West Ham United v Arsenal: Premier League – reside

3 min: Bowen receives the ball on the correct and appears to chop into the Arsenal field, however he’s lower out by Calafiori.

2 min: West Ham supervisor Julen Lopetegui is watching from what appears to be the again of the Administrators’ Field. Unsure if that’s one of the best place to take a seat when attempting to handle a crew…

Kick-off

Charles Antaki has messaged in in regards to the inclusion of Kieran Tierney…

“A small ripple of appreciation for Kieran Tierney as he edges again into rivalry. Arsenal followers aren’t positive fairly how a lot affection to put money into him anymore – there was lots – however he’s what? fourth or fifth in line for the left again function…. If and when he goes we’ll have loads of fond recollections; not many elite soccer gamers flip as much as video games with their belongings in a plastic bag, so he has that distinction in all probability in perpetuity.”

Martin Ødegaard proved as soon as once more final week that he’s Arsenal’s puppet grasp. The Gunners appeared to lose their approach in his absence over the previous couple of months, enduring a four-game winless run between the top of October and begin of November. However they hit their stride when captain Ødegaard accomplished his comeback from damage. The Norwegian has the flexibility to make these round him higher on the pitch, which is one thing West Ham should be cautious of this night.

These two groups final met on the London Stadium again in February – and it was a depressing day for the hosts. Arsenal cruised to an enormous 6-0 win over West Ham due to objectives from William Saliba, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Magalhães, Leandro Trossard and ex-Hammer Declan Rice.

Will we see a repeat immediately? Or will West Ham shock Mikel Arteta and Co?

Forward of immediately’s match, Arsenal supervisor Mikel Arteta mentioned: “I do know him [Lopetegui], we’re buddies, I’ve large admiration for what he has finished within the sport. He’s from the identical space as I’m within the north of Spain. It’s a crew that’s now in a excessive after the massive win that that they had in opposition to Newcastle away and it’s all the time a very robust opponent, we all know that.

“[They have] varied methods to create huge issues. They’re a very bodily facet, actually good in direct play, attacking second balls the place they should dominate the sport by way of the ball. Or once they have the area they’re a very harmful crew. Set items, after which particular person high quality they’ve, the entrance gamers can create in any second any state of affairs to trigger you bother. They’re rather well coached.”

Elsewhere within the Premier League immediately

• Wolves 2-4 Bournemouth

• Crystal Palace 1-1 Newcastle

• Nottingham Forest 1-0 Ipswich City

• Brentford 4-1 Leicester Metropolis

Julen Lopetegui won’t be within the West Ham dugout this night. The 58-year-old acquired his third yellow card of the season throughout Monday’s conflict with Newcastle, that means he should serve a one-match touchline ban in opposition to Arsenal.

“The gamers which are on the pitch is all the time most vital,” the supervisor mentioned throughout his pre-match press convention. “Gamers prepared to assist the crew and to have the ability to compete in opposition to one of many, for my part, greatest groups within the Premier League. So now we have to be prepared. I’m not going to be within the dugout, and perhaps I’ve to enhance my approach as a result of I’ve three yellow playing cards, but it surely’s finished. I’m passionate. And generally you attempt to say one thing, or the way you act, otherwise you make an motion together with your fingers.”

Kieran Tierney has been named within the Arsenal squad for the primary time since August 2023. The left-back, who spent final season on mortgage at Actual Sociedad, begins on the bench.

I need to hear from you! Remember to e-mail me with any predictions, emotions, ideas and all that jazz. The place will you be watching from? Who will you be watching with? Are you off to every other video games this weekend? I need to know!

Mikel Merino and Thomas Partey are each out of the Arsenal squad this night. Merino is unavailable with a knee drawback whereas Partey is absent as a result of a muscular difficulty.

Arsenal followers breathe a collective sigh of reduction as Gabriel is known as within the beginning line-up for this night’s match. There had been doubts relating to his involvement after he limped off in opposition to Sporting Lisbon earlier this week. In true Mikel Arteta fashion, the supervisor was extremely cryptic about his availability throughout a pre-match press convention yesterday, however however – and it’s not totally a shock – he’s in from the beginning.

In the meantime, Julen Lopetegui names an unchanged squad from Monday’s win over Newcastle.

Group information

Group information shall be out shortly. Mohammed Kudus is absent for West Ham whereas he serves the fifth of his five-match ban. Niclas Füllkrug can also be sidelined with an Achilles damage.

Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu stay unavailable for Arsenal, with Gabriel Magalhães an uncertainty.

Preamble