Mikel Merino starts as a makeshift striker for Arsenal against West Ham.Merino scored two goals off the bench as an emergency frontman at Leicester last weekend and comes into the Arsenal team in place of Raheem Sterling,

Arsenal can trim the gap to Premier League leaders Liverpool down to just four points on Saturday as they welcome West Ham to the Emirates Stadium. Racked by injuries up front, Mikel Arteta's side had to dig deep last time out,

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Merino may come into the starting line-up with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus all out injured. West Ham have lost five of their last seven games as Graham Potter’s side loo to bounce back from last week’s defeat against Brentford.

Mikel Arteta has revealed Arsenal have several options to start upfront against West Ham on Saturday after problem-solving in training.

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David Raya has suggested that Mikel Merino is unlikely to start up front for Arsenal despite his match-winning heroics off the bench last weekend. Injuries to several key attackers have left Mikel Arteta’s side bereft of options in the final third,