Arsenal return to Premier League action and will face West Ham this weekend after finding out their Champions League last-16 opponents, PSV Eindhoven. Arsenal can close the gap to Liverpool again to five points with the same number of games played with the Reds then playing Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
It could be a massive weekend for the Gunners and a big week in general as in just four days they travel to Nottingham to take on an excellent Forest side too. There are still concerns in the squad with some unorthodox suggestions coming from every angle.
With that in mind football.london gives their thoughts on who they would start on Saturday. With a big decision regarding how the front three should be structured.
Tom Canton
Arsenal cannot drop points if they want to win the league. While the gap has closed, they must take advantage of that and this tie with West Ham is massive, but equally so is the game four days later at Nottingham Forest.
The challenge of this quick turnaround before another weekend break is how to select the side. I believe using a change of full-backs works in the club’s favour and offers tactical advantages with someone like Riccardo Calafiori being better in progression for the home match and Myles Lewis-Skelly being better when the side need more control away from home in midweek.
I would not start Mikel Merino up top. I asked Mikel Arteta about the idea of getting fixated on the moment that the Spaniard was brought on, scoring twice and then losing sight of the context and he agreed that the scenario was what helped the midfielder-turned-striker succeed – we will see if he starts on Saturday however.
Raheem Sterling was applauded off the field by some Arsenal fans satirically on the weekend. But I would start him in this game and have Merino from the bench once again, starting the Spaniard in the next game.
Canton’s Arsenal XI vs West Ham: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Nwaneri, Trossard, Sterling
Sam Truelove
Arsenal can make it four wins in a row in the Premier League on Saturday and, in doing so, would put huge pressure on Liverpool to get a result at Manchester City. The Gunners have conceded just one goal in those three matches and I expect them to be defensively sound here as well.
David Raya obviously starts in goal with Gabriel and William Saliba in front of him. Myles Lewis-Skelly keeps his place at left-back and will be tasked with keeping Jarrod Bowen quiet. On the other side, I would give Jurrien Timber a rest and start Ben White, who needs minutes to start regaining his fitness.
Thomas Partey, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard would be my picks in midfield, with Jorginho on the bench to offer control if needed. I would also start with the same front three who started the match against Leicester last weekend. That means Mikel Merino settles for a place on the bench, with Raheem Sterling given a chance he simply must take.
Truelove’s XI: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Partey, Rice, Odegaard; Nwaneri, Trossard, Sterling
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