Arsenal vs. West Ham: match preview

Kickoff: 10 AM EDT
Emirates Stadium, London
TV: Fox Soccer Channel

Arsenal face West Ham United tomorrow in a Barclay Premier League contest.  Arsenal are in second place on 17 points, while the Hammers are dead last with one win, three draws, and five losses so far this season.  Nevertheless, West Ham have always given Arsenal a bit of a contest, no matter what the current form of the two sides, and tomorrow should be no exception.

There is no new injury news except that Kieran Gibbs is out for at least two weeks with a damaged MCL, which is good news only in that it could have been far worse.  Manuel Almunia, Thomas Vermaelen, Robin van Persie, Abou Diaby, and Aaron Ramsey are all also out still, but everyone else should be available.

West Ham's recent form has been mixed.  They are coming off of a 3-1 victory over Stoke in the Carling Cup, but they have not won in the Premier League since September 25th, when they defeated Tottenham Hotspur.  Matthew Upson is a slight injury doubt, and Frédéric Piquionne probably will not play either.

Arsenal won the corresponding fixture last year by a score of 2-0, but the reverse fixture ended up 2-2 in annoying fashion after a penalty and a Vito Mannone-inflected rebound that was nailed home. 

Potential team for tomorrow:

Fabianski

Sagna              Squillaci             Koscielny              Clichy

Song         Fabregas

Nasri

Walcott             Chamakh               Arshavin