Premier League leaders Arsenal host West Ham in a London derby on Boxing Day, as Mikel Arteta’s men aim to start their comeback.
STREAM LIVE ARSENAL v WEST HAM
The Gunners lead the Premier League table by five points after the first 14 games of the season and they have lost just once and conceded once so far, winning the other 12. However, Arteta was injured during a heavy blow. The World Cup was denied with Gabriel Jesus and it will be interesting to see if Arsenal can easily pick up where they left off six weeks ago. All eyes will be on north London over the next few months as Arteta’s young side prepare for a title fight but a couple of key injuries could quickly derail them.
As for the Hammers, David Moyes’ side have struggled in the Premier League this season but maybe that’s because they’ve qualified for the UEFA Europa League? They are talented and at times they look like the teams that have finished sixth and seventh respectively in the last two seasons. Their main problem is making defensive mistakes, which is something they need to cut down on.
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Here’s everything you need to know for Arsenal vs West Ham.
How to watch Arsenal vs West Ham live stream link and start time
Kickoff: 3 p.m. ET, Monday (December 26)
TV channel: Tavus
Online: Stream via Peacock Premium
Main stories
As we said, how Arsenal deal with the loss of Gabriel Jesus is important. The Brazilian player injured his knee during the World Cup and underwent surgery. He is expected to miss the next few months. Meanwhile Eddie Nketiah will be tasked with replacing him up top and that is a big ask and the Gunners may look to the January window for a stopgap solution. Jesus hasn’t scored but his link-up play allows Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard to thrive. Barring the injury to Jesus, everything is looking great for Arsenal and now it’s all about seeing if they can regain the momentum they had in the first few months of the season.
For West Ham it is to break into the top 10 again. David Moyes’ side sit just one point above the relegation zone and they are yet to find consistent form or realize their best combinations in midfield and attack. The Hammers rely heavily on Declan Rice, while Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen will have to recapture their form of the last few seasons. The additions of Gianluca Scamacca and Lucas Paqueta haven’t really worked, so far. Nayef Aguerd’s back-up will be a big boost and should keep them on the defensive.
In-form players to keep an eye on
Saka has been sensational in England’s World Cup, while Arsenal’s opening four games will be really tight between Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel and Oleksandr Zinchenko, only Saliba played in the World Cup and that was 27 minutes. . Arsenal’s midfield duo of Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka are just as important, while there will be a lot of pressure on Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli and Fabio Vieira to plug the gap left by Jesus’ injury.
West Ham need Declan Rice to bring his World Cup form to the Premier League, while Jarrod Bowen looks sharp in his midfield. Again, the key is to improve defensively and Aguerd had a good World Cup for Morocco and now he’s fit, he’s a big boost for West Ham.
Arsenal squad news, injuries, line-up options
OUT: Gabriel Jesus (knee), Oleksandr Zinchenko (uncertain), Reiss Nelson (thigh). QUESTIONS: William Saliba (late return from World Cup), Emile Smith Rowe (groin), Takehiro Tomiyasu (hamstring).
West Ham squad news, injuries, line-up options
OUT: Nayef Aguerd (groin), Kurt Zouma (knee). QUESTIONS: Gianluca Scamacca (groin), Maxwell Cornet (calf), Michail Antonio (calf), Aaron Cresswell (hamstring)
