By Graham Ruthven
Alternative knocks
New life has been breathed into this season’s Premier League title race. Not so way back, it appeared Liverpool had been operating away on the prime of the desk. Their draw in opposition to Aston Villa on Wednesday, nevertheless, has altered the image.
Abruptly, Arne Slot’s group have suffered a dip. The draw in opposition to Villa was the second time in three video games that Liverpool have dropped factors within the league, opening the door for Arsenal to mount a fightback.
A win for the Gunners in opposition to West Ham on Saturday afternoon would shut the hole on the prime of the desk to only 5 factors with Liverpool away to Manchester Metropolis 24 hours later. Metropolis won’t be the drive of previous, however a visit to the Etihad Stadium is at all times a problem.
This weekend has the potential to be a turning level within the Premier League title race and Arsenal should ensure that they do the whole lot attainable to pile the stress on Liverpool by claiming three factors on Saturday.
West Ham, in the meantime, are struggling for traction underneath new supervisor Graham Potter. The Hammers are doubtless protected from the specter of relegation, however a constructive end result this weekend would assist them really feel safer.
Key gamers
Declan Rice will face his former group because the controlling determine within the centre of the Arsenal midfield. The 26-year-old is on the peak of his powers and might need to supply much more as a inventive drive because the Gunners battle with accidents.
Martin Ødegaard is one other midfielder who must step as much as compensate for the objectives and assists which were misplaced by means of the absence of Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus.
Ethan Nwaneri might maintain his place within the Arsenal lineup after impressing within the latest win over Leicester Metropolis. {The teenager} has been a livewire for the Gunners since breaking by means of and has rapidly turn out to be an essential participant attributable to accidents.
Evan Ferguson made his West Ham debut off the bench in final week’s defeat to Brentford and the Irish striker may very well be fast-tracked into the lineup such is Potter’s want for an attacking point of interest.
Jarrod Bowen will give West Ham menace attacking open house whereas Mohamed Kudus might discover house in between the traces of Arsenal’s midfield and defence. On the again, the likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Max Kilman and Alphonse Areola could have keep stable too.
Staff information
Mikel Arteta’s greatest resolution for Saturday’s match in opposition to West Ham issues his ahead line. Will Mikel Merino begin as an emergency centre ahead after his goal-scoring cameo off the bench in opposition to Leicester? Or will Leandro Trossard maintain his spot?
Accidents to Havertz, Saka, Martinelli and Jesus have left the Gunners terribly depleted within the attacking third. Raheem Sterling may very well be in line for one more begin, however Arsenal want him to provide extra.
Michail Antonio and Niclas Füllkrug are long-term absentees for West Ham whereas Jean-Clair Todibo and Crysencio Summerville are additionally sidelined. Ferguson’s health won’t allow him to start out, however he will certainly characteristic in some unspecified time in the future.
Prediction
Arsenal 1-0 West Ham. It may very well be tight, however the Gunners ought to edge it, simply to proceed the narrative that the title race is again on.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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