West Ham vs Arsenal: 3 interesting selection calls to make

Emile Smith Rowe or Gabriel Martinelli?

It’s a seemingly endless debate, one that emerges as soon as one has a sub-par game and another comes on off the bench and has a blinder.

Going on most recent performances, Martinelli has looked sharp when coming off the bench, either to protect his left-back or press from the No. 9 position, whereas Smith Rowe had a quieter than usual outing against the Red Devils.

But it’s not a debate for who was best most recently. No. That’s a reductive way of looking at it. Instead it is about who is best suited to this game, and against opposition without a single available central defender it could be wise to select the most aggressive of the two off the ball.

Martinelli will press West Ham to death, whether in a three or a four, and whichever academy product is chosen to play (unless Rice plays in the middle of a back three) will be fearing the prospect of a lightning quick Martinelli most.

Away from home against a side whose focus is on European ventures, this will not have the same energy as facing Manchester United at home. Do you go on the attack straight off the bat? That’s Arsenal’s preference in any case, and this opposition under these circumstances would want that least of all.