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Arsenal Vs West Ham Preview


Duo available for Gunners


Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Lukas Podolski are available for Arsenal's Barclays Premier League game against West Ham after they overcame their respective illnesses.
Manager Arsene Wenger has a problem in midfield as Mikel Arteta (calf), Francis Coquelin (hamstring), and Tomas Rosicky (calf) are all out.
Defensive midfielder Abou Diaby (thigh) will have a test, but forward Gervinho is away at the African Nations Cup and goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski out with a foot injury.
Wenger called on his players to show him what they are made of after admitting he has become concerned by Arsenal's poor recent form.
Wenger's name was synonymous with success in the English game at the start of his reign, yet Arsenal have hit the rocks in recent years.
The Frenchman has not won a trophy in seven-and-a-half years and his team currently languish in sixth, seven points behind fourth-place Tottenham and 22 points behind leaders Manchester United.
Wenger, whose team have won just half of their home games this term, admitted that morale in the Arsenal camp was low following their latest reverse - a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea on Sunday.
Wenger concedes his team's failure to deliver in big matches is a concern, and has called on the squad to bounce back with a win.
``What is worrying is just that we do not win the big games. The position we are in now is a bit backs to the wall,'' Wenger told a press conference.
``We have to respond. I'm confident that we will but the team was very down after the Chelsea game.
``It's a very important game for us. We have to transform the potential we have shown in the (last) two games into points and it is a good opportunity to do it.''
West Ham have no fresh injury concerns.
Andy Carroll and George McCartney (both knee) miss the game originally scheduled for Boxing Day, while James Collins (hamstring) is also expected to miss out.
Marouane Chamakh is ineligible to face his parent club, while Mali forward Modibo Maiga is away at the African Nations Cup. New signing Wellington Paulista will need more time before being included.
The match was originally scheduled for Boxing Day but was called off due to the threat of a tube strike.
``I think if we get a performance and a result on Wednesday night then we'll be very, very happy,'' boss Sam Allardyce said.
``We are playing this game this week and generally everybody wanted to play on Boxing Day.
``Everybody loves to play on Boxing Day and looks forward to it. It is a tradition in this country but it was beyond our control.
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE 1/24/2013 @Emirates stadium

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