Arsenal head to the London Stadium to face West Ham this evening, looking to finally return to winning ways.
The Gunners are winless in their last nine games in all competitions, a run that saw Unai Emery lose his job last month, but Freddie Ljungberg’s appointment as interim head coach is yet to spark an upturn in futures.
Manuel Pellegrini is himself under pressure at the Hammers. Last weekend’s win over Chelsea appears to have bought him some time, but that result looks an anomaly in a run of four defeats in five games.
Arsenal must win if they are to return to the top half of the table following Newcastle’s win over Southampton, while West Ham sit just one point clear of the relegation places.
Team news and lineups
Arsenal
Bernd Leno, who was once again excellent against Brighton, will start in goal but Rob Holding and Kieran Tierney could come in at the back for Sokratis and Sead Kolasinac as the Gunners look for a first clean sheet since October 6.
Matteo Guendouzi should return in midfield and start alongside Granit Xhaka, who has been solid since being brought in from the cold.
In attack, there are questions for Ljungberg to answer but Nicolas Pepe is expected to start.
The Ivorian has been on the bench for Ljungberg’s first two games, but he was dangerous and lively when thrown on against Brighton.
Mesut Ozil, who has played out wide so far under the Swede, should start as the No10 in favour of Joe Willock.
That leaves Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to play wide left and Alexandre Lacazette to lead the line once more.
West Ham
Michail Antonio was left out as a precaution having just returned from three months out with a hamstring strain but Manuel Pellegrini hopes he will be available on Monday night.
If Antonio is fit, he is likely to lead the line in place of £45million summer signing Sebastien Haller. Frenchman Haller is short of form and confidence and it is now over two months since he last scored a goal.
Elsewhere, Pellegrini will decide whether to bring back Issa Diop into central defence. Diop was suspended for the 1-0 win at Chelsea last weekend and Pellegrini stuck with Angelo Ogbonna and Fabien Balbuena against Wolves.
Robert Snodgrass is fit after picking up an injury at Molineux, and Pellegrini has confirmed Jack Wilshere is back training with the squad.
Lukasz Fabianski is making good progress in his recovery from a hip injury but is not expected to be back until after Christmas.
How we think the sides could line up...
Predicted Arsenal lineup (4-2-3-1): Leno; Bellerin, Luiz, Holding, Tierney; Guendouzi, Xhaka; Pepe, Ozil, Aubameyang; Lacazette.
Predicted West Ham XI (4-2-3-1): Martin; Fredericks, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Rice, Noble; Fornals, Anderson, Yarmolenko; Antonio.
How to stream and watch on TV
The match will be shown live on Sky Sports' Premier League and Main Event channels, and is available via Now TV with a day pass on offer for £8.99. Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match online via SkyGo and the SkyGo app.
You can follow all the action on Standard Sport's LIVE match blog.
Match prediction: West Ham 1-1 Arsenal
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