West Ham get major boost for Arsenal cup clash as Arteta's hand forced

West Ham get a major boost for the Arsenal cup clash as Mikel Arteta’s hand will be forced during crunch fixture period.

After West Ham and Arsenal squeaked through to the Carabao Cup fourth round on Wednesday night so attentions turned to the draw.

For West Ham that invariably means playing Man United away or another of the so-called “top six” – usually away from home.

And while there was a change of the wind in one respect as the Hammers were drawn at home – they will indeed face Premier League title challengers Arsenal next.

Of course the big focus around the fixture is on the potential return of Declan Rice after his £105m summer move from West Ham to Arsenal.

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Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images

West Ham get major boost for Arsenal cup clash as Mikel Arteta’s hand will be forced during crunch fixture period

While West Ham will fancy themselves against anyone at home, there were moans and groans among fans about drawing Arsenal given the other sides left in the competition.

But a closer look at this fixture – which takes the week commencing October 30th – will give the Hammers hope of making it past the Gunners and into the quarter-finals.

West Ham get a major boost for the Arsenal cup clash as Mikel Arteta’s hand will be forced to take action during a crunch fixture period.But he’s not the only injury concern right now for Arteta and Arsenal. Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Martinelli and Thomas Partey are all out injured – just as the going starts to get tough with the fixture schedule.

And while the game at West Ham is over a month away, the glut of injuries will only serve to refocus Arteta’s mind on Arsenal’s clear priorities as they bid for Premier League and Champions League success.

Arsenal already experiencing glut of injuries and the schedule either side of the Hammers clash will be Arteta’s priority

The great news for West Ham and David Moyes is that the Gunners have a punishing schedule leading up to and after the fourth round clash at the London Stadium.

And Arteta – as he did against Brentford last night – will be forced to play a seriously weakened team with his priorities very much the matches before and after the midweek clash.

Arsenal play Chelsea and Sevilla away before taking on Sheffield United in the week leading up to the West Ham cup tie.

The West Ham vs Arsenal match is likely to be played on October 31st or November 1st.

That’s just a few days before another long away trip and huge game for Arsenal at Newcastle.

West Ham do of course have their own European commitments. But the pressure on their Premier League games is nothing like as intense as it is for Arsenal who have stuck their flags in the ground as title hopefuls.

Moyes may elect to go stronger for the cup tie knowing Arteta is going to be forced to field a massively understrength side.