Arsenal vs West Ham preview, team news, tickets and predictions

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Arsenal desperately need a win to maintain pressure at the top of the table when we take on West Ham at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday 22nd February.

It’s been a mixed few weeks for Arsenal as we’ve struggled for consistent form across different competitions as Mikel Arteta continues to battle with an injury crisis in attack. The loss of Bukayo Saka has had huge implications to our forward line as the England international has been sorely missed since limping off against Crystal Palace in December. To compound matters, we then lost Gabriel Jesus to a serious ACL injury at the start of January while promising youngster Ethan Nwaneri also spent a few weeks on the sidelines, further limiting our options in attack.

Unfortunately, the club failed to sign an attacker in January despite our clear need for reinforcements. Just as the window shut, Gabriel Martinelli picked up a hamstring injury during the 2-0 League Cup semi-final second leg defeat to Newcastle United last time out. This nightmare has left Mikel Arteta with just three fit senior attackers in Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard and Raheem Sterling. Thankfully Nwaneri has stepped up this season, but we can’t rely on a 17-year-old to carry us through until Saka and Martinelli are back.

Despite the injury crisis, Arsenal’s results have been solid in the Premier League and in Europe. We enjoyed victories over Tottenham and Wolves in January before battering the defending champions Manchester City 5-1 in a stunning win at the Emirates Stadium on February 2nd. We also booked our place in the last-16 of the Champions League with comfortable wins over Dinamo Zagreb and Girona to secure third spot in the table. The only recent disappointment was the cup defeat to Newcastle – which was mainly down to poor finishing – and the 2-2 draw at home to Aston Villa that saw us blow a two-goal lead.

Training camp

After thrashing City, the squad has been enjoying a warm weather training camp in Dubai. Last year’s winter trip to the UAE worked wonders as we went on a sensational run during the second half of the season – hopefully we see a similar trend this time around. The main difference is we had virtually a fully-fit squad this time last year, and things look a lot worse on that front this campaign, but hopefully the boys will still come back from Dubai rejuvenated and ready to keep the pressure on Liverpool.

We currently sit six points adrift of the leader having played an extra game, so we have plenty of ground to make up if we want to stand a chance of winning the title. The win over City should give the players huge confidence but all Arsenal can do is keep winning, and hope Liverpool slip up.

That means there is no room for error when West Ham arrive at the Emirates on February 22nd. Fans with Arsenal tickets know this can be a tricky fixture and West Ham are always capable of turning up when they play the bigger teams. However, we simply have to win if we want to close the gap on Liverpool as more drop points could end our title charge for another season.

The Hammers aren’t in great form either, despite the appointment of Graham Potter as manager. They sit 15th in the table having won just one of their last seven league games so we should be confident of beating our London rivals on home soil.

Tickets

The game will be played at 3pm on Saturday 22nd, so the only way to follow all the action live is to have a seat at the Emirates Stadium.

Supporters can buy Arsenal vs West Ham tickets through the club or via reputable online resellers such as Seatsnet.com.

Team news

As mentioned, Arsenal are facing an injury crisis in attack. Saka has stepped up his recovery from hamstring surgery but isn’t expected back until some time in March so he won’t face West Ham.

Martinelli is also a major doubt as his hamstring injury could keep him out until next month while Jesus won’t play again this season after ACL surgery.

Thankfully there is more positive news on Ben White as he’s on the verge of making his return from a knee injury that’s kept him out for three months. Takehiro Tomiyasu is also close to being available again after a troublesome knee problem.

As for West Ham, Crysencio Summerville is out with a thigh injury so he won’t face Arsenal while Lucas Paqueta has been carrying a groin injury – but he should be fit for the trip to North London later this month.

Niclas Fullkrug won’t feature as the striker has been ruled out for several weeks with a hamstring injury while Michail Antonio won’t play again after breaking his leg in a car crash.

Possible XI

Hopefully we don’t pick up any more injuries over the coming weeks as the squad is down to the bare bones in attack. Arteta has very few options to rotate and I think it’s likely that we’ll see Nwaneri and Trossard supporting Havertz in the final third. Sterling is experienced but he’s not shown his quality in an Arsenal shirt yet and there is no doubt Nwaneri and Trossard deserve to start ahead of him.

White’s return is huge news but he’ll need to be eased back in to action so Jurrien Timber should keep his place alongside William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes in defence. Myles Lewis-Skelly has burst onto the scene and deserves to keep his place at left-back.

Thomas Partey, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard are undoubtedly our best midfield trio so hopefully we see them starting together.

Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Nwaneri, Trossard, Havertz

Predicted score

Arsenal may have problems in attack but we are still strong defensively and boast one of the best defensive records in the league. Arteta has suggested that we’re going to have to find different ways to win while our key attackers are out, and that could mean a slightly different playing style.

West Ham always pose a threat and usually step-up their game when they play the big boys, so we can’t take the task too lightly. However, even without Saka, Martinelli and Jesus, I’m confident Arsenal will have enough quality to beat the Hammers. Arsenal 2-1 West Ham

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