Arsenal XI vs West Ham: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup, injury latest for Premier League | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta has a big decision to make in attack for the London derby

Declan Rice is expected to feature for Arsenal against his former club

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Mikel Merino is pushing to start in attack when Arsenal host West Ham this weekend.

Merino excelled off the bench last week as an emergency striker and scored both goals as Arsenal beat Leicester 2-0 at the King Power Stadium.

The midfielder could get another go there, possibly from the start, when Arsenal host West Ham on Saturday.

Sterling would be the most likely of Arsenal’s three forwards to lose his place after struggling in the win at Leicester.

The winger was taken off for Merino with just over 20 minutes to go and he has not scored since September.

Mikel Merino was Arsenal’s hero against Leicester

AFP via Getty Images

Mikel Arteta has far more options in defence, although it was confirmed this week that Takehiro Tomiyasu will miss the rest of the season following knee surgery.

Ben White is now back fit and he was on the bench for last week’s win at Leicester. The right-back did not come on, but will hope to do so against West Ham.

Riccardo Calafiori is fighting with Myles Lewis-Skelly for the left-back spot but, ahead of the defence, the midfield is settled.

Thomas Partey should start as the No6 this weekend, with Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard ahead of him.

Arsenal likely XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Nwaneri, Trossard, Sterling

Time and date: 3pm GMT on Saturday 22 February 2025

Venue: Emirates Stadium

Referee: Craig Pawson

Arsenal squad from: Neto, Raya, Setford; Calafiori, Gabriel, Kacurri, Kiwior, Lewis-Skelly, Saliba, Tierney, Timber, Zinchenko; Jorginho, Merino, Nwaneri, Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Sterling and Trossard.

Injured: Havertz (hamstring), Jesus (knee), Martinelli (hamstring), Saka (hamstring), Tomiyasu (knee)

TV channel and live stream: Not on TV in the UK