After a disappointing loss to Newcastle United, Arsenal now have to fight to save their 6th place in the points table, with Sean Dyche’s Burnley breathing down their neck. They welcome West Ham United to Emirates this weekend and cannot allow any complacency to set in late in the campaign. The Hammers are unbeaten in their last three games and are fresh off two draws against Chelsea and Stoke City.
They have not been consistent but have proven hard to beat and will surely test the Gunners in this clash. Arsenal can put a five-point gap between them and Burnley and can get to within three points of Chelsea with a win in this game but they play Atletico Madrid in their Europa League campaign later next week and Wenger might be tempted to rest a few of his key players. Here is the predicted XI Arsenal might field for this tie:
Team News:
In early team news, midfielder Santi Cazorla is the only player ruled out for this game against West Ham. Henrikh Mkhitaryan is back in training but might struggle to make it to the squad while Jack Wilshere will undergo a late fitness test before the game. Aaron Ramsey is fully fit after nursing his shin injury and is expected to start.
Expected lineup (4-2-3-1):
Defence:
David Ospina is finally fit but Wenger should stick with Petr Cech under the bar for this crunch clash. Hector Bellerin missed the previous game against The Magpies but should be back in action at right-back while Nacho Monreal should keep his place at left-back.
Shkodran Mustafi has not been at his best recently. He will have to step up his game for this weekend. He should be partnered with Laurent Koscielny, who also missed that game against Newcastle United.
Midfield:
With Wilshere uncertain, Granit Xhaka is likely to start at the heart of the midfield. Aaron Ramsey is back in training and should partner Xhaka against West Ham.
Attack:
Wenger played Lacazette and Aubameyang together in that loss but might stick with just one striker for this game. Aubameyang, who is ineligible to play in the Europa League for Arsenal, should lead the attack while Mesut Ozil, who was also rested last weekend, should start in a no.10 role.
Danny Welbeck, who only came on as a sub in that loss to Newcastle, might be played on the left wing, while Alex Iwobi might keep his place on the right flank in attack.
Here is how they might line up:
