Arsenal's Title Hopes Alive as Arteta Targets West Ham Win

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta reveals defender Ben White is ready to return from injury, but is unsure about the availability of Martinelli and Saka for the West Ham match.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is considering various options in attack ahead of their match against West Ham United on Saturday, despite midfielder Mikel Merino's impressive performance as a makeshift striker against Leicester City last weekend. Merino, 28, scored a late brace in a crucial 2-0 win, but Arteta is not committing to using him in the same role again. The club is currently dealing with an injury crisis that has left them without a recognized striker available.

Arsenal's injury woes have been compounded by the season-ending injuries to strikers Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, who are out with knee and hamstring issues, respectively. Wide forwards Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are also still recovering from hamstring problems, leaving Arteta with limited options in attack. Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling, and Ethan Nwaneri are Arteta's only available options in attack, aside from Merino.

When asked if he had informed Merino that he would play as a makeshift striker against West Ham United, Arteta replied, “No, not to him or to other players. I want the players, when they are on that pitch, taking the initiative.” Arteta emphasized that the team has been training with different players in various roles, saying, “We trained the last few weeks with different players. He (Merino) has been one of them, with other players as well.” This approach suggests that Arteta is keeping his options open and encouraging his players to be adaptable and take initiative on the pitch.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been impressed by the club's academy players, who have been training with the senior team in the hopes of making a breakthrough. Players like Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly have already made their mark this season, and Arteta believes others are close to following in their footsteps. “We have players training with us now regularly, learning our system and getting very close and obviously we might have to use them. They look ready which is a good thing,” Arteta said.

💬 “We have to do our job and it’s going to be a tough one tomorrow. There’s still a lot to play for."

Mikel Arteta on ensuring our squad takes each game as it comes 👇

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) February 21, 2025

With 13 games remaining in the season, Arsenal is still in the title hunt, and Arteta knows that every match is crucial. A win against West Ham on Saturday would cut Liverpool's lead to five points, and Arteta is focused on taking care of his team's business. “We have to do our job. It's going to be a tough one tomorrow. If we do that we will be looking at that game on Sunday (between Liverpool and City),” Arteta said. He also acknowledged that there is still a long way to go in the season, saying, “There are 13 games to go, there is a lot to play. We need to be there. We are very experienced in the Premier League and know how difficult every opponent is.”

Will to win 👊 pic.twitter.com/C1BBcC9BWq

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) February 21, 2025

Arteta provided an update on the team's injury situation, saying that defender Ben White is ready to return after a lengthy absence. However, he was less certain about the status of forwards Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka, who are recovering from hamstring injuries. “I don't know, that's a question for the doctor. They are progressing really well,” Arteta said. He did note that Martinelli is slightly ahead of Saka in his recovery, saying, “Gabby (Martinelli) is a bit ahead of Bukayo but we will have to see how the boys are feeling and what we are prepared to do.”