- West Ham United host Arsenal on Sunday
- The Hammers are in the Premier League relegation zone
- Arsenal are in the driver’s seat for the league title
When West Ham United hosts Arsenal at the London Stadium, it may provide the ideal opportunity for a major tactical shake-up. Nuno Espírito Santo has spoken about the demand to deliver on Sunday in an attempt to spur a turnaround.
Santo has little leeway as his team battles for Premier League survival after the Hammers‘ 3-0 loss to Brentford, which leaves them 18th in the relegation zone and has further increased the strain. Every choice now has more significance because there are only a few games left, and Sunday’s match may compel a daring change.
Arsenal, on the other hand, have rather different objectives as they come to East London. Mikel Arteta’s team possesses the division’s best defence this season, and after Manchester City dropped points at Everton on Monday, they are in the driver’s seat for the title. The return of former West Ham captain Declan Rice will also play its part. An already high-stakes match is made more compelling by the midfielder’s expected involvement.
Here’s who we think will start tomorrow afternoon.
Mads Hermansen (GK)
In goal, the Dane is expected to retain his place as West Ham’s number one, with his shot-stopping likely to be heavily relied upon against Arsenal’s refined attack.
El Hadji Malick Diouf (LWB)
This is the first showing of the change in formation that Santo may opt for. El Hadji Malick Diouf has shown that his game is best served in advanced areas, and a wing-back role on Sunday would also mitigate the defensive issues he has suffered lately.
Axel Disasi (RCB)
Axel Disasi will remain in the backline but shuffle out wide as a right centre-back in our three. His experience at right-back will also bode well when inevitably tasked with contributing outside the box.
Konstantinos Mavropanos (CCB)
At the heart of the defence, it can only be Konstantinos Mavropanos, who will be on a personal mission to show that the Gunners were quick to part ways.
Jean-Clair Todibo (LCB)
On the left of our three, we’ve got the forgotten Frenchman. Displaced by his countrymen, Disasi, Jean-Clair Todibo has had to settle for reserve minutes since the turn of the year. However, as he showed in the 1-1 draw against Manchester City, the former Barcelona man has a quality that can be unlocked if entrusted with it. Also, his competition, Max Kilman, is increasingly out of favour.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (RWB)
The last time West Ham sprung a surprise on Arsenal, Aaron Wan-Bissaka was vital to doing so. The DR Congo international assisted Jarrod Bowen in February 2025 for the game’s only game, and displayed his renowned lock-up ability on the right. That day, under then-manager Graham Potter, he played as a wing-back, and though Kyle Walker-Peters has been Nuno’s go-to option of late, Wan-Bissaka is the right option.
Mateus Fernandes (CM)
West Ham’s Player of the Year? Metronome Mateus Fernandes is still essential to everything West Ham does.
Tomas Soucek (CM)
The yin to Fernandes’ yang, Tomas Soucek’s physicality and aerial class will be a notable need against Europe’s best set-piece team.
Crysencio Summerville (LW)
Crysencio Summerville could deliver a breakthrough performance on Sunday if he plays at his peak. Every week, the mercurial winger poses an inward threat from the left that offers West Ham a chance.
Jarrod Bowen (RW)
Bowen has/is/and will always be the first name on a West Ham teammate sheet, especially in the situation the club finds itself in, where his standout production could be a difference as it has been in the past.
Valentín Castellanos (ST)
Like fellow winter arrival, Pablo, Valentín Castellanos has had an indifferent impact on the Hammers. Unlike Pablo, the Argentine poses a goal threat and versatility that could stretch the Gunners’ backline and leave them second-guessing.
(5-2-3): Hermansen (GK); Diouf, Disasi, Mavropanos, Todibo, Wan-Bissaka; Fernandes, Soucek; Summerville, Bowen, Castellanos.
