Arsenal face West Ham in their first home game of the season and will be looking to pick up where they left off at Fulham, so who is fit and available to face the Hammers?

Arsenal's Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka (floor) gets attention after a knock during the English Premier League football match between Fulham and Arsenal at Craven Cottage in London on September 12, 2020. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / POOL / AFP)
Arsenal’s Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka (floor) gets attention after a knock during the English Premier League football match between Fulham and Arsenal at Craven Cottage in London on September 12, 2020. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / POOL / AFP)

After one game of the season, Arsenal sit proudly on top of the Premier League table and the injury table with eight players out.

Shkodran Mustafi is still out with his torn hamstring, Pablo Mari is still recovering following ankle surgery, while Calum Chambers and Gabriel Martinelli are both still recovering from their respective knee injuries.

Emile Smith Rowe is in a sling after he injured his shoulder in training, although the club are hopeful he will be able to get rid of that at the end of next week. The sling, not his shoulder.

David Luiz is still recovering from neck spasms with no return date given.

Granit Xhaka is being assessed after picking up an ankle/foot knock against Fulham while Sokratis, who also missed the game against Fulham is expected back in training this week.

It was a calf injury that kept him out of the game at Craven Cottage but it’s likely to be an impending transfer that will keep him out of any more Arsenal games.

The same is true of Lucas Torreira who is currently sidelined with an acute case of transferitis. The club say it’s a slight injury, Torino’s €24m bid says otherwise.

Others are available but probably won’t play for various reasons.

Emi Martinez is available but will probably be an Aston Villa player by the time Arsenal kick-off against West Ham.

Mesut Ozil is available but probably won’t get selected, as usual.

William Saliba is also available but, as Mikel Arteta explained, is not ready for the Premier League just yet.

Everybody else, at the time of writing, is available to face West Ham and you can view our Arsenal predicted lineup here.

We will update if that changes. You can keep up-to-date with the latest Arsenal injury news here.

West Ham injuries

West Ham United's Chilean manager Manuel Pellegrini (L) talks with substitute West Ham United's English midfielder Jack Wilshere during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Crystal Palace at The London Stadium, in east London on October 5, 2019. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP)
West Ham United’s Chilean manager Manuel Pellegrini (L) talks with substitute West Ham United’s English midfielder Jack Wilshere during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Crystal Palace at The London Stadium, in east London on October 5, 2019. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP)

According to PremierInjuries.com, West Ham do not have a single injured player. Not even Jack Wilshere. Thinking that seemed unlikely, I checked the West Ham website who report that they expect midfielder Tomas Soucek to return in time for the Arsenal game. Then I noticed that article was from 6 March.

That was the last time West Ham seemed to have issued an injury update prior to David Moyes pre-Arsenal press conference in which he confirmed that Mark Noble would miss out with a toe injury nd Jack Eilhere had an ankle problem, had  scan and was back out training.

Jack Wilshere may or may not be fit but he is unlikely to feature, having been omitted entirely from West Ham’s opening day squad for their 2-0 home defeat against Newcastle. It seems West Ham are trying to cancel Wilshere’s contract which still has another year left to go. Manuel Pellegrini convinced the West Ham board to offer Jack a three-year deal as an optimistic ‘show of confidence’ in both the manager and player.

Pellegrini was sacked 17 months later while Wilshere has played just 18 times for the Hammers since moving there just over two years ago. He has managed one goal and one assist in his 747 minutes of West Ham football, 1,200 minutes fewer than he played while on loan with Bournemouth.

Wilshere played the full 90 minutes in his first three Premier League games after moving to West Ham in the summer of 2018. He hasn’t played the full 90 since and has suffered both a groin problem (221 days/22 games missed) and further ankle issues that needed more surgery (201 days/31 games).

Arsenal vs West Ham: Head-to-head record

Arsenal host West Ham on 19 September and will be dreaming of replicating the women’s 9-1 win over the same club this weekend, but how have things gone for the men throughout the history of this fixture?

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 09: Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal FC at London Stadium on December 09, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 09: Nicolas Pepe of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his sides second goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal FC at London Stadium on December 09, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Arsenal and West Ham first played each other in January, 1906, when then-Woolwich Arsenal drew with the Hammers 1-1 in the FA Cup. James Sharp scored from the spot for the Gunners.

