Arsenal vs West Ham predicted lineups and team news | OneFootball

Second-placed Arsenal host 16th-placed West Ham United in a Premier League London derby on Saturday.

The game at the Emirates kicks off at 3pm, and will not be broadcast live on TV in the UK.

Arsenal vs West Ham predicted line-ups

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

West Ham (4-2-3-1): Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson; Alvarez, Ward-Prowse; Bowen, Soler, Kudus; Ferguson

Arsenal vs West Ham team news

Mikel Arteta will remain without his star man Bukayo Saka in attack, while the likes of Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz are all out through injury too in the forward line. It has also been confirmed Takehiro Tomiyasu is out for the season, having undergone surgery on his knee.

On a more positive note for Arteta, Ben White has returned to the squad, having been on the bench against Leicester City last week. So the Gunners could see some involvement from him this weekend.

Graham Potter is also dealing with a long list of injuries, especially at the top end of the pitch. Lucas Paqueta has joined the likes of Crysencio Summerville, Niclas Fullkrug and Michail Antonio on the injury list.

Vladimir Coufal is also expected to miss out due to injury, though he could be back for the midweek fixture. As a result, the Hammers could start in a more flexible 4-2-3-1 shape, using their wide men as extra defenders out of possession, rather than playing with wingbacks.

Arsenal’s new striker

In Arsenal’s recent 2-0 victory against Leicester, Arteta started with a frontline of Ethan Nwaneri (right), Raheem Sterling (left) and Leandro Trossard (central – false nine). But it was the 69th minute substitute that changed the dynamics and found the breakthrough for the Gunners.

Mikel Merino came on for Sterling in the 69th minute, with Trossard moving over to his natural left-wing spot, and Merino being tasked to play as a centre-forward. While this isn’t something that comes naturally to the Spaniard, his physical frame and skillset is exactly what Arteta needed in that area, in order to bring similar traits as Havertz.

Merino averages the most aerial duels won amongst the Arsenal forwards and midfielders, winning 3.67 per 90 minutes. He also has the most big chances scored per 90 among the same set of players, scoring 0.46 per 90 — which is 0.07 more than Havertz (0.39 per 90).

By having a focal point, this allows Arsenal to put more crosses into the box with a target to aim at. It’s exactly what led to their opening goal against Leicester, with Nwaneri cutting inside and delivering a lovely inswinger to the back post for Merino to nod home.

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