West Ham Preview: I hope we don’t rest too many… 2 January, 2010

So the FA Cup starts up again this weekend and our third round draw was West Ham away. Quite a tricky tie as early into the competition as this but one I feel we should be winning. Our first team could only come away with a point earlier this season after losing a two-goal lead late on. However there’s talk that we will not be playing a full-strength side this time around.

Arsene Wenger has admitted he will rotate, he said there were few playing on Wednesday night that were at risk from injury so he will rest those players that have slight niggles. I know Arshavin is one; I read somewhere that he hurt his foot against Portsmouth so I expect him to be saved for the Bolton game next Wednesday.

Fabianski usually gets the nod for the FA Cup, there’s been no confirmation that he will again this year so we’ll have to wait and see. Wenger said Philippe Senderos will come in if he passes a late fitness test. Whether that’s to get him cup-tied for his next club/put him in the January sales window I don’t know, however Wenger says the only departure this month could be Wilshere. I think it might be a good thing to rest one of Vermaelen or Gallas seeing as they have played pretty much every game this season. Not sure I really fancy resting both of them though, we might be resting players but there’s no need to play Silvestre – lets not be silly now.

Walcott’s injured and there could be rests for Diaby and Sagna, but I’m just speculating though. I can’t really predict a team today but I don’t know to what extent Wenger will rest players. So here’s my guess/what I would do considering we will be playing a slightly under strength side:

Fabianski
Gilbert – Senderos – Vermaelen – Traore
Song
Ramsey – Diaby
Rosicky (c) – Eduardo – Vela/Nasri

That really is a complete guess so don’t hold me to that. You can expect to see Song and Rosicky though that’s for sure; this is Alex’s last game before he heads off to Africa and Rosicky is looking for a bit of match fitness. I think this could also be a chance for Eduardo to get match-sharp, he might’ve scored a deflection and a tap-in in the last couple of weeks but I’m still not 100% convinced he’s back.

West Ham could rest players too considering they’re only out of the bottom three on goal difference; they have to concentrate on the league, so it wouldn’t surprise me if they rested one or two as well. West Ham being West Ham are ridden with injuries – Dyer, Noble, Parker, Gabbidon and Ilunga are all have hamstring injuries, Carlton Cole has a knee problem and Franco is suspended.

Both Arsenal and West Ham are in a very similar position going into tomorrow’s game. We’re either end of the table and have to concentrate on the league as every point is vital. Our squads have both been depleted with injuries and are risking defeat by resting even more players. You could say it’s slightly harder on us because we’re playing on Wednesday and they’re not but still – they are in the same boat as us and we can have no excuses if we lose this one.

Hopefully those regulars that are in the starting XI can turn on the magic and put this game to bed. I don’t see us having many first team options on the bench either so lets hope we’re not trailing late on.

Should be a good one tomorrow whatever happens. We’re live on ITV, yes ITV at 4:15pm. Have a good one those of you who’re going I’m very jealous, tried to get a couple of tickets myself but I’m going snowboarding next week so better save a bit of money!

Right, enjoy the game. Thanks for reading.