After 44 long days, Arsenal will return to competitive action and resume their Premier League title pursuit with a London derby against West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium on Boxing Day.
Signing off for World Cup duty with a 2-0 win over Wolves on November 12, Gunners manager Mikel Arteta had a near fully fit first-team squad at his disposal as Emile Smith Rowe was the sole injury casualty after undergoing groin surgery earlier in the season with the hope of being fit for the restart.
The good news is that the Arsenal attacking midfielder has been in training during the break, but his return has coincided with Gabriel Jesus and Reiss Nelson facing spells on the sidelines with knee and hamstring injuries respectively which means they will play no part on Boxing Day.
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In addition, there are doubts over William Saliba and Takehiro Tomiyasu's involvement following their exploits in Qatar, but football.london have previously reported that Oleksandr Zinchenko should be fine despite a muscle problem and his possible availability will pose a selection dilemma for Arteta.
Thankfully for the Spaniard, football.london's Arsenal writers Kaya Kaynak, Tom Canton, Tashan Deniran-Alleyne and Bailey Keogh are on hand to offer their assistance. Below, they take a look at who they think should be starting for the home side in the Boxing Day clash against West Ham.
Kaya Kaynak - Arsenal Writer
For the return of the Premier League, I would look to go as strong as possible for Arsenal on Boxing Day. There may be some players tired after the World Cup, but there is a Premier League title at stake and no one can afford to drop any points.
That means Aaron Ramsdale starts in goal for me and I'd look to use his England teammate Ben White at right-back. At left back I think Kieran Tierney is the better option against West Ham's counter-attacking threat that is provided by Jarrod Bowen.
Gabriel is an obvious choice at centre back, but alongside him, there's a decision to be made. I don't think William Saliba will be ready after a month of hardly playing, so he needs replacing. Rob Holding, therefore, feels like the obvious candidate, but I'd opt for Takehiro Tomiyasu in the middle if he's fit just for the security that he provides on the ball.
In midfield Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka and Martin Odegaard are all obvious picks. Up front I'd go for Gabriel Martinelli on the left and Bukayo Saka on the right. It's worth noting that this is incredibly harsh on Fabio Vieira who was excellent in the pre-season and who I expect to have a much bigger impact in the second half of the campaign.
At centre forward it has to be Eddie Nketiah with Gabriel Jesus still out for a while. I know lots of people aren't convinced, but I'm fully backing Eddie to get the job done.
Kaynak's Arsenal XI vs West Ham: Ramsdale; White, Tomiyasu, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli.
Tom Canton - Arsenal Writer
Arguably the most important game of the season so far. Arsenal need to ensure they kick-off the Premier League restart in the right way and Mikel Arteta will be facing some immediately trickier challengers compared to way back in August.
Without Gabriel Jesus the natural replacement is Eddie Nketiah who continues to have points to prove. Last season he answered many but over time and after losing his place to the brilliant Jesus those worries have only grown.
With Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli alongside him however, he has plenty more aid than he has been getting in the Europa League. Martin Odegaard looks the sharpest so far this mid-season break and his goals have contributed massively in the first third(ish) of the season and double digits aren’t far away so one or two against West Ham would be great.
In defence, should William Saliba not be deemed ready I would bring Rob Holding in as he’s played consistently across the winter break and comes into this game fit and firing. Ben White and Kieran Tierney flank Holding and Gabriel Magalhaes. Although, should Oleksandr Zinchenko be passed fit I would certainly start the Ukrainian.
The question will return to whether Granit Xhaka can bring his early impressive form into the post-World Cup period. With Thomas Partey unscathed from the tournament too Arteta’s midfield is at full power and critical to the season’s hopes.
Canton's Arsenal XI vs West Ham: Ramsdale; White, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Xhaka, Odegaard; Saka, Martinelli, Nketiah.
Tashan Deniran-Alleyne - Arsenal Writer
I guess the big decision facing Mikel Arteta is who starts alongside Gabriel Magalhaes in central defence as the rest of the team pretty much picks itself. The fact William Saliba will have had a couple of training sessions under his belt and his lack of game time for France at the World Cup makes him my pick to get the nod over Rob Holding.
As Oleksandr Zinchenko hasn't featured in any of the warm-up games I wouldn't risk him against West Ham. The long-term picture is that Arsenal face Tottenham and both Manchester clubs early in the new year so it's important the Ukraine international's fitness is a priority.
Furthermore, Kieran Tierney is the ideal replacement at left-back and there's evidence he is beginning to feel a lot more comfortable playing the inverted role. In midfield, Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka should be up to speed after returning early from the World Cup whilst Martin Odegaard can pick up from where he left off before the break.
Of course, Eddie Nketiah now has his chance to lead the line for the Gunners in Gabriel Jesus' absence. He should be flanked by Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli who each played 45 minutes in the final behind-closed-doors friendly against Luton Town.
Deniran-Alleyne's Arsenal XI vs West Ham: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Odegaard, Xhaka; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli.
Bailey Keogh - Arsenal Writer
A win against West Ham on boxing day is crucial to maintain the momentum that the Gunners had before the World Cup break. For this reason, it is important that Mikel Arteta plays a similar side that won Arsenal’s last Premier League match against Wolves.
William Saliba must return to Arsenal’s backline after returning to training. Despite not being with the Gunners over the past month, he has maintained his fitness levels with France. Ben White, Gabriel Magalhaes and Kieran Tierney complete the rest of the defence.
The midfield currently picks itself as Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey, and Granit Xhaka have all played key roles in Arsenal’s early success this season. It is for this reason that Arteta should start all three against the Hammers.
Following Gabriel Jesus’ injury, Eddie Nketiah should be given a chance to lead the line with Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka on either side of the forward, as they have already successfully done this season.
Keogh's Arsenal XI vs West Ham: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Odegaard, Xhaka; Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli.
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