ARSENAL plays their Premier League campaign on Boxing Day with a London Derby.
As they will welcome West Ham to the Emirates on Monday night for what promises to be a fiery festive fixture.
Arsenal resume their Premier League campaign on Boxing Day with a clash against West Ham
The Gunners will be without the services on an injured Gabriel
Their starting XI for the visit of the Hammers will be different from the side that won against Wolves before the World Cup international break.
That’s down to a handful of injuries and players participating in Qatar 2022.
Gabriel Jesus will miss the match after undergoing knee surgery – which is expected to keep him on the sidelines until March.
Jesus’ fellow Brazilian Gabriel Martinelli will likely to sit in for him.
Left-back Oleksandr Zinechenko is also a potential starter.
But Kieran Tierney is likely to start ahead of the Ukranian, who is understood to be still dealing with the lingering effects of a calf strain.
Arteta has hinted he’s not against the idea of dipping into the transfer market to ensure his troops’ title charge doesn’t fall flat.
What he thinks of Jesus’ injury: “It’s a huge blow for us, obviously.
“He’s such an important player: he’s brought something very different to the team and it’s impossible to replace him.
“But we have other players, other alternatives and we’ll try to get that sorted.
“The transfer window is another option.
“I think [Jesus] is a unique player but Eddie [Nketiah] has incredible qualities as well for the way we want to play.
“We have other alternatives in that we can play Martinelli up front as well.
“We are currently a little bit short in terms of upfront positions but getting Emile [Smith Rowe] back is going to be a big one.”
With Jesus out, Arteta could tweak his 4-3-3 formation.
Martinelli will likely be the focal point of the attack, with Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka just behind him.
Predicted Arsenal XI to face West Ham: Ramsdale; White; Saliba; Gabriel Tierney; Xhaka, Partey, Odegaard; Smith Rowe, Saka; Martinelli
