What appears to be Unai Emery’s true test of how far he has taken this squad is now about to start.
After our first two games pitted us against the reigning champions and then Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Emery will be keen to see how we fare against more run-of-the-mill opposition – as will we all.
West Ham actually are in a similar position to us, including league position. Both winless from our first two games, both clubs have a new regime in place, both teams have a fair amount of new personnel – West Ham significantly more so.
The Hammers spent a fair wedge this summer, and Manuel Pellegrini is tasked with the gelling of the team. The signings have been impressive – Felipe Anderson and Andriy Yarmolenko alone would make most European squads, but mashing them into a team is another matter entirely, and the Hammers have suffered so far.
Still, it’s early days for both clubs, but there can be no underestimating how big this game is. Whoever comes out of this fixture with the L will have zero points from three games, and the pressure mounts.
Plus, we’ve got the added drama of Jack coming back to The Emirates – let’s hope it’s not a happy reunion.
TEAM NEWS
Emery is without Laurent Koscielny, Carl Jenkinson, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Sead Kolasinac for this fixture and the foreseeable future – all defenders.
The same central defensive pairing should play this game, as Emery will be keen to forge some form of partnership between Sokratis and Shkodran Mustafi, although they both need to grasp these new instructions a bit firmer if we are to hold out hope of shutting out the Hammers.
In midfield, Emery was quick to sub Granit Xhaka at half time in our loss to Chelsea, so we could see new boy Lucas Torreira line up with Matteo Guendouzi – a very young but incredibly vibrant engine room.
We are all waiting to see if Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will line up alongside Alexandre Lacazette, and with both such shining talents, our future must include both on the pitch at the same time, at least when we are not expected to struggle too much. Mesut Ozil and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are raring to go in attack, but Alex Iwobi played well last time out and could push for another start.
Prediction
It is incredibly hard to assess how this game will pan out, but with both teams struggling in defence, there is a chance this could rain goals. Both eleven’s will be resplendent with attacking jewels, and the best form of defence is attack.
We do have to be wary of the old pals act – namely Jack Wilshere and Lucas Perez. It is a common thing for ex-players to come back and haunt their old clubs, and this would smart just a little. Wilshere will most likely start this game at his old home, and Lucas will be pushing to play a part too.
Cech has impressed in goal since getting the nod over new boy Bernd Leno and he could be busy, but if our attack comes good, then we should grab the points.
I’m plumping for a 3-1 win today. I think both Auba and Laca will break their ducks for the season too, if they play I don’t think West Ham have enough defensively to quieten them for 90 minutes.
I do think West Ham will score though, and it could be a nail-biting afternoon, but I hope to see the Guendouzi who has impressed since joining, and Lucas Torreira doing what he does best.
We should have enough to grab the points here and get Emery’s era off to a proper start.
Up The Arsenal 
A very fair assessment of what is undeniably a very tricky and extremely important game in the remoulding of our team.
One pairing that seems to have slipped through your analytical net is wingbacks, an area that has attracted some criticism on our previous two outings, particularly on the right hand side.
I feel it is time to give some game time to the summer acquisition on the right, now is the time to launch Lichtsteiner for two reasons:
1. He has a superior positional sense over that of Bellerin and is therefore less likely to leave the central defenders exposed, also there would be less reason to expect Mkhitaryan to drop back as a defensive cover. This in turn would give strength to the attack.
2. Lichtsteiner is a no nonsense fullback of the old style (although he does know how to go forward) and encounters with West Ham seem to traditionally fall into this bracket. Lets send out the message that the easy channel of access to the Arsenal goal is now closed.
Like you I favour a forward line up which sports both Aubameyang and Lacazette and like you I feel Iwobi is a little unlucky to be on the bench as I felt his performance at Chelsea was far and away his best showing in ages.
I note that you have avoided a prediction this week, I wouldn’t be so bold as to predict score-lines but I will go with an home win – this is the game when it will come together!
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