Arsenal will be looking to extend their winning streak to three matches when they meet West Ham United this Saturday, with a crucial opportunity to climb into second place in the Premier League as per reports from Football.London.
A victory would push them above Manchester City and Liverpool, who will face each other on Sunday. However, Mikel Arteta is well aware that West Ham will not provide an easy test for his team.
Arteta acknowledged that while West Ham presents a challenge, his focus remains firmly on Arsenal’s own performance.
“If we keep winning games, maintaining the consistency in terms of performances, that’s going to give us a better chance of winning,” he said ahead of the match.
The Gunners currently sit nine points behind Liverpool, and Arteta knows that a perfect display is needed to close the gap.
The Spaniard also stated that West Ham is a “dangerous” opponent, underlining that his side must be at their best to secure all three points.
The team's preparations have been complicated by a potential injury to Gabriel, who suffered a knock during the midweek Champions League match against Sporting CP.
Arteta remains uncertain about his availability, stating, “Wait and see,” when asked about the Brazilian's fitness.
Arsenal’s injury concerns extend beyond Gabriel. Takehiro Tomiyasu will miss the game as he continues his treatment for an ongoing issue, while Ben White is expected to be sidelined for several months following a knee procedure.
These absences leave Arteta with a limited pool of players to choose from.
In total, Arsenal has 19 senior players available for selection, with academy prospects like Ethan Nwaneri expected to be part of the squad. Myles Lewis-Skelly, who was on the bench against Sporting CP, may not feature against West Ham.
If Gabriel is unavailable, Jakub Kiwior is likely to partner William Saliba at the back, or Riccardo Calafiori could be shifted from left-back to centre-back.
Kieran Tierney, who traveled to Lisbon but did not play, could also make the matchday squad if required. Arteta will have to make a final decision based on the team’s fitness after their final training session.