Arsenal find themselves chasing Liverpool for the Premier League title after the latter went atop the points table after their 2-0 win over Burnley. The Gunners now host London rivals West Ham United and would be looking to reclaim their number one spot in their last home game of the calendar year.
How Arsenal Can Defeat David Moyes’ West Ham Side
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Who Replaces Havertz in the Starting Lineup?
Kai Havertz suffered the fate of suspension after receiving his fifth yellow card before the 19th Premier League game of the season last weekend. After starting in five successive games in all competitions and flourishing on the left side of midfield, Havertz will be a big miss for Mikel Arteta as his side looks to get back to winning ways after last weekend’s 1-1 draw to title rivals Liverpool.
There are a few options at Arteta’s disposal to replace the German international, one being Leandro Trossard. The Belgian is seen as both a left-winger and left-sided midfielder for the Gunners and will be hoping to stake a claim from the start against the Hammers.
Another option would be to bring in Emile Smith Rowe whose career at Arsenal has stuttered with multiple long-term injuries over the last two seasons. Smith Rowe is now solely viewed as a midfielder after battling it out with Gabriel Martinelli in the left-wing position in the 2021/22 season. But a chance from the start in the Premier League could see the Hale End academy graduate revitalise his career in North London and an eye-catching performance would put him in with a shout of keeping his place against Fulham on Sunday afternoon.
A Midfield Switch Could Benefit Arsenal
An aspiration of Arteta from his side is for dominance and one player who could help bring that is Jorginho. This would also be an option with Havertz out as Declan Rice could be positioned higher up the pitch, given license to make his trademark bursts forward from midfield to help the attack and this could benefit Martinelli who has been struggling for form of late.
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With Jorginho in the side, the north Londoners find themselves with someone who is a master of controlling the tempo of games and this would work alongside Oleksandr Zinchenko who likes to pivot into midfield alongside a solid holding midfielder. This midfield pivot would work perfectly for a home game where Arteta’s side are expected to have vast amounts of the ball in the opposition’s half, looking to unlock the Hammers defence for most of the 90 minutes.
If Arsenal do get the balance right in midfield from the start then they will have a massive chance of gaining a significant win against David Moyes’ side and returning to the summit of the Premier League table.
