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Preview: West Ham v Arsenal: key man ruled out, Sanchez axed + prediction

By on December 13, 2017

danny welbeck arsenal

Arsenal will hope to climb back in to the top four of the Premier League with a win when we take on West Ham at the London Stadium tonight.

Sunday’s disappointing 1-1 draw at Southampton has seen us slip to sixth in the table but we can reclaim fourth spot if we collect all three points at West Ham and Liverpool fail to beat West Brom.

Once again we started slowly at St Mary’s and gave away another cheap early goal thanks to some woeful defending so it’s vital we get organised from the first minute as we can’t keep chasing games.

We’re up against a West Ham side who are having a terrible campaign as they head in to the game 19th having won just one of their last nine games in all competitions.

However, that victory came against Chelsea at the weekend so David Moyes’ side have shown they’re capable of beating anyone on their day and we better not take this game too lightly or we’ll drop more points away from home.

Team news

Unfortunately we’ll be without Ramsey as the midfielder suffered a hamstring injury at the weekend so Wilshere could be given his first league start of the season.

Mustafi returned to light training earlier this week but the club doctors still don’t think he’s ready to return so the German international remains out along with Cazorla.

West Ham will be without Fernandes, Collins, Fonte and Byram due to injury but Kouyate could return to the squad after recovering from a hamstring problem.

Preferred line-up

Reports suggest Wenger is considering going to a back four and I’d welcome the change as the back three just isn’t working. With Mustafi out I’d like to see Holding given a chance in the middle alongside Koscielny.

The switch in formation could see us play more of a 4-3-3 and I’d go with Coquelin to sit in front of the defence with Xhaka and Wilshere in front of the Frenchman.

Sanchez was a liability again at the weekend so I think it’s time we axe the Chilean attacker and I’d play Welbeck alongside Ozil behind Lacazette.

This would be my line-up tonight:

Likely West Ham XI: Adrian; Zabaleta, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Arnautovic, Noble, Lanzini, Obiang, Masuaku; Antonio

Prediction

Our away form is concerning but this is a great opportunity to pick up a win on the road and get back in the mix for the top four. West Ham have been woeful for much of the season and we’ve lost just one of our last 18 games against them so we should be confident heading to the London Stadium. I’m backing us to come away with a hard fought 2-1 win. West Ham 1-2 Arsenal