West Ham v Arsenal preview

Team news ahead of Saturday evening's Premier League clash between West Ham and Arsenal at Upton Park (kick-off 5:30pm).

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce will decide on Friday whether Andy Carroll is fit enough to start.

Carroll returned from a hamstring problem in West Ham's win at QPR on Monday but he is short of match fitness and Allardyce is nervous about exposing him to further injury risk.

West Ham expect Winston Reid to be available after he was knocked out at QPR but Allardyce is less certain about left-back Joey O'Brien (hamstring), while Jack Collison (knee) and Alou Diarra (thigh) are long-term absentees.

Arsenal could have defender Per Mertesacker back from a virus.

First-choice goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny (ankle) remains sidelined, as does Abou Diaby (thigh).

Midfielders Jack Wilshere (ankle), Emmanuel Frimpong (knee) continue their rehabilitation, along with Czech winger Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) and defender Bacary Sagna (broken leg).

West Ham (from): Jaaskelainen, Demel, O'Brien, Reid, Collins, Noble, Diame, Taylor, Maiga, Nolan, Cole, Jarvis, Vaz Te, Benayoun, McCartney, Diarra, Tomkins, Henderson, O'Neil, Carroll.

Arsenal (from): Mannone, Gibbs, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Jenkinson, Cazorla, Coquelin, Arteta, Gervinho, Podolski, Giroud, Martinez, Walcott, Santos, Djourou, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey, Koscielny, Arshavin.