Arsenal will host West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday evening in a Premier League clash between two London rivals aiming to maintain their strong positions in the top flight.
Match Preview
Arsenal heads into this fixture after securing a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Liverpool. The result kept them at the top of the league table, but they remain aware of the chasing pack.
Mikel Arteta’s team has displayed strong form at home, winning their last five Premier League matches at the Emirates Stadium.
West Ham secured a notable 2-0 win against Manchester United in their previous game. David Moyes’ side sits sixth in the table and has been in good form lately, winning five of their last seven league games.
The last encounter between these two teams in the EFL Cup saw West Ham triumph 3-1, but Arsenal will be keen to avenge that defeat in the league.
Team News
Arsenal will be without Kai Havertz due to suspension after picking up his fifth booking of the season. Jurrien Timber, Fabio Vieira, Thomas Partey, and Takehiro Tomiyasu remain sidelined due to injuries.
West Ham’s Nayef Aguerd and Maxwel Cornet were unavailable in their last game due to illness, but Aguerd is expected to be fit. Michail Antonio remains sidelined with a knee injury.
Predicted Lineups
Arsenal: (4-3-3)
Raya;
White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko;
Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice;
Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
West Ham United: (4-2-3-1)
Areola;
Coufal, Zouma, Aguerd, Emerson;
Soucek, Alvarez;
Kudus, Ward-Prowse, Paqueta;
Bowen
Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 West Ham United
Arsenal’s strong home form and desire to bounce back from their recent cup defeat against West Ham could give them an edge in this match. However, West Ham’s resilience could make it a close encounter, with Arsenal clinching a narrow 2-1 victory at home.