Match: Arsenal vs West Ham United
Date: 16th December
Venue: The Emirates
Time: 1:30 AM IST
Resurgent Arsenal look to regain form against high-flying Hammers
Arsenal take on West Ham United would very often be a feisty clash with the Gunners taking the advantage due to their far more expensive squad. The Gunners would simply feel more premium in comparison to the Hammers, who rather represented the common men in the Premier League. However, in this match between two teams from London, West Ham United are in a better position in the points table than Arsenal and have surely done better against the top six sides.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are part of a rebuild and gradually building into something big. Head coach Mikel Arteta has taken up the role to return Arsenal to their lost glory and the work currently is in progress. The Gunners have had a very two-paced season and it is only recently that they started getting some wins on the bag in this current campaign. After losses against Manchester United and Everton, the Gunners have found their winning ways with a 3-0 win over Southampton and will be hoping to carry that form against West Ham United as well. They are currently in the sixth position in the Premier League points table and a win here may push them up the ladder, something which they tend to do before the end of this season.
Coming to the visitors, West Ham United are punching way above their weight. But they have proven that it is by sheer performance and hard work that they are in the Champions League positions in the Premier League. David Moyes has done tremendous work with the Hammers and the players have shown a great sense of responsibility and belief while securing those results one after another. Moyes’ style of play has worked like a charm against the top six sides in the league. The Hammers recently defeated Chelsea 3-2 at home followed by a 1-0 loss against Dinamo Zagreb at the Europa League. West Ham are coming to the Emirates in North London on the back of a 0-0 draw against Burnley.
Form Guide (All Competitions)
Arsenal: LWLLW
West Ham United: LLDWD
Team News
Mikel Arteta will be missing the services of German goalkeeper Bernd Leno and fullback Sead Kolasinac. Other than that he may not field Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang due to disciplinary issues. The Gabonese marksman was stripped off from his captaincy for returning late to North London from an authorised tour to France. He promised to return a day earlier but came back a day late as Arteta had to field a team without Aubameyang against Southampton. Therefore that may continue against West Ham Untied as well.
Talented English midfielder Emile Smith-Rowe is fit again and may replace Brazilian Gabriel Martinelli in the starting lineup. Martin Odegaard is all set to start behind the striker whereas Bukayo Saka will play on the right flank with Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka in the heart of the midfield. In defence, Ben White and Gabriel will feature alongside Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney on either flank. Aaron Ramsdale will look to keep his place between the sticks.
West Ham United will be missing the likes of Angelo Ogbonna, Kurt Zouma, Ben Johnson, and Ryan Fredericks due to injury concerns. But there is good news for Moyes as fullback Aaron Cresswell may feature in this game after missing out on the last four matches. Arthur Masuaku will take up the left-back slot while Vladimir Coufal will slot in on the right with Issa Diop and experienced Craig Dawson at the heart of the defence. Double pivots Declan Dice and Tomas Soucek will look to provide that stability in the middle whereas Manuel Lanzini may get replaced by Spanish midfielder Pablo Fornals who will look to slot right behind the striker. Jarrod Bowen and Said Benrahma will provide width to the Hammers as Michail Antonio will lead the lines for them.
Predicted Line-ups
Arsenal Starting XI: Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Xhaka; Saka, Odegaard, Smith Rowe; Lacazette.
West Ham United Starting XI: Fabianski; Coufal, Dawson, Diop, Masuaku; Soucek, Rice; Bowen, Fornals, Benrahma; Antonio.
ARS vs WHU: Top Picks
Michail Antonio, Striker, West Ham United
The main man for West Ham United this season has to be Michail Antonio. Despite the Englishman’s rough path, it is not easy to keep the 31-year-old out of our top picks in a match between the hammers and Arsenal. David Moyes feels that his main man upfront will find his form very soon and we will look to support Antonio. The lanky English striker has scored six goals this season and has also recorded four assists to go along with it. Antonio has been a major force for the Hammers this season and will look to get back his form against Arsenal.
Emile Smith-Rowe, Midfielder, Arsenal
This has been a breakthrough year for the English youngster, Emile Smith-Rowe who has grown in stature at Arsenal. He will return to the lineup after four matches and will look to make a mark for the Gunners. The 21-yer-old midfielder who will look to replace Gabriel Martinelli in the starting lineup from the previous match will look to add to his goalscoring tally of five goals this season in the Premier League. Smith-Rowe has been exceptional with his silky silks, mazy runs and great vision to find his teammates in the final third.
Captain and Vice-Captain Selection
Michail Antonio’s great goalscoring prowess keeps us with no option but to choose the 31-year-old for the captaincy pick for this game against Arsenal. Whereas we feel that Emile Smith-Rowe can make an immediate impact after coming back to the starting lineup against West Ham United. The English youngster has all the ability to change a game on its head and has been very effective for the Gunners. Hence he gets the vice-captaincy pick from us.
MPL Fantasy XI
Note: The players recommended here need not be a part of the Playing 11 on game day. Users are advised to do their own research also and follow official sources and create their teams.
