Arsenal take a break from their Premier League pursuit to take on West Ham United in the Carabao Cup Round of 16 clash, so let’s take a look at the latest team news.
The Gunners will come into this game full of confidence after a commanding 5-0 win over Sheffield United during the weekend. If they can win this match, it will send them into the quarterfinals of the competition.
As for the injuries, Martin Odegaard was rested last weekend and that might once again be the case for this game. There are three players who are going to miss out with one of them being long-term absentee Jurrien Timber who is out for a few more months.
Not having the Dutchman is a big blow for the manager because of the sheer versatility the former Ajax man offers.
The other two players who will miss out are Thomas Partey and Gabriel Jesus. Both of them should be back soon but for now, Arteta will have to find a solution without them. It is encouraging that Mohamed Elneny is back playing as that can ease the burden around the midfield a little.
Arsenal Fever View:
The Carabao Cup is a competition where the north Londoners have reached the latter stages before but haven’t gotten their hands on the trophy in quite some time. While the primary goal for Arteta would be the Premier League or the Champions League, this is a trophy he would like to add to his resume.
Facing West Ham is never an easy task, and the Hammers seem to have found their groove this season after losing their talisman in Declan Rice. While it is unlikely that their former captain will start against them, they have more than enough talent to harm the visitors.
The form of Eddie Nketiah is a big boost for the Gunners who will be keen for the Englishman to be among the goals once again. One facet to look out for is how Kai Havertz may be used for his aerial ability against a physical team such as the hosts.
Arsenal have a good chance to add another trophy to their cabinet this season but they must ensure they are not complacent against West Ham. If the north Londoners can play with their usual fluidity, it should be enough to move on to the next round.
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