The Arsenal starting XI that day was: Jimmy Ashcroft, Archie Cross, James Sharp, Percy Sands, James Bigden, Andrew Ducat, Roddy McEachrane, Bobby Templeton, Billy Garbutt, Tim Coleman, and Tom Fitchie.

Charlie Satterhwaite, via Vintage Footballers
Charlie Satterhwaite, via Vintage Footballers

Arsenal won the replay 3-2 at West Ham five days later on 13 January with the exact same lineup apart from Tom Fitchie, who was replaced by Charlie Satterthwaite who scored one of Arsenal’s goals. Garbutt and Ducat scored the others.

Arsenal have won seven of their last 10 games against West Ham, drawing two and losing just one and scoring 23 goals while conceding nine.

Arsenal have lost only two of their last 26 games against West Ham, one home and one away.

Arsenal have lost three games in a row to West Ham twice, once in a run between 8 March 1975 and 29 November 1975 (Cup, Division One, Division One) and then again between 1 February 2006 and 7 April 2007 (all Premier league), the first two when they were managed by Alan Pardew and the third under Alan Curbishley.

Arsenal’s record vs West Ham

Played 142

     Arsenal wins 68

     West Ham wins 35

     Draws 39

Arsenal vs West Ham / West Ham vs Arsenal Head to head results

Date Fixture Score Competition
13/01/1906 Woolwich Arsenal v West Ham United D 1-1 FA Cup
18/01/1906 West Ham United v Woolwich Arsenal W 2-3 FA Cup
27/08/1923 West Ham United v Arsenal L 1-0
League Division One
10/09/1923 Arsenal v West Ham United W 4-1
League Division One
27/09/1924 West Ham United v Arsenal L 1-0
League Division One
14/01/1925 West Ham United v Arsenal D 0-0 FA Cup
21/1/1925 Arsenal v West Ham United D 2-2 FA Cup
26/01/1925 Arsenal v West Ham United L 0-1 FA Cup
23/3/1925 Arsenal v West Ham United L 1-2
League Division One
21/09/1925 Arsenal v West Ham United W 3-2
League Division One
05/10/1925 West Ham United v Arsenal W 0-4
League Division One
16/10/1926 Arsenal v West Ham United D 2-2
League Division One
07/03/1927 West Ham United v Arsenal L 7-0
League Division One
01/10/1927 Arsenal v West Ham United D 2-2
League Division One
11/2/1928 West Ham United v Arsenal D 2-2
League Division One
13/10/1928 Arsenal v West Ham United L 2-3
League Division One
23/02/1929 West Ham United v Arsenal W 3-4
League Division One
02/11/1929 Arsenal v West Ham United L 0-1
League Division One
01/03/1930 West Ham United v Arsenal W 0-3 FA Cup
08/03/1930 West Ham United v Arsenal L 3-2
League Division One
25/10/1930 Arsenal v West Ham United D 1-1
League Division One
28/02/1931 West Ham United v Arsenal W 2-4
League Division One
14/11/1931 Arsenal v West Ham United W 4-1
League Division One
26/03/1932 West Ham United v Arsenal D 1-1
League Division One
5/1/1946 West Ham United v Arsenal L 6-0 FA Cup
09/01/1946 Arsenal v West Ham United W 1-0 FA Cup
8/11/1958 West Ham United v Arsenal D 0-0
League Division One
28/03/1959 Arsenal v West Ham United L 1-2
League Division One
14/11/1959 Arsenal v West Ham United L 1-3
League Division One
02/04/1960 West Ham United v Arsenal D 0-0
League Division One
05/11/1960 West Ham United v Arsenal L 6-0
League Division One
25/03/1961 Arsenal v West Ham United D 0-0
League Division One
2/12/1961 Arsenal v West Ham United D 2-2
League Division One
21/04/1962 West Ham United v Arsenal D 3-3
