Arsenal are set to face West Ham United in the Premier League
Arsenal are set to face West Ham United in the Premier League
Arsenal fans have reacted with apprehension after veteran midfielder Jorginho was included in their starting line-up to face West Ham in the Premier League. The Gunners are looking to continue their fine post-international break form when they face the Hammers at the London Stadium.
Fresh from recording successive wins against Nottingham Forest and Sporting CP to end a four-game slump, Mikel Arteta will be keen for his side to claim another win. Arsenal can climb up to second and close the gap with leaders Liverpool to six points if they manage to defeat Julen Lopetegui's side.
The Arsenal boss has been forced to shuffle his pack for the game, with Thomas Partey, who scored against Nottingham Forest last weekend, out of the game. The Ghanaian is carrying a muscle problem, causing Arteta to opt for former Chelsea man Jorginho in midfield.
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Arsenal fans are not entirely convinced with the manager's choice to have the 32-year-old Italian midfielder start the game. They reacted to the news of the midfielder starting by sending some messages on X.
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A fan simply posted a meme to react to the midfielder starting.
"Jorginho in midfield", they posted.
Another fan simply laughed at the choice of Jorginho.
"Jorginho 🤣", they wrote.
Another fan referred to Arteta as a coward for choosing to play Jorginho instead of Ethan Nwaneri.
"So no Partey or Merino meant he could have played Nwaneri, but he stuck with Jorginho. Coward.", they wrote.
A fan shared a meme showing that they are apprehensive of Jorginho starting.
"Jorginho", they simply wrote.
Another fan shared their fear of Leandro Trossard and Jorginho starting.
"Jorginho and trossard 😭😭", they posted.
A fan complained about the manager starting Jorginho in midfield alongside Declan Rice.
"Fffssss can't go a week without some arsenal bullshit. Bench looks weak again. Trossard starting. Jorginho in midfield alongside rice who has a broken toe. 🙃🙃🙃🙃", they posted.
Another fan revealed that they did not want Trossard and Jorginho starting.
"I can’t stand watching the likes of Trossard and Jorginho START a Premier League or UEFA Champions League game for Arsenal 😡😡", they wrote.
A fan simply appealed to the Gunners to not ruin their evening.
"Jorginho x Trossard starting kmt. Don’t ruin my evening", they posted.
Mikel Arteta's side lost to West Ham in front of their own fans last December before absolutely demolishing them in the reverse fixture at the London Stadium. They will hope for a repeat of that performance, which saw them put six goals past the Hammers.
Arsenal hit with injury problems for West Ham trip
Arsenal have been hit with injury issues as they prepare to face West Ham United in their London derby meeting on Saturday. The Gunners were already without Takehiro Tomiyasu for the game before losing the duo of Mikel Merino and Thomas Partey, as well.
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Ghanaian midfielder Partey started in Portugal in midweek in the UEFA Champions League, having started on the bench against Nottingham Forest last weekend. Merino, on the other hand, started against Forest last weekend but came off the bench against Sporting on Tuesday.
Partey is carrying a muscle issue, while Merino has a knee complaint which is keeping him out of action for the Gunners. In the form of a silver lining, left-back Kieran Tierney has been named among the substitutes for the first time this season after recovering from his injury.