Allardyce: Gunners miss Van Persie

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce believes tonight's opponents Arsenal are still suffering for their failure to adequately replace Robin van Persie.

Arsenal are yet to win a league fixture in 2013 going into tonight's rearranged clash with the Hammers, something Allardyce believes is down in no small part to the club not replacing Van Persie when he joined Manchester United.

"When you sell your best players, which is not normally expected of Arsenal, then it is always difficult to replace them," Allardyce said.

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