MATCH PREVIEW // HAMMERS TO HAND NASRI FIRST START IN ARSENAL VISIT?

By Sam Tonks

An unbeaten start to 2019 for West Ham United, a draw with Brighton and Hove Albion followed by progress in the FA Cup defeating Birmingham City. Now, the first London Derby of the year with Arsenal visiting London Stadium.

The Hammers have lost just two derbies this season, one back in August against Saturday’s opponents. But Manuel Pellegrini believes a lot of improvement has been made since the 3-1 loss at The Emirates.

“A lot has changed since we played at Arsenal in August as we have had four months more working,” said Pellegrini.

“It was not a bad game last time against Arsenal, we had lots of chances to score but we lost the game with an own-goal but after that we have worked hard and the team has improved in every sense.

“At least we have demonstrated that we can play against every team as a big team ourselves, we want to get three points from the first minute of every game and will try to do the same against Arsenal.”

Unai Emery is a familiar foe to the Chilean, facing each other 13 times over league and European ties. Pellegrini beat Emery in Champions League action in 2015 as Manchester City boss, with Emery at Sevilla, although he did go onto win the Europa League.

“It was not easy for Unai Emery to replace Arsene Wenger after so many years in charge,” he said.

“He went a lot of games unbeaten and that is good for a manager that has just arrived to the Premier League and the more he gets to know the league, the more he will keep improving Arsenal.”

Samir Nasri is more familiar with Arsenal than their manager. Scoring 27 goals over 125 games in three years in North London, the Frenchman is looking forward to a return to Premier League football and a ‘crazy atmosphere’.

“We are blessed and lucky to be able to play every game with 60,000 people at the stadium. I was so excited to step out at London Stadium in front of those fans,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to the next game, a derby against Arsenal so I’m sure the atmosphere will be even more crazy.

Nasri made his Hammers debut last weekend, his first game since last January, now he aims to continue progressing and returning to the levels he set at his former club.

“I want to prove it to myself. I want to look at myself in the mirror and be able to say ‘You came back and did everything in the right way’,” said Nasri.

“It’s for my son as well, I could have gone somewhere exotic but I wanted to be back in a competitive league and prove to myself I can still be doing it. My determination is there. I just want to make a contribution to this team.”

His possible debut is some team news from the Hammers ahead of a lunchtime derby on Saturday. Forward Marko Arnautovic has overcome a back problem which forced him off against Birmingham last week, as his boss believes he can stay focused amidst transfer speculation from China.

“I think Marko and all the other players involved in rumours have their heads here and want to continue playing the way they have been doing so far, so I am sure that’s not going to affect his performance,” he said.

However, Fabien Balbuena is unavailable after undergoing minor surgery to the meniscus on his left knee, he’ll be out for six to eight weeks.

As for the visitors, they welcomed Hector Bellerin, Mesut Ozil, Shkodran Mustafi and Nacho Monreal back to training this week, all in contention to return to the squad.

Arsenal are unbeaten in their last six meetings against the Hammers, scoring 16 and conceding three, West Ham’s last win against them was in 2015 at The Emirates.