Courageous line up predicted for West Ham title decider

By Danong 

Sunday and Arsenal make the short trip east to take on city rivals West Ham at the London Stadium.

Their last two visits there have seen the boys in red and white pick up convincing wins.

Now the Gunners need to replicate those results as they edge ever closer to a league title.

West Ham have struggled this season and are in real danger of relegation. That tricky situation, desperate to avoid the drop, should see them throw everything at this one.

Yet Arsenal, as thirsty as they are for league glory, should have more than enough motivation to overpower them.

Mikel Arteta has confirmed that both Jurrien Timber and Mikel Merino will miss Sunday's clash.

There are no fresh injuries, however, so the Arsenal manager should still have a strong squad to call upon for this derby.

With the Champions League still around three weeks away, the Gunners can go full throttle in their bid to win the league, and that is precisely why Arsenal could field this fierce line-up:

Raya

White, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori

Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Odegaard

Saka, Gyokeres, Eze

That is certainly the most front-footed line-up Arteta can go with.

Myles Lewis-Skelly has breathed new life into Arsenal's engine room, bringing calmness, control, and progression, qualities that Martin Zubimendi has struggled to provide of late.

Beyond the Lewis-Skelly factor, having both Eze and Odegaard on the pitch at the same time should see the Gunners creating chances in abundance, chances that ought to hurt West Ham.

Win this one, and it will be one down, two to go before Arsenal finally claim the champions' tag.

Significant changes predicted in midfield and in attack that will.propel Arsenal in the final of the CL

By Danong 

Arsenal are back in action on Tuesday, hosting Atlético Madrid at the Emirates Stadium in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final.

The first leg ended all square, with the two sides playing out a 1-1 draw at the Wanda Metropolitano. Tuesday night, however, a winner must emerge, and Arsenal will be hoping that on familiar ground, they are the ones who come out on top.

Earlier in the season, when the Gunners hosted Atletico in the Champions League league phase, they thrashed them 4-0. A similar result on Tuesday night will book the north Londoners a place in the 2026 Champions League final, set for the Puskás Arena in Budapest, Hungary on Saturday, 30 May.

On Saturday, Mikel Arteta reintroduced Ricardo Calafiori and Bukayo Saka in his starting 11 in that convincing 3-0 win over Fulham, with Myles Lewis-Skelly replacing Martin Zubimendi in midfield also proving another astute tactical call.

Against the La Liga outfit, Gooners will be hoping Arteta produces similarly sharp thinking to outwit Diego Simeone.

Notably, the Arsenal boss is boosted by the availability of both Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard, a significant lift ahead of such a high-stakes occasion.

With the returning duo back in the squad alongside the formidable side Arteta fielded on Saturday, Atletico have every reason to be worried.

Arteta could opt to play:

Raya

White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie

Rice, Odegaard, Eze

Saka, Havertz, Trossard

With this line-up, Arteta would be making some bold and necessary calls, the most significant being up front, Havertz for Gyökeres and choosing an attack oriented midfield by dropping Zubimendi for Odegaard. 

While Victor Gyokeres reminded everyone at the weekend just what a deadly finisher he is, Havertz represents the better option against Atletico. The German international's movement and work rate suit the demands of a tight two-legged tie far better.

His technical brilliance, alongside Eberechi Eze and Odegaard, could prove the key to unlocking Atletico's typically resolute defence, creating the openings for Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard to capitalise on.

That line-up should comfortably be too strong for Atletico, and could see Arsenal take a decisive step closer to European glory.

I hope Spurs win tonight!

 By 1970s Gooner 

The reason is pretty simple. City play Villa at the Etihad on the last day of the season, 24th May. You would ideally want Villa to be up for this game and try and get a result there.

But if they manage to hang on to the 5th place they hold right now or win the final of the Europa league (if they beat Nottingham Forest and qualify) then they will have very little incentive to be competitive for this game.

The final of the Europa League is four days prior to the last game of the season.

So I hope they loose tonight to Spurs, lose more games slipping away from European qualification and also fail to qualify for the Europa league final.

Time to add more creativity in the team. Predicted 11 Vs Fulham

By Danong and 1970s Gooner 

Arsenal are back at the Emirates on Saturday night, hosting Fulham as they look to keep their title charge alive.

Hoping to quench their thirst for league glory, it surely needs no emphasis that the Gunners simply cannot afford to slip. Only a win will do, with Manchester City breathing down their neck.

Bukayo Saka is back and trying to find his rhythm, whilst Ricardo Calafiori also returns. However, Arsenal will be without Mikel Merino, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz.

Even so, Mikel Arteta should have a capable enough side to dispatch the Cottagers. He could go for:

Raya

White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie

Rice, Zubimendi, Odegaard

Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard.

Alternatively if Odegaard cannot shake off the niggling knee problem that has followed him since the away game at Brentford there is the more attractive option of starting Eze. This will provide a more attacking threat as well as a player who can come up with a magic moment to win a what could be a close game.

There is the more attractive option to start both Odegaard, if he is fit, and Eze in midfield. Under this scenario Zubimendi will be rested for the second leg of the Semi-final against Athletico Madrid.

Against Atlético Madrid, Arteta made one brilliant tactical tweak, deploying Declan Rice as a six.

That adjustment made Arsenal more defensively strong and balanced, something the Gunners have been crying out for. Against Fulham, it could lay the foundation for yet another important win.

Raya

White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie

Rice, Odegaard, Eze

Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard

Earlier in the season, when these two sides met, Arsenal came out on top with a 1-0 victory. Last season, too, the boys in red and white did not lose this London derby, winning at home and drawing at Craven Cottage.

Surely, when they absolutely need to beat Fulham, you would back Arsenal to do so.

Then the hope will be that Everton have enough in them to halt Manchester City on Monday at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.