League Division One
13/10/1962 Arsenal v West Ham United D 1-1
League Division One
2/3/1963 West Ham United v Arsenal W 0-4
League Division One
09/11/1963 Arsenal v West Ham United D 3-3
League Division One
21/03/1964 West Ham United v Arsenal D 1-1
League Division One
14/11/1964 Arsenal v West Ham United L 0-3
League Division One
27/03/1965 West Ham United v Arsenal L 2-1
League Division One
20/11/1965 Arsenal v West Ham United W 3-2
League Division One
16/04/1966 West Ham United v Arsenal L 2-1
League Division One
23/08/1966 Arsenal v West Ham United W 2-1
League Division One
29/08/1966 West Ham United v Arsenal D 2-2
League Division One
05/10/1966 Arsenal v West Ham United L 1-3 League Cup
25/11/1967 Arsenal v West Ham United D 0-0
League Division One
29/03/1968 West Ham United v Arsenal D 1-1
League Division One
26/10/1968 Arsenal v West Ham United D 0-0
League Division One
21/4/1969 West Ham United v Arsenal W 1-2
League Division One
25/08/1969 West Ham United v Arsenal D 1-1
League Division One
4/4/1970 Arsenal v West Ham United W 2-1
League Division One
17/08/1970 West Ham United v Arsenal D 0-0
League Division One
09/01/1971 Arsenal v West Ham United W 2-0
League Division One
04/12/1971 West Ham United v Arsenal D 0-0
League Division One
22/04/1972 Arsenal v West Ham United W 2-1
League Division One
29/08/1972 Arsenal v West Ham United W 1-0
League Division One
28/04/1973 West Ham United v Arsenal W 1-2
League Division One
24 Nov 1973 West Ham United v Arsenal W 1-3
League Division One
06 Apr 1974 Arsenal v West Ham United D 0-0
League Division One
26 Oct 1974 Arsenal v West Ham United W 3-0
League Division One
08 Mar 1975 Arsenal v West Ham United L 0-2 FA Cup
28 Apr 1975 West Ham United v Arsenal L 1-0
League Division One
29 Nov 1975 West Ham United v Arsenal L 1-0
League Division One
20 Mar 1976 Arsenal v West Ham United W 6-1
League Division One
11 Sep 1976 West Ham United v Arsenal W 0-2
League Division One
19 Feb 1977 Arsenal v West Ham United L 2-3
League Division One
01 Oct 1977 Arsenal v West Ham United W 3-0
League Division One
25 Feb 1978 West Ham United v Arsenal D 2-2
League Division One
10 May 1980 Arsenal v West Ham United L 0-1 FA Cup
05 Dec 1981 West Ham United v Arsenal W 1-2
League Division One
01 May 1982 Arsenal v West Ham United W 2-0
League Division One
02 Oct 1982 Arsenal v West Ham United L 2-3
League Division One
10 May 1983 West Ham United v Arsenal W 1-3
League Division One
10 Dec 1983 West Ham United v Arsenal L 3-1
League Division One
07 May 1984 Arsenal v West Ham United D 3-3
League Division One
27 Oct 1984 West Ham United v Arsenal L 3-1
League Division One
02 Mar 1985 Arsenal v West Ham United W 2-1
League Division One
12 Oct 1985 West Ham United v Arsenal D 0-0
League Division One
15 Mar 1986 Arsenal v West Ham United W 1-0
League Division One
08 Nov 1986 Arsenal v West Ham United D 0-0
League Division One
08 Apr 1987 West Ham United v Arsenal L 3-1
League Division One
26 Sep 1987 Arsenal v West Ham United W 1-0
League Division One
12 Apr 1988 West Ham United v Arsenal W 0-1
League Division One
01 Oct 1988 West Ham United v Arsenal W 1-4
League Division One
08 Jan 1989 West Ham United v Arsenal D 2-2 FA Cup
11 Jan 1989 Arsenal v West Ham United L 0-1 FA Cup
