Team news: Merino starts against West Ham Team news News

Mikel Arteta has made two changes to his team for today’s Premier League clash with West Ham United, with Mikel Merino handed a start.

Last weekend’s two-goal hero at Leicester City has been given an opportunity to add to his goal tally from the start against the Hammers, with Raheem Sterling dropping to the bench.

The other switch sees Riccardo Calafiori replace Myles Lewis-Skelly at left-back, with the youngster included on our bench.

Graham Potter meanwhile has made four switches to the side that lost 1-0 to Brentford, and looks set to play with a back five.

Jean-Claire Todibo is included as an extra defender in a new-look back line, with Aaron Cresswell named ahead of ex-Gunner Konstantinos Mavropanos, and Oliver Scarles is preferred to Emerson at left-back.

James Ward-Prowse is included in a three-man midfield alongside Thomas Soucek and Edson Alvarez, while Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus will share the attacking duties with Lucas Paqueta injured during the week. Carlos Soler drops to the bench.

LINE-UPs

Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Nwaneri, Trossard, Merino.Subs: Neto, White, Tierney, Lewis-Skelly, Zinchenko, Kiwior, Jorginho, Butler-Oyedeji, Sterling.

West Ham: Areola, Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Cresswell, Scarles, Ward-Prowse, Soucek, Alvarez, Bowen, Kudus.Subs: Fabianski, Emerson, Mavropanos, Rodriguez, Irving, Soler, Guilherme, Ferguson, Ings.

Ahead of kick-off, get prepared with all the key stats, tactical analysis, quotes, TV coverage and more in our match preview