Former West Ham midfielder Don Hutchison has predicted that the Hammers will be relegated from the Premier League this season.
The Scot thinks Tottenham Hotspur will do enough to secure 17th spot on the table, condemning West Ham to Championship football next term.
During an exclusive interview with BestBettingSites, Hutchison moreover criticised Manchester United legend Gary Neville’s opinionated style of punditry.
West Ham’s survival chances
“Honestly, this time last week, I was 100 per cent sure West Ham would stay up,” Hutchison admitted when asked about Nuno Espírito Santo’s side avoiding the drop.
“Now, I’ve gone completely the other way because of the two wins that Spurs have had before a ball was kicked this weekend.
“And the fixtures this weekend just sort of lean toward me thinking Arsenal will just beat West Ham by a goal to nil.
“Then, I think – off the top of my head, so correct me if I’m wrong – I’m pretty sure Spurs play Leeds at home.
“So, unfortunately, I think West Ham are going to go.
“But that’s only happened in the last seven days or so. Off the back of Spurs getting two wins back-to-back, you’d make them big favourites to beat Leeds.”
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Arsenal eye league title
Neville has labelled the clash with the Hammers a ‘nightmare game’ for title-chasing Arsenal, but Hutchison strongly disagrees with that assessment.
“I’m not sure it’s a nightmare game. I’m not sure where he’s gone with that one,” Hutchison said.
“If Arsenal go to West Ham and win, they win the league. I’m not sure how he’s gone ‘nightmare game’.
“It’s just a London derby, but if Arsenal want to choose a place to play and go and play football with no massive atmosphere on it, West Ham is one of the teams.
“Now, West Ham beat them under Graham Potter, I get that, but I think ‘nightmare game’ is a bit strong coming from the Oracle.”
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Hutchison criticises Neville’s punditry
“The thing with Gary Neville is he’s got an opinion and he’s got a strong opinion, but he doesn’t let anyone else in on the opinion,” Hutchison added.
“He doesn’t let anyone else in on the debate. That’s why I say ‘the Oracle’, because whatever he says, it’s like that has to be the truth.
“Football’s a game of opinions. It’s just how you see the game. It opens up to debate.
“The Oracle thinks when he says something, it’s got to be – that’s it, that’s the truth there. He doesn’t leave anything for anyone else to debate footy.”
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SportJustSport writers 
Geoffrey H. Latayan