The English Premier League table has Liverpool on top for the time being, but Arsenal is right in the mix after leading the standings for most of the season and now heading into Boxing Day they have a chance to gain some points when they face against West Ham United at Upton Park in one of the 10 am ET matches on NBC and there is a full slate of games set for Thursday.
Manchester United plays the early match on Boxing Day against Hull City and the late match is the best matchup of the day with Manchester City hosting Liverpool in a battle of teams at the top part of the table. Aaron Ramsey is leading the club in scoring with eight goals, but he and everyone else in the match on Monday between Arsenal and Chelsea couldn't get anything done and that left Arsene Wenger winless against Jose Mourinho after another scoreless draw. Both teams had some chances, but neither could get the job done and that came after the Gunners previously lost at the Emirates against the Blues in the Capital One Cup. Arsenal was coming off of a tough 6-3 loss against Manchester City and they were knocked into the number two spot on the table by goal difference to Liverpool as the Reds continued their strong play.
Check here for the Arsenal and West Ham coverage.
All the Premier League teams are coming into the busy holiday schedule with chances to move up in the table and Arsenal is one of the lucky clubs that does not have to travel very far, as they are less than 10 miles from Upton Park compared to the nearly 200 miles that both Stoke and Swansea have to travel for Boxing Day. Kevin Nolan will be back in the lineup for West Ham and Arsenal comes in after dealing with some harsh rain and weather on Monday and the forecast is much better than that day for Thursday heading into the EPL schedule of matches. Theo Walcott has been one of the most consistent players for the Gunners over the last stretch of games and he nearly had a penalty against Chelsea and he will be a player to focus on for West Ham on Thursday.
Arsenal is looking to rebounds after a couple disappointing results, including the 6-3 thrashing against Manchester City that saw Theo Walcott score goals and now the Gunners are looking to get back to their winning ways. Arsenal sits second on the table and tied with points with leaders Liverpool and they are behind right now on goal difference and that could end up playing a factor at the end of the season with the way things have shaped up into Christmas. Arsenal is ahead of Manchester City and Chelsea and Everton is in fifth place in the standings ahead of Newcastle and Tottenham, while Manchester United is in eighth.