Ahead of the London Derby Boxing Day round of fixtures, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has a new player unavailability concern. Forward/midfielder Kai Havertz is suspended for the visit from West Ham United, having accumulated five yellow cards.
He’ll serve a one match ban here, and then return to the side after that.
Boxing Day Fixtures FYIs
West Ham United at Arsenal FC
Kick: Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, 8:15 PM Local Time, Emirates Stadium, London, UK
Team News: Arsenal West Ham United
Starting XI Predictions: Arsenal West Ham United
Transatlantic Passage: How the Premier League Redefined Soccer in America: LINK
PL Standing: Arsenal 1st, 40 pts West Ham 6th, 30 pts
Form Guide: Arsenal DWLWW West Ham WWLWD
Google Result Probability: Draw 17% Arsenal 72% West Ham 11%
Arsenal FC Team News
Arteta will have plenty of replacement options for the German, however. There are a handful of players that Arteta can plug n play for Havertz here. Meanwhile the Gunners remain out a quartet of long-term injury absentees: Takehiro Tomiyasu (calf), Fabio Vieira (groin), Thomas Partey (muscle) and Jurrien Timber (knee).
None will be back in the lineup any time soon, but Partey is said to be getting closer than the rest of the bunch, and the midfielder could be back in the lineup in the middle of next month.
Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He’s written for numerous publications, including the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. He regularly appears on NTD News and WGN News Now, while writing for the International Baseball Writers Association of America. You can follow the website on Twitter.