Arsenal vs West Ham: 5 key players as health returns

Arsenal’s Premier League campaign returns to action against West Ham at London Stadium. Here are five key players in ensuring the three points.

Arsenal had the week off from Premier League action, and they took that week to handily move onto the next round of the FA Cup, beating Blackpool by a convincing 3-0 scoreline and, in the meantime, giving needed rest to the exhausted ranks of the first team, who largely had the day off from the travels.

It came at a perfect time, because we have six players back in full training – Bellerin, Koscielny, Ozil, Monreal, Mavropanos and Mustafi. All of whom will either be available for West Ham, or will soon be available. This breath of fresh air feels amazing, given how barren the club has been in recent weeks.

West Ham, meanwhile, will be providing some familiar faces, such as Samir Nasri, who they have just acquired, and Jack Wilshere, even though he won’t be playing due to injury. Still, it’s a match that the Gunners will be expecting full points from, even though the Hammers now sit 10th in the table after an impressive climb in recent months.

These two faced in the third week of the season as well, with the Gunner securing a 3-1 victory to begin what would become a 22-match unbeaten run.

With all that in mind, let’s talk the five key players in this match.

5. Granit Xhaka

We should just all accept that in any given match, Granit Xhaka is going to be a key man. He’s just too important not to be, as we have seen. The difference between when he is in the midfield and when he isn’t is so palpable that even the haters are left wondering why the midfield looks so much flimsier when he isn’t there.

Against West Ham, tempo will be key as always, and no one sets that pace better than Granit Xhaka. Not to mention the fact that he’s been in fantastic attacking form lately, nearly bagging a brace his last time out, both from late runs into the box.

Moving on to No. 4.