West Ham welcome Arsenal to the London Stadium on Saturday evening but Julen Lopetegui had hinted at three big doubts.
That’s in addition to Hammers star boy Mohammed Kudus and long-term absentee Niclas Fullkrug.
West Ham’s star player Kudus has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal.
But the Gunners will not get to see him up close this time around as he serves the final game of a five-match ban.
Striker Fullkrug is also ruled out as he closes on three months out with an Achilles injury since joining West Ham in the summer.
The Hammers go into the game against Arsenal off the back of their best performance of the year.
Nobody saw West Ham’s 2-0 win at Newcastle coming.
But Mikel Arteta’s side have started to hit their best form of the season too.
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Arsenal easily beat Forest 3-0 last weekend before battering Sporting 5-1 away in midweek.
There was bad news when Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui spoke to the press ahead of the Premier League clash.
The Spaniard revealed three West Ham players are doubts for the London derby – in addition to Fullkrug.
Julen Lopetegui, manager of West Ham United, during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and West Ham United FC at St James' Park ...
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Lopetegui revealed West Ham have three doubts for Arsenal
Lopetegui did caveat the update by stating he hopes they will be available.
The 58-year-old revealed a decision would be made if they were able to train today on the eve of the game.
Now West Ham have dropped a sudden announcement about a key star’s availability for Arsenal.
One of the big doubts for the Gunners was £32m centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo.
The French defender has blowed hot and cold since arriving from Nice.
But he has showed he has everything needed to be a top class Premier League defender in the mould of his compatriot William Saliba.
Todibo was the only West Ham starter to score less than 9/10 in the win at St James’s Park.
The former Barca man was clearly suffering with something and was forced off during the surprise victory.
After the game it was revealed that Todibo was suffering with a stomach issue.
Ahead of Arsenal it was claimed West Ham’s medics are reluctant to take a risk with Todibo.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jean-Clair Todibo of West Ham United warm up prior to the Premier League match between West Ham United FC and Ipswich Town FC...
Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images
West Ham drop sudden announcement about Todibo for Arsenal
That would mean ex Gunners defender Konstantinos Mavropanos coming back into the side.
Now there has been a huge official update from the club about Todibo.
It’s bad news for Arsenal and great for West Ham.
Taking to social media, West Ham have confirmed Todibo will indeed be fit and available for the visit of Arsenal.
“All set for Arsenal,” West Ham said alongside a picture of Todibo on Friday training.
Todibo was the jewel in the crown of West Ham’s £155m summer transfer splurge.
But the jury remains out on the French defender.
His biggest issue, by his own admission, is that he has been playing catch-up with his fitness having not had any pre-season.
Todibo has also admitted he has been trying to get to grips with the sheer intensity of the Premier League.
Tests won’t come much tougher than Arsenal in that respect.
Both Todibo and Mavropanos have been error-prone for the Irons.
But Todibo seems to bring the best out of defensive partner Max Kilman, who has been a standout star for the Hammers this season.
So it is vital he plays as West Ham look to try and prove the performance levels at Newcastle were not a one-off.
Great news for the Hammers 24 hours out from the game.
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