Arsenal Mikel Arteta
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal could be without three key players as they prepare to face West Ham United in a crucial London Derby on Saturday at the London Stadium.
The Gunners head into the fixture on the back of a strong resurgence in form, having secured convincing victories over Nottingham Forest and Sporting Lisbon, scoring eight goals across the two matches. With Liverpool and Manchester City clashing this weekend, Arsenal see the match as an opportunity to close the gap at the top of the Premier League table.
However, Arsenal’s preparations have been disrupted by injury concerns. Gabriel Magalhães suffered a knock during the Gunners’ dominant 5-1 Champions League win against Sporting CP on Tuesday and was substituted late in the game.
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Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Friday, Mikel Arteta revealed that Gabriel is experiencing “discomfort” and stated, “We’ll have to wait and see” if the Brazilian defender will be available for the trip to East London.
Gabriel Magalhães and Mikel Arteta
Gabriel Magalhães (Image credit: Getty Images)
Gabriel’s potential absence would exacerbate Arsenal’s defensive issues. Ben White is sidelined for several months with a knee injury, while Takehiro Tomiyasu remains unavailable due to a long-term setback.
Jakub Kiwior is likely to step in alongside William Saliba at the heart of the Arsenal defence if Gabriel is ruled out. The Polish international has made five Premier League appearances this season, all as a substitute, and could be handed a rare start.
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Saturday’s derby marks the beginning of a demanding week for Arsenal, who face three games in eight days as the Premier League’s festive schedule intensifies. After their trip to the London Stadium, the Gunners host Manchester United at the Emirates on Wednesday before travelling to Fulham next Sunday.
Currently sitting nine points behind league leaders Liverpool after 12 games, Arsenal have a chance to gain ground during the busy Christmas period.
West Ham, under Julian Lopetegui, will provide a stern test for the Gunners despite their difficult start to the season. The Hammers have picked up seven points from their last four matches, demonstrating signs of improvement ahead of Saturday’s 5:30pm kick-off.
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