Unai Emery has named his team for his first ever trip to the London Stadium as Arsenal boss.
The Gunners will be looking to build back to winning form after a tough December in which they failed to win three matches, and last week’s 4-1 win over Fulham may have been a little flattering.
The Hammers do not come here in the best of form, and we should be able to use this game to build back the kind of momentum which saw us go for months almost four months undefeated.
Looking at the line-ups Emery is keen to give his defence extra back-up, much like Antonio Conte did two seasons ago, and has opted for a back five, although the likes of Sead Kolasinac and Ashley Maitland-Niles will be expected to aid strongly in attack out wide as well as in defence.
Is this going to be Emery’s favoured formation or is this just the manager trying to make the most of an injury-ravaged, unfit squad after a tough festive period?
Does the teamsheet assure you that the result is going to go our way or does it appear too defensive to fill such confidence?
Pat J