04 Feb 1989 Arsenal v West Ham United W 2-1
League Division One
02 Nov 1991 Arsenal v West Ham United L 0-1
League Division One
14 Mar 1992 West Ham United v Arsenal W 0-2
League Division One
24 Nov 1993 West Ham United v Arsenal D 0-0 Premier League
30 Apr 1994 Arsenal v West Ham United L 0-2 Premier League
25 Sep 1994 West Ham United v Arsenal W 0-2 Premier League
05 Mar 1995 Arsenal v West Ham United L 0-1 Premier League
16 Sep 1995 Arsenal v West Ham United W 1-0 Premier League
24 Feb 1996 West Ham United v Arsenal W 0-1 Premier League
17 Aug 1996 Arsenal v West Ham United W 2-0 Premier League
29 Jan 1997 West Ham United v Arsenal W 1-2 Premier League
24 Sep 1997 Arsenal v West Ham United W 4-0 Premier League
06 Jan 1998 West Ham United v Arsenal W 1-2 League Cup
02 Mar 1998 West Ham United v Arsenal D 0-0 Premier League
08 Mar 1998 Arsenal v West Ham United D 1-1 FA Cup
17 Mar 1998 West Ham United v Arsenal W 1-1 FA Cup
26 Dec 1998 Arsenal v West Ham United W 1-0 Premier League
06 Feb 1999 West Ham United v Arsenal W 0-4 Premier League
03 Oct 1999 West Ham United v Arsenal L 2-1 Premier League
02 May 2000 Arsenal v West Ham United W 2-1 Premier League
21 Oct 2000 West Ham United v Arsenal W 1-2 Premier League
03 Mar 2001 Arsenal v West Ham United W 3-0 Premier League
15 Dec 2001 West Ham United v Arsenal D 1-1 Premier League
24 Apr 2002 Arsenal v West Ham United W 2-0 Premier League
24 Aug 2002 West Ham United v Arsenal D 2-2 Premier League
19 Jan 2003 Arsenal v West Ham United W 3-1 Premier League
24 Sep 2005 West Ham United v Arsenal D 0-0 Premier League
01 Feb 2006 Arsenal v West Ham United L 2-3 Premier League
05 Nov 2006 West Ham United v Arsenal L 1-0 Premier League
07 Apr 2007 Arsenal v West Ham United L 0-1 Premier League
29 Sep 2007 West Ham United v Arsenal W 0-1 Premier League
01 Jan 2008 Arsenal v West Ham United W 2-0 Premier League
26 Oct 2008 West Ham United v Arsenal W 0-2 Premier League
31 Jan 2009 Arsenal v West Ham United D 0-0 Premier League
25 Oct 2009 West Ham United v Arsenal D 2-2 Premier League
03 Jan 2010 West Ham United v Arsenal W 1-2 FA Cup
20 Mar 2010 Arsenal v West Ham United W 2-0 Premier League
30 Oct 2010 Arsenal v West Ham United W 1-0 Premier League
15 Jan 2011 West Ham United v Arsenal W 0-3 Premier League
06 Oct 2012 West Ham United v Arsenal W 1-3 Premier League
23 Jan 2013 Arsenal v West Ham United W 5-1 Premier League
26 Dec 2013 West Ham United v Arsenal W 1-3 Premier League
15 Apr 2014 Arsenal v West Ham United W 3-1 Premier League
28 Dec 2014 West Ham United v Arsenal W 1-2 Premier League
14 Mar 2015 Arsenal v West Ham United W 3-0 Premier League
09 Aug 2015 Arsenal v West Ham United L 0-2 Premier League
09 Apr 2016 West Ham United v Arsenal D 3-3 Premier League
03 Dec 2016 West Ham United v Arsenal W 1-5 Premier League
05 Apr 2017 Arsenal v West Ham United W 3-0 Premier League
13 Dec 2017 West Ham United v Arsenal D 0-0 Premier League
19 Dec 2017 Arsenal v West Ham United W 1-0 League Cup
22 Apr 2018 Arsenal v West Ham United W 4-1 Premier League
25 Aug 2018 Arsenal v West Ham United W 3-1 Premier League
12 Jan 2019 West Ham United v Arsenal L 1-0 Premier League
09 Dec 2019 West Ham United v Arsenal W 1-3 Premier League
07 Mar 2020 Arsenal v West Ham United W 1-0 Premier League

