Arsenal will play host to West Ham United this evening without our former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Gunners made the decision to remove the Gabon international from his role this week following his latest disciplinary breach, and now await to find out who will be the next player to step up and wear the armband on a permanent basis.
In the mean time, we can expect both Granit Xhaka and Alexandre Lacazette to share the role as part of a leadership group, and I believe both will get the nod to start in today’s matchup also.
We are without Sead Kolasinac still, who has been sidelined with injury since the international break back in September, while Auba is set to be overlooked again after breaching the club’s rules as confirmed by the club this week.
Predicted Arsenal XI:
Ramsdale
Tomiyasu White Gabriel Tierney
Smith Rowe Partey Xhaka Saka
Odegaard
Lacazette
If Smith Rowe is back to 100%, I simply can’t overlook him, so unfortunately I believe that Gabriel Martinelli could well find himself being rested this time around.
There is always the chance that Arteta could opt to play all his young stars, with Martinelli or Smith Rowe possibly operating as the forward, but I believe that would be unlikely in such a big game, with the chance to take fourth in the table.
Could Smith Rowe be overlooked if back to 100%? Have others recent performances outshone ESR’s form from before his injury?
Patrick