Arsenal host West Ham in the Premier League looking to maintain their title push after reaching the Champions League final.
Arsenal return to Premier League action away to West Ham United after the biggest European night of Mikel Arteta’s reign.
Mikel Arteta’s side booked their place in the Champions League final with a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, winning the semi-final 2-1 on aggregate. Bukayo Saka scored the decisive goal, sending Arsenal into the final for the first time since 2006.
The challenge now is to reset quickly. Arsenal are still fighting for the Premier League title, and with Manchester City chasing, there is little room for any emotional drop-off after one of the biggest results of Arteta’s reign.
West Ham face equal pressure after slipping into the relegation zone following their defeat to Tottenham. The 3-0 loss at Brentford before that had already underlined some of the issues Nuno Espirito Santo’s side still have to manage, and their league position now makes every remaining fixture carry extra weight. Arsenal will see this as a game they have to control, but West Ham’s need for points should make them dangerous.
Team news
Arsenal were boosted before the Atletico game by the return of Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard to the squad, although neither started. Their availability gives Arteta greater flexibility, particularly with the schedule still demanding in both domestic and European terms.
Jurrien Timber remains a significant absence. The defender was ruled out before the Atletico match, and his continued absence removes the security he brings as Arsenal’s first-choice right-back when fit.
Saka is back, making decisive contributions after recent fitness concerns, scoring against both Fulham and Atletico. Arteta has been careful with his workload, substituting him at half-time against Fulham before starting him again in Europe.
Myles Lewis-Skelly has also given Arteta a major selection decision after impressing in midfield in successive starts against Fulham and Atletico. Odegaard’s return also leaves a decision to be made in the 10 role, with Eze also having started against both Fulham and Atletico. Although decisions will need to be made, it’s a positive situation for Arsenal having almost all of their first-team available.
West Ham are in a relatively strong position on availability heading into the Arsenal game. Nuno Espirito Santo said before the recent Brentford fixture that his squad had only “small knocks” and that “everybody’s going to be okay”, and no major new absence was flagged from that defeat.
Crysencio Summerville has also returned from injury in recent weeks, giving West Ham another wide option for the run-in. Lukasz Fabianski is listed as unavailable with a back problem, but Nuno has otherwise had close to a full squad to work with.
The bigger issue for West Ham may be selection rather than injuries. After the 3-0 defeat at Brentford, Nuno has decisions to make over whether to alter the shape or personnel against an Arsenal side still chasing the Premier League title. Given Arsenal’s wide threat and recent attacking rhythm, West Ham may look for extra defensive security at the Emirates.
Key battles
The biggest question for Arsenal is emotional and physical sharpness. Reaching a Champions League final can lift a team, but it can also create a dangerous comedown if the next league game is not handled properly.
West Ham is likely to try to make the game as awkward as possible. They have enough physical presence to compete at set pieces and enough individual quality to threaten if Arsenal become loose in possession. Arteta’s side cannot afford to let the match become stretched or scrappy.
Arsenal’s wide players could be decisive. Saka’s return to influence has changed the rhythm of the attack, while Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Noni Madueke all offer different approaches going forward. Against a West Ham side that struggled to contain Brentford’s direct running, Arsenal should look to move the ball quickly into wide areas and force repeated defensive actions.
With the Champions League final is now secured, which means Arsenal’s full focus can return to the Premier League until the end of the domestic season. A win over West Ham would keep pressure on City and show that Arteta’s side can turn a historic European week into another step in the title race.