West Ham United Head Coach Graham Potter has made four changes to his starting XI for Saturday’s clash at Arsenal.
Ollie Scarles will make his first Premier League start against Mikel Arteta’s side at Emirates Stadium. The Academy of Football graduate has made seven substitute appearances in the competition in addition to the start he made in the FA Cup third round at Aston Villa, and now gets his opportunity from kick-off for the first time in the top flight.
James Ward-Prowse also comes into the line-up for his first West Ham start of the season, having returned from his loan spell at Nottingham Forest recently and subsequently impressed off the bench last weekend against Brentford.
In defence, Jean-Clair Todibo returns to the team for the first time since early January in place of Dinos Mavropanos, who is named among the substitutes, while Aaron Cresswell is also drafted into the backline in place of Emerson.
Otherwise, the team remains unchanged from the visit of Brentford.
So, Alphonse Areola therefore continues in goal, making his fourth consecutive start between the sticks on what is his 88th appearance for the Hammers.
The defence will be anchored by centre-backs Maximilian Kilman, Todibo and Cresswell, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Scarles occupy the defensive flanks.
Ahead of them, Edson Álvarez, Tomáš Souček and Ward-Prowse will occupy the midfield. Ward-Prowse, who is still within one of the Premier League direct free-kick record set by David Beckham, will hope to provide the creativity and flair at the Emirates.
Further forward, Mohammed Kudus is set to play his 54th Premier League game for West Ham today, while captain Jarrod Bowen - who has scored four career goals against Arsenal - will be looking to become only the second West Ham player to reach 50 Premier League strikes, emulating Michail Antonio.
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Partey, Rice, Ødegaard ©, Nwaneri, Trossard, Merino
Subs: Neto (GK), White, Tierney, Lewis-Skelly, Zinchenko, Kiwior, Jorginho, Butler-Oyedeji, Sterling
West Ham United: Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Cresswell, Scarles, Álvarez, Souček, Ward-Prowse, Bowen ©, Kudus
Subs: Fabiański (GK), Mavropanos, Emerson, Soler, Rodríguez, Irving, Luis Guilherme, Ferguson, Ings
Referee: Craig Pawson