 

Fulham vs Arsenal, Premier league, 12 September 2020 pre-match injury news

Arsenal start their 20/21 Premier League campaign this weekend against newly-promoted Fulham, so who is fit and who is out ahead of the game?

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 04: Scott Parker manager of Fulham, Joe Bryan and Bobby Decordova-Reid of Fulham celebrate with the trophy after the Sky Bet Championship Play Off Final match between Brentford and Fulham at Wembley Stadium on August 04, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 04: Scott Parker manager of Fulham, Joe Bryan and Bobby Decordova-Reid of Fulham celebrate with the trophy after the Sky Bet Championship Play Off Final match between Brentford and Fulham at Wembley Stadium on August 04, 2020 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Arsenal looked like they would go into their first Premier League game of the season in relatively good health until their latest announcement added another three players to the injury list.

Then the Guardian reported on Friday night that Martinez will not even be in the Arsenal squad for the game.

Until this week, the only players who were missing were long-term injuries. Pablo Mari is still recovering from his ankle surgery, while Gabriel Martinelli is out until the end of 2020 with a knee injury, as is Calum Chambers. Shkodran Mustafi’s torn hamstring will keep him out of training until at least October.

David Luiz, meanwhile, seems to have a ‘neck complaint’ that is both vague and worrisome.

In his article on the Athletic [£], Ornstein gives few other details about what happened, writing simply, “The 33-year-old defender’s participation is in serious doubt because of a neck complaint that could rule him out for an extended period. Rob Holding is now likely to stay at the club instead of joining Newcastle United on loan.”

However, he then adds that “a late decision is expected to be made on his availability,” which doesn’t sound as serious as it does above.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 07: Dani Ceballos of Arsenal warms up ahead of the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Leicester City at Emirates Stadium on July 07, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Adam Davy/Pool via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 07: Dani Ceballos of Arsenal warms up  (Photo by Adam Davy/Pool via Getty Images)

We all expected Dani Ceballos to still be in quarantine ahead of Fulham vs Arsenal but he played against Aston Villa during the week meaning he should be available for this weekend’s game.

As Lucas Torreira moves closer to the exit door, it seems unlikely Mikel Arteta will use the Uruguayan if he has other options. Mohamed Elneny could be one of those if Arteta has been able to do to him what he’s done to a few others like Emi Martinez, Dani Ceballos and Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes are also fit and available for selection although rumour has it the latter might need a little more time to settle in.

Willian should also be involved, but whether that is from the start or not, we will just have to see.

Arsenal also confirmed on Friday morning that David Luiz, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Emile Smith Rowe will miss the game against Fulham this weekend.

Is Mesut Ozil available?

ST ALBANS, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 04: of Arsenal during a training session at London Colney on September 04, 2020 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 04: of Arsenal during a training session at London Colney on September 04, 2020 in St Albans, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Not only is Mesut Ozil fit and available for Fulham vs Arsenal, he might even get some minutes on the pitch.

The German hasn’t been seen in a competitive Arsenal match since before the lockdown but he took some part in Arsenal’s behind-closed-doors friendly against Aston Villa this week and has made it clear he’s ready to be selected.

With Ozil refusing to leave the club and nobody else able or willing to pay his wages, Arsenal may hae no choice but to play the man they pay £350kpw and have been trying to force out the door.

Thankfully, it’s something Mikel Arteta probably wants to do.

Fulham vs Arsenal – The opposition

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 22: Stefan Johansen of Fulham thanks the fans for there support during the Sky Bet Championship match between Fulham and Queens Park Rangers at Craven Cottage on November 22, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 22: Stefan Johansen of Fulham thanks the fans for there support during the Sky Bet Championship match between Fulham and Queens Park Rangers at Craven Cottage on November 22, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Luke Walker/Getty Images)

Central midfielder, Stefan Johansen is currently suffering from an ankle/foot injury and appears to be the only Fulham player with a problem, but if that changes I will update ASAP.

Speaking to the press, Fulham manager Scott Parker said of Arsenal, “I think they could be a big force this season.

“There’s no denying the quality Arsenal have, the players they have.

“Mikel’s done a fantastic job in a short space of time with his team, so I think this year’s a big year for Arsenal.

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 04: Scott Parker manager of Fulham, Joe Bryan and Bobby Decordova-Reid of Fulham celebrate with the trophy after the Sky Bet Championship Play Off Final match between Brentford and Fulham at Wembley Stadium on August 04, 2020 in London, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 04: Scott Parker manager of Fulham, Joe Bryan and Bobby Decordova-Reid of Fulham (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

“The quality in their ranks is vast, and you’ve seen that in the last few months, and when they won the FA Cup as well.

“But like always, like we did last year and we will this year, we’ll prepare for this game to try and get a result. We’ll prepare for this game to try and hurt them where we feel we can punish them.

“It will be the same for them, we understand their threats and where they can hurt us, and we’ll try to counteract that and try and limit them.”