Arsenal and West Ham are both desperately in need of a morale-boosting victory ahead of their meeting at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.
Slaven Bilic was given the public backing of the West Ham board on Sunday but a run of four straight defeats has left the Hammers just six points clear of the drop zone and sinking fast.
Of course Arsene Wenger has long had the implicit support of Arsenal’s hierarchy but with just three wins in 10, two of which came against non-league sides, the Gunners faithful have grown increasingly restless as their club’s top four hopes have receded.
It should make for an encounter on Wednesday that, even if it is short on quality, does not lack for drama.
START TIME
Arsenal host West Ham at the Emirates with kick-off scheduled for 7:45pm on Wednesday, April 5.
TV AND LIVE ONLINE COVERAGE
There will be no live televised coverage of the match in the UK but you can follow all the build-up and action from 6:45pm with Standard Sport’s London Football live blog. Enter your email address below to be informed when coverage begins.
TEAM NEWS
Both Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are both expected to return to Arsenal’s squad for the visit of West Ham after undergoing fitness tests on Tuesday, while defensive lynchpin Laurent Koscielny is facing ‘a few weeks’ out after picking up an Achilles injury.
Petr Cech will not return from his calf strain and David Ospina picked up a back injury against City, so Emiliano Martinez is expected to deputise. Wenger confirmed before the City game that Santi Cazorla will not play again this season.
West Ham are also battling a spate of injuries, with defensive rock Winston Reid unlikely to be available. The Hammers do, however, hope that Michail Antonio might recover ahead of schedule and feature against the Gunners.
Diafra Sakho has also declared himself available but having returned from four months on the sidelines after back surgery he would be highly unlikely to start so soon into his recovery.
POSSIBLE LINE UPS
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Bellerin, Gabriel, Mustafi, Monreal; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Coquelin; Walcott, Ozil, Sanchez; Welbeck
West Ham (4-2-3-1): Randolph; Byram, Masuaku, Collins, Fonte; Noble, Kouyate; Snodgrass, Lanzini, Antonio; Carroll
Source: Naijaloaded
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