Arsenalvs.West Ham

The former Real Sociedad man came off the bench to score a game-winning double in last weekend's 2-0 win over Leicester City, having replaced the ineffective Raheem Sterling in the second half.

With Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus still sidelined, Arteta has taken a punt on Merino from the first whistle against the Irons, where he is expected to operate as the centre-forward.

Merino occupying the number nine spot will push Leandro Trossard out to the left as Ethan Nwaneri continues to strut his stuff on the right, while Sterling drops to the bench for Saturday's game.

Merino in for Sterling is one of two alterations that the hosting manager has made to his first XI for the visit of the Irons, as Riccardo Calafiori - who played a key part in Merino's second goal last weekend - starts at left-back over Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Ben White was an unused substitute at the King Power Stadium last weekend and also takes his place on the bench for this one as he seeks his first minutes since recovering from a knee operation in November.

West Ham go defensive after Lucas Paqueta injury

Meanwhile, West Ham boss Graham Potter has made four changes to the side that suffered a 1-0 defeat to Brentford last time out, since when he has lost Lucas Paqueta to a training-ground injury.

The Irons head coach has seemingly switched to a defensive 5-3-2 shape for the clash with the title-chasing Gunners, where Oliver Scarles, James Ward-Prowse, Jean-Clair Todibo and Aaron Cresswell have all been promoted to the first XI.

Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus - neither of whom is an out-and-out centre-forward - will work in tandem as the front two for West Ham, as Potter is still holding off on starting Brighton & Hove Albion loanee Evan Ferguson.

Nineteen-year-old Scarles has replaced Emerson Palmieri on the left-hand side, while Carlos Soler also drops out to accommodate an additional defender in the experienced Cresswell.

Ex-Arsenal man Dinos Mavropanos is demoted to the bench in favour of Todibo, while another erstwhile Gunners player - Lukasz Fabianski - is also among the visitors' substitutes.

Arsenal will close the gap to Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table to five points with a win, whereas West Ham are bidding to maintain or increase their 10-point lead over the relegation zone.

Arsenal starting lineup: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Nwaneri, Merino, Trossard

Subs: Neto, White, Tierney, Lewis-Skelly, Zinchenko, Kiwior, Jorginho, Butler-Oyedeji, Sterling

West Ham United starting lineup: Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Cresswell, Scarles; Alvarez, Soucek, Ward-Prowse; Bowen, Kudus

Subs: Fabianski, Soler, Mavropanos, Guilherme, Ings, Rodriguez, Emerson, Ferguson, Irving

Written by

Ben Knapton