Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta must work around the absence of the banned Kai Havertz for Thursday's Premier League London derby against West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium.

The German midfielder was cautioned for the fifth time this season in the weekend's 1-1 draw with title rivals Liverpool, forcing him to serve a one-game suspension for the visit of the Irons.

Havertz will be one of five absentees for the North London powerhouses this week, as the injured quartet of Jurrien Timber (knee), Fabio Vieira (groin), Thomas Partey (thigh) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (calf) are all targeting returns at various points of 2024.

Tomiyasu and Partey could be back in action against Liverpool in January 7's FA Cup third-round tie, but for the time being, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Ben White will reprise their full-back roles at the Emirates.

Heading home with just three minutes and 27 seconds gone against Liverpool, Gabriel Magalhaes scored Arsenal's quickest-ever Premier League goal at Anfield on Saturday and will join forces with the equally formidable William Saliba in front of David Raya.

As Havertz takes his place on the sidelines, ex-Irons captain Declan Rice could be deployed in a more advanced number eight role, allowing Jorginho to come into the number six position in support of the Englishman and skipper Martin Odegaard.

Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah were all on target in last December's 3-1 win over West Ham, and while the former two are seemingly guaranteed starters, Nketiah will not be expected to pip Gabriel Jesus to the final spot in the XI.

Arsenal possible starting lineup: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli body check tags ::