in the relegation scrap.
The nightmare fixture
For Tottenham fans, Sunday’s clash between West Ham and Arsenal is a nightmare regardless of the result.
A West Ham defeat helps Spurs’ survival hopes but puts their arch-rivals on the brink of winning the title. Conversely, a Hammers victory sends the Lilywhites back into the relegation zone.
On the latest episode of Inside Spurs, the panel discussed the conflicting interests.
Summers claimed she would leave the studio due to Snelling’s claim: “Sonny, you’re telling me you are supporting Arsenal? I will go and get a bar of soap and wash your mouth with it, you’re making me feel ill.
“I will actually leave the studio, I can’t.”
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“There’s never a world where I would back Arsenal to win anything. As a compromise, I will hope for a draw.”
Snelling initially stated: “I want Arsenal to batter West Ham next week. We need it. If they beat them and we beat Leeds, we only need one more point and then we’re safe.
“After the result of Everton vs Man City, the title race is over for me, Arsenal basically have their hands on it.”
He added: “Arsenal will be in a jubilant mood, but this has been their bogey team. You know how the fans like to prove something new every year, this is another thing they will have to prove.
“Gyokeres and Saka are back in form, they need to go and make a statement. I will be supporting Arsenal for the first time.
“I am not joking, I want them to do it, I want them to beat West Ham 5-0 and put them to the sword.”
Tribalism vs pragnatism
Spurs broadcaster Ricky Sacks also disagreed, refusing the back the Gunners even if it aided their own safety.
Sacks said: “For football tribalism, I celebrate someone scoring against Arsenal as much as I celebrate Spurs scoring a goal – that’s how much I detest them.
“I will never say I want them to win a football match. I wonder if the best-case scenario is a draw, which keeps us level on points going into the Leeds game.
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“But that worries me, because Leeds are playing so well without needing to put these performances in.”
One thing that favours the Hammers is their reputation as Arsenal’s bogey team, having caused several high-profile upsets that have affected previous title charges.
In December 2023, West Ham secured a 2-0 away win, and they further damaged Arsenal’s hopes with a 1-0 win at the Emirates lasts season.
With one team fighting for the trophy and the other fighting for their Premier League lives, Sunday’s meeting promises to be one of the most high-stakes encounters of the season for all of North London.
