Arsenal vs West Ham live on December 15, 2021: Gunners host top-four rivals amid Aubameyang drama

December 15, 2021 By Ali M.

Topics: TV Schedules, Arsenal, West Ham, English Premier League

Two teams fighting to qualify for the UEFA Champions League will face off on Wednesday, with the Gunners keen on putting their Aubameyang debacle behind them.

Preview

Arsenal are gearing up for a highly-anticipated midweek Premier League showdown, with the Gunners set to host fellow top-four rivals West Ham at 3 p.m. ET at the Emirates Stadium. This game was initially expected to be merely a clash between two sides fighting for UEFA Champions League berth, but off-the-field matters threaten to take center stage in this tie.

The Hammers are currently fourth in the table, but with Man United's game being postponed and the Gunners being only two points behind, Arteta's side can leapfrog their London rivals into the top four with a win. The north London giants have skewered similar opportunities before and thus could have done without any distractions heading into this tie, but Tuesday's decision to strip Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of the captaincy has ruined that.

The Gabonese superstar came under the spotlight after he was dropped altogether for the weekend clash with Southampton, which they fortunately won 3-0, due to a disciplinary breach. Since this was not his first error since Arteta's arrival, his role as the skipper came under heavy doubt.

And on Tuesday, the club publicly confirmed that he will no longer wear the armband. The manager faced the media shortly after the announcement, explaining that while it was an unpleasant decision, it was out of necessity for the greater good of the club.

Furthermore, he will not be considered for the clash with West Ham, which should not be a huge concern given Aubameyang's poor form. The Gunners had lost all but one of their previous four games leading up to the Southampton clash, going down at Liverpool, Man United, and Everton, with the former Dortmund ace frustrating the fans to an extent in all three defeats. Fortunately, the triumph over the Saints has restored some much-needed confidence at the club ahead of a tricky test.

The reason for the above assessment is simple: outside of Man City, Liverpool, and Chelsea, the unrivaled top three teams in England, West Ham have been the most impressive side in the country. The Hammers have beaten both the Reds and the Blues in the Premier League this season while overcoming the Red Devils and the Cityzens in cup competition as well.

However, form has been slipping away from Moyes' side. Yes, West Ham recently registered an excellent 3-2 victory over Tuchel's Champions League winners, but outside of that result, Rice and Co. have struggled.

They enter this clash on the back of a goalless draw with relegation-battling Burnley and have triumphed only once in their last five games. In fact, West Ham still being fourth in the table is a testament of Arsenal's recent disappointments rather than the Hammers' commendable run.

The London side stand a great chance of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League next term, which would be an excellent improvement on their Europa League qualification from last season. However, a defeat away to Arsenal could shift the tide against them, hence the importance of Wednesday's trip to the Emirates Stadium.

Team news

Arsenal: Aubameyang has been dropped from the squad, with a return date yet to be determined. However, outside of that, Arteta has a nearly-full squad to choose from. This, however, does not mean there are no selection headaches as Emile Smith Rowe will be keen on a return to the lineup despite the excellent displays from Martinelli and Odegaard as of late. Lacazette will definitely lead the line while Saka is guaranteed to start on the right. It will be interesting to see whether Lokongo or – better yet – Maitland-Niles could get a nod in what should be a fierce midfield battle.

West Ham: Aaron Cresswell had a back issue but could return for this fixture, which would be a huge boost. Unfortunately, the visitors are without Ben Johnson, Kurt Zouma, Ryan Fredericks and Angelo Ogbonna. This means Dawson and Diop will continue deputizing in defense.

Key stats

Arsenal haven't lost at home to West Ham since August 2015, winning 10 out of their last 11 Emirates Stadium Premier League showdowns.
The Hammers boast only two wins from their last 26 clashes with the Gunners (D5, L19).
David Moyes is yet to win an away Premier League game vs the north London giants, having failed in 17 attempts at Highbury and the Emirates Stadium (D4, L13).