Mikel Arteta has opted to start Mikel Merino at striker in Arsenal's Premier League clash with West Ham United on Saturday afternoon. The Gunners are without a natural striker due to injuries to both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz,

Mikel Arteta thinks Arsenal can thrive as the chasers in the Premier League title race having spent previous years looking over their shoulders. Arsenal host West Ham on Saturday knowing they can breathe new life into the title race by cutting the gap to Liverpool to just five points ahead of their meeting with Manchester City on Sunday.

White, hailed as ‘sensational’ by Tony Cascarino while speaking on The Game Football Podcast in October, had to play almost every game last season because of injury issues to Jurrien Timber and Takehiro Tomiyasu. That took its toll and he went down earlier this campaign.