Arsenal return to Premier League action and will face West Ham this weekend after finding out their Champions League last-16 opponents, PSV Eindhoven. Arsenal can close the gap to Liverpool again to five points with the same number of games played with the Reds then playing Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
It could be a massive weekend for the Gunners and a big week in general as in just four days they travel to Nottingham to take on an excellent Forest side too. There are still concerns in the squad with some unorthodox suggestions coming from every angle.
Arsenal cannot drop points if they want to win the league. While the gap has closed, they must take advantage of that and this tie with West Ham is massive, but equally so is the game four days later at Nottingham Forest.
The challenge of this quick turnaround before another weekend break is how to select the side. I believe using a change of full-backs works in the club’s favour and offers tactical advantages with someone like Riccardo Calafiori being better in progression for the home match and Myles Lewis-Skelly being better when the side need more control away from home in midweek.
I would not start Mikel Merino up top. I asked Mikel Arteta about the idea of getting fixated on the moment that the Spaniard was brought on, scoring twice and then losing sight of the context and he agreed that the scenario was what helped the midfielder-turned-striker succeed – we will see if he starts on Saturday however.
