West Ham United travel to Arsenal in Saturday’s 3pm kick-off with Nuno Espirito Santo looking to follow Graham Potter and David Moyes in securing a shock win away at the Premier League challengers.
And, after Nuno confirmed that Aaron Wan-Bissaka was available again after a few weeks out with a stomach issue, the club’s reigning Player of the Year returns to the XI in place of Kyle Walker-Peters.
Wan-Bissaka is the only change to the West Ham United team from Monday’s 1-1 draw at Everton. Max Kilman makes his 200th senior club appearance at centre-half, while Soungoutou Magassa starts alongside Mateus Fernandes again in the middle of the park.
Niclas Fullkrug is again selected ahead of Callum Wilson and Alphonse Areola keeps his place between the sticks.
Interestingly, there is again no place for James Ward-Prowse or Jean-Clair Todibo.
Nuno appeared to offer Ward-Prowse the chance to force his way back in, while insisting that Todibo was fit after training through the week.
However, in a decision which will cast further doubt on their West Ham futures, both players have been left out of the matchday roster for the second game in a row.
Arsenal welcome back Gabriel Magalhaes – who was initially a doubt – as Jurrien Timber and Ricardo Calafiori return at full-back.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference on Thursday, Nuno spoke warmly about former Wolves stalwart Kilman. The 51-year-old says oft-criticised centre-back has made a big impact on the training pitch as Nuno looks to fix a ‘big problem’ defending set-pieces.
“That is a big problem that we have to solve,” Nuno admits, albeit while insisting that some progress has been made already. “We’ve been working. I think we improved in the last game, [although there is] still a problem with the second phase.
“But [sorting out set-pieces is] something we are really concerned with. We have to solve it.
“Nowadays, set-pieces have a huge impact on the game. We have to become more aggressive because we have good leaders, good headers. Defending, we have to address it.
“I think [Kilman] is an important member of the squad. He can help in terms of relationship with the squad and how we approach things, our work-ethic in the training sessions, how we face the competition, how serious we are.”
Mikel Arteta determined to avoid another Hammers shock
In the opposition dugout, Mikel Arteta feels West Ham have a ‘top manager’ in Nuno while urging his team to come flying out of the blocks against a team likely to defend deep and use the speed of Bowen, Summerville and Diouf on the counter.
“Obviously with them, we had two defeats against them in the last two fixtures here,” Arteta acknowledges. “It’s something we need to put right, and tomorrow is an opportunity [to do that]. That [proves] the difficulty of the game we will have to play tomorrow, with a new manager as well.
“I know Nuno really well, how he sets up his teams. So, we expect a really tough match. A top manager. A top coach with a lot of experience. A really difficult game ahead.
“It is about generating momentum. There are periods in the season that are capital, and tomorrow’s game is a really important one for us,” Arteta adds, demanding a fast start against a team expected to sit deep and hit their hosts on the counter.
“That’s why, from the beginning, we need to generate [momentum] in the stadium and go for it.”
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