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Arsenal will be brimming with confidence as it prepares to host West Ham in a Premier League clash this Saturday. Currently sitting second in the league, Mikel Arteta's squad could potentially overtake reigning champions Liverpool if they secure a victory against the Hammers, especially considering that Liverpool's match against Chelsea is scheduled for later in the day.
The Gunners have had a challenging start to the season, having already faced off against Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle. However, they managed to clinch a last-minute win against Newcastle last weekend, securing all three points.
Despite the tough fixtures, Arsenal has emerged victorious, currently holding the second spot in the league table ahead of this weekend's match. They've only suffered one defeat so far, which came late on at Anfield.
Now, their sights are set on topping the table, even if it's just for a brief period, by defeating their London rivals who are currently struggling in 19th place after a disastrous start to the season.
West Ham's recent 2-1 home loss to Crystal Palace resulted in Graham Potter being sacked, with Nuno Espirito Santo swiftly stepping in to fill the void. Although the former Wolves and Spurs manager started his tenure with a 1-1 draw against Everton, an away game at the Emirates is undoubtedly a more formidable challenge.
Arsenal is set to host West Ham on Saturday, 4th October, with the match against the Hammers scheduled to kick off at 3pm BST (10am ET).
In their last encounter, it was the east London side that emerged victorious, with Jarrod Bowen netting the only goal in a 1-0 win at the Emirates in February. This narrow victory was a stark contrast to the previous two matches between the sides, which saw the Gunners triumph 5-2 and 6-0 in consecutive routs at the London Stadium.
Regrettably for UK fans, the London derby at the Emirates Stadium will not be broadcast live by either Sky Sports or TNT Sports. Due to the 3pm blackout that top-flight clubs must adhere to, kick-offs at this time are not televised.
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However, this rule does not apply to fans abroad, with the blackout rule not affecting supporters across the globe. For fans in the United States, they can tune into the clash live with Peacock broadcasting the game.
UK fans aren't entirely cut off from watching the action but will have to wait until after the final whistle to do so. Highlights, typically lasting around three minutes, will be posted on social media and YouTube by Sky Sports.
Arsenal supporters were given a fright when Gabriel Magalhaes hobbled off during their 2-0 victory over Olympiacos earlier this week. However, Arteta has since confirmed that the substitution was merely a precautionary measure and he believes the defender will be fit for the weekend match.
Martin Odegaard played the full 90 minutes against the Greek team, marking his first complete game since Arsenal's opening day clash with Manchester United. His gradual reintroduction to the starting lineup could see him play his second match in a week against the Hammers.
Bukayo Saka is also likely to start after coming on as a substitute and scoring his first Champions League goal of the season on Wednesday. In what will be Nuno Espirito Santo's second match at the helm, he'll once again be without Tomas Soucek who is serving the final game of his three-match suspension against Arsenal.
After missing Aaron Wan-Bissaka in their 1-1 draw with Everton due to illness, it remains uncertain whether the former Manchester United star will return for the journey to the Emirates.
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