Arsenal: Play Walcott, Inject Pace And Stay Patient Against West Ham

Christmas is here, but the football never stops. Tomorrow we have a wealth of live games to choose from, but one that stands out for me is Arsenal’s trip to West Ham. The Gunners lost top spot last weekend when Liverpool claimed three points against Cardiff and Arsene Wenger’s men failed to beat Chelsea on Monday, but they can reclaim it tomorrow. It won’t be an easy game, though, as Sam Allardyce is scrapping for his life and the Upton Park crowd will expect a resilient display from the home side. So, here are three pointers for Wenger.

Firstly, I would say pace is key. I would get Walcott on the wing, Cazorla on the left and Mesut Ozil just behind the striker – Olivier Giroud. I think the Frenchman has to start up top as Arsenal will need some muscle to deal with the combative backline of the Hammers.

Then, I would drop Carl Jenkinson and get Thomas Vermaelen back in the middle. The injury to Laurent Koscielny means Per Mertesacker is looking for a partner, and for me Sagna can’t play in the middle.

Lastly, the Gunners need to be patient. As touched upon, the West Ham fans will be waiting for something to go against them to get on the backs of their players as their limp displays in recent weeks have been unacceptable. The longer Arsenal keep them quiet the easier it should be as the game goes on.