Key events
Kick-off
We’re under way at the London Stadium!
Charles Antaki has messaged in about the inclusion of Kieran Tierney…
“A small ripple of appreciation for Kieran Tierney as he edges back into contention. Arsenal fans aren’t sure quite how much affection to invest in him anymore – there was plenty – but he’s what? fourth or fifth in line for the left back role…. If and when he goes we’ll have plenty of fond memories; not many elite football players turn up to games with their belongings in a plastic bag, so he has that distinction probably in perpetuity.”
Martin Ødegaard proved once again last week that he is Arsenal’s puppet master. The Gunners appeared to lose their way in his absence over the last few months, enduring a four-game winless run between the end of October and start of November. But they hit their stride when captain Ødegaard completed his comeback from injury. The Norwegian has the ability to make those around him better on the pitch, which is something West Ham will have to be wary of this evening.
These two teams last met at the London Stadium back in February – and it was a miserable day for the hosts. Arsenal cruised to a huge 6-0 win over West Ham thanks to goals from William Saliba, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Magalhães, Leandro Trossard and ex-Hammer Declan Rice.
Will we see a repeat today? Or will West Ham shock Mikel Arteta and Co?
Ahead of today’s match, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said: “I know him [Lopetegui], we are friends, I have huge admiration for what he has done in the game. He is from the same area as I am in the north of Spain. It’s a team that’s now in a high after the big win that they had against Newcastle away and it’s always a really tough opponent, we know that.
“[They have] various ways to create big problems. They are a really physical side, really good in direct play, attacking second balls where they have to dominate the game through the ball. Or when they have the space they are a really dangerous team. Set pieces, and then individual quality they have, the front players can create in any moment any situation to cause you trouble. They are really well coached.”
Elsewhere in the Premier League today
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Wolves 2-4 Bournemouth
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Crystal Palace 1-1 Newcastle
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Nottingham Forest 1-0 Ipswich Town
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Brentford 4-1 Leicester City
Julen Lopetegui will not be in the West Ham dugout this evening. The 58-year-old received his third yellow card of the season during Monday’s clash with Newcastle, meaning he will have to serve a one-match touchline ban against Arsenal.
“The players that are on the pitch is always most important,” the manager said during his pre-match press conference. “Players ready to help the team and to be able to compete against one of the, in my opinion, best teams in the Premier League. So we have to be ready. I am not going to be in the dugout, and maybe I have to improve my way because I have three yellow cards, but it’s done. I am passionate. And sometimes you try to say something, or how you act, or you make an action with your hands.”
Kieran Tierney has been named in the Arsenal squad for the first time since August 2023. The left-back, who spent last season on loan at Real Sociedad, starts on the bench.
I want to hear from you! Be sure to email me with any predictions, feelings, thoughts and all that jazz. Where will you be watching from? Who will you be watching with? Are you off to any other games this weekend? I want to know!
Mikel Merino and Thomas Partey are both out of the Arsenal squad this evening. Merino is unavailable with a knee problem while Partey is absent due to a muscular issue.
Arsenal fans breathe a collective sigh of relief as Gabriel is named in the starting line-up for this evening’s match. There had been doubts regarding his involvement after he limped off against Sporting Lisbon earlier this week. In true Mikel Arteta style, the manager was incredibly cryptic about his availability during a pre-match press conference yesterday, but nevertheless – and it’s not entirely a surprise – he is in from the start.
Meanwhile, Julen Lopetegui names an unchanged squad from Monday’s win over Newcastle.
Team news
West Ham starting XI: Łukasz Fabiański; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jean-Clair Todibo, Max Kilman, Emerson Palmieri; Carlos Soler, Tomáš Souček; Jarrod Bowen (C), Lucas Paquetá, Crysencio Summerville; Michail Antonio. Substitutes: Alphonse Areola, Vladimír Coufal, Luis Guilherme, Danny Ings, Edson Álvarez, Guido Rodríguez, Andy Irving, Oliver Scarles, Ezra Mayers.
Arsenal starting XI: David Raya; Jurrien Timber, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães, Riccardo Calafiori; Jorginho, Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard (C); Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Kai Havertz. Substitutes: Neto, Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Josh Nichols, Gabriel Martinelli, Ethan Nwaneri, Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus.
Team news will be out shortly. Mohammed Kudus is absent for West Ham while he serves the fifth of his five-match ban. Niclas Füllkrug is also sidelined with an Achilles injury.
Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu remain unavailable for Arsenal, with Gabriel Magalhães an uncertainty.
Preamble
Hello, good evening and welcome to coverage of West Ham’s Premier League clash with Arsenal. Julen Lopetegui earned himself a lifeline on Monday when his team cruised to a shock 2-0 win over Newcastle at St James’ Park. It was the club’s first victory in just under a month, giving them some breathing space between the likes of Leicester and Everton.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have returned to fine form following the international break. Mikel Arteta and his players endured a rough patch between the end of October and the start of November, but Martin Ødegaard’s return to full fitness has provided a huge boost. The North London side earned a 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest last weekend followed by a 5-1 victory against Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday, so they should be oozing confidence going into this London derby.
We’re certainly in for a treat! Kick-off is at 5:30pm GMT – join me!
