Arsenal v West Ham: line ups, tactics and why this could be a defining match
Arsenal face a crucial moment in their season tonight as they take on West Ham in their Premier League game in hand, with the chance to close the gap on fourth-placed Spurs to four points. For West Ham, a result at the Emirates would further boost their chances of staying up, but while taking points away from North London would be massive for Sam Allardyce's team, it feels like a potentially defining moment for Arsene Wenger. talkSPORT explain why, as we look ahead to the clash...
Echoes of last season
Arsenal's current predicament will be familiar to Gunners fans, having seen their team in a similarly precarious position this time last year. After 23 matches of the 2011/12 Premier League season, the Gunners were sitting in seventh place, after a string of three losses and a pitiful draw against Bolton saw them slip five points off the top four pace. Arsenal managed to turn things around, however, starting with a 7-1 annihilation of Blackburn Rovers in their 24th Premier League game of the season, setting in motion a string of seven wins in a row, including thrilling victories over Spurs, Liverpool, Everton and Newcastle. Tonight's clash with West Ham is Arsenal's 23rd game of the current Premier League season, after which the best they can hope for is to be four points off fourth. A strong win against the Hammers tonight could work in a similar way to their humbling of Blackburn last year, giving the Gunners a major boost in morale and the momentum they need to continue winning. With Liverpool coming to the Emirates next Wednesday, that could be vital, though without Robin Van Persie in the ranks this time round, others will have to pull their weight.
A key decision for Arsene Wenger will be choosing which role to field Jack Wilshere in, with the Englishman playing in a more advanced role of late. While deploying Wilshere as a 'number 10' worked well against Swansea, he struggled to impose himself against Chelsea and, with the West Ham clash seemingly a must-win match, getting the most out of Arsenal's potential driving force will be key for Wenger. The absence of Mikel Arteta and Francis Coquelin, plus concerns over the fitness of Abou Diaby, may force Wenger's hand on the matter and that in turn could also have a knock on effect for Santi Cazorla, who has previously moved further wide in order to accommodate a marauding Wilshere. Cazorla's best work at Malaga came as a central attacker, so it's not too surprising that he didn't produce one of his better displays as a wide attacker against Chelsea. Finally, there's the ever important issue of who scores the goals. While Olivier Giroud undoubtedly needs to play his part, Theo Walcott needs to justify his new contract with goals and his pace should cause West Ham big problems.
Video evidence
Leaving Santi Cazorla stranded out wide could be costly for Arsenal, considering how effective he can be in a central role...
For West Ham, who haven't won a game since 1 January, their hopes of springing a surprise at the Emirates may fall to a man being heavily linked with a move to Arsenal; talented midfielder Mohamed Diame. There will be no glorious homecoming for Marouane Chamakh, however, who is unable to play against Arsenal as part of the loan agreement between the two London sides. West Ham will also be without Modibo Maiga, who is currently in South Africa with Mali for the Africa Cup of Nations, so the Hammers are somewhat weakened. Big Sam can be expected to set up his team to keep things tight, while hoping to take advantage of Arsenal's defending from set pieces and on the break. If that happens, it could spell disaster for Arsenal's season. Champions League football rests on a knife edge for the Gunners.
Possible line ups
Arsenal: Szczesny, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Sagna, Gibbs, Diaby, Wilshere, Cazorla, Podolski, Walcott, Giroud
West Ham: Jaaskelaninen, Tomkins, Reid, O'Brien, Demel, Diame, Noble, Nolan, Jarvis, J. Cole, C. Cole
West Ham and Arsenal fans, who will take the spoils tonight? Let us know below...