Arsenal’s chances of securing a top-four Premier League finish may have got slightly easier after West Ham United lost 2-1 against Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday night.
The north Londoners currently find themselves two points ahead of fifth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who they are due to play away from home next month. Next up for Mikel Arteta’s side is a trip to east London to take on the Hammers.
David Moyes’ men were locked in a tough match in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League semi-final, losing to Bundesliga side Frankfurt at the London Stadium – something that could make Sunday’s match against Arsenal slightly easier if their opponents opt to rest some players. Moyes chose to bench the likes of Declan Rice, Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen last weekend against Chelsea and considering West Ham will play their second leg against the Germans next week, it makes sense for some of their stars to be left out against the Gunners on Sunday.
To make matters even more complicated for the Hammers, Frenchman Kurt Zouma is their only available centre-back, with Craig Dawson suspended whilst both Issa Diop and Angelo Ogbonna are both on the treatment table. It may make sense for Moyes to rest Zouma against Arsenal as well given the former Chelsea star has also just come back from an injury of his own.
Meanwhile, Spurs will take on Leicester City on Sunday afternoon and the Foxes may end up resting some players of their own having played the first leg of their Conference League semi-final against Roma on Thursday evening.
