Key events
A potential pre-match injury blow for West Ham, as Lucas Paquetá goes down during the warm-up. No word yet on whether he’ll still be able to start the game.
“As this is a vintage Arsenal (so we’re told) against a resurgent West Ham, I wondered if anyone had read the new Liam Brady bio yet?” asks Justin Kavanagh.
“I was wondering how he’d fit into either of these two sides today. Never mind holograms and ABBAtars, when is AI going to solve these sporting time-travel questions for once and for all?”
It’s not going to plan for Tottenham at the Amex, with Brighton racing into an early 2-0 lead …
Lest we forget, it’s a big night for Declan Rice, taking on his former club in the league for the first time.
“He’s been instrumental with us, we’re so happy to have him,” Arteta says of Rice. “He can add more goals, and take more attacking positions – he is playing in a deeper role at the moment though.”
On the title race, the Arsenal manager says: “There’s a lot of teams performing really well, and we have to maintain the level. It’s getting harder, every game is a battle, a real challenge.”
There’s another Premier League game on tonight – and it’s about to kick off. Follow Brighton v Spurs with Luke McLaughlin over here …
One change for the hosts from the 1-1 draw at Anfield, with Leandro Trossard coming in for the suspended Kai Havertz. Ethan Nwaneri, who became the Premier League’s youngest-ever player back in September 2022, gets a spot on the bench tonight.
Just the one change for West Ham too, with Angelo Ogbonna replacing Kurt Zouma in central defence. Zouma suffered a knock in training, while Nayef Aguerd is still unwell.
Team news
Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Rice, Ødegaard, Trossard; Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Martinelli.
Subs: Ramsdale, Smith Rowe, Nketiah, Kiwior, Cedric, Jorginho, Nelson, Elneny, Nwaneri.
West Ham (4-2-3-1): Areola; Coufal, Mavropanos, Ogbonna, Emerson; Álvarez, Soucek; Kudus, Ward-Prowse, Paquetá; Bowen.
Subs: Fabianski, Johnson, Cresswell, Fornals, Cornet, Ings, Benrahma, Kehrer, Mubama.
Referee: Michael Oliver (Northumberland)
Preamble
Having been top of the tree at Christmas, Arsenal have the chance to reclaim first place tonight with a home win over West Ham. Mikel Arteta’s side are unbeaten in nine league games at home this season; the visiting manager, David Moyes, has never won a match away at Arsenal. West Ham’s last win at the Emirates came back in April 2007. Still, there are reasons for the away fans to be more optimistic than usual tonight.
West Ham’s form on the road has improved – they already have four wins in the league, one more than all of last season – and an upturn in recent displays has moved them up to seventh place. Moyes’ side also dumped Arsenal out of the League Cup in November. This season, the Hammers have won derbies against Chelsea and Spurs, drawn with Palace and lost at Brentford and Fulham, the latter a 5-0 shellacking that Moyes has done well to quickly leave behind.
After a hard-earned point at Anfield, Arsenal begin their own run of London derbies tonight. A trip to Craven Cottage follows on New Year’s Eve, then Palace at home in mid-January, between two visits from Liverpool to the Emirates – one in the FA Cup, one in the league. Three points are essential tonight for the Gunners to maintain the edge they currently hold in the title race. Kick-off is at 8.15pm, GMT.
