Gabriel Magalhaes wants to cap his "unbelievable" journey with Arsenal with a Premier League title, as the Gunners prepare to welcome West Ham to the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal are chasing down Liverpool at the top of the table, sitting eight points behind the leaders with a game in hand following Arne Slot's side drawing 2-2 at Aston Villa in midweek.

The Gunners beat Leicester City 2-0 last week despite being without a recognised centre-forward, following injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.

Midfielder Mikel Merino was deployed up front as a substitute and rewarded Mikel Arteta's faith with two late goals.

Arsenal's attacking struggles have been a major focus this season, yet Gabriel's imperious partnership with fellow centre-back William Saliba has helped keep them in the title race.

"I think I'm a very different player now! I feel like I've improved a lot, because the coaches and the other players here have helped me every single day," Gabriel told Arsenal's website.

"It's been unbelievable. I play every single game and I'm so happy to be part of this club and the Arsenal family."

Asked about his marked improvement since arriving from Lille in 2020, Gabriel said: "I think I've changed how I defend now, how I love to defend.

"I play against some strikers now and afterwards they say, 'you are so strong now, you and Saliba are so good together' and things like that. It's good to hear.

"That's what we are aiming for on the pitch, we want to keep improving and we want to win trophies."

West Ham, meanwhile, are 16th in the table following last week's 1-0 defeat at home to Brentford.

They have won just one of their last seven Premier League games (one draw, five defeats), beating Fulham 3-2 in their first league game under Graham Potter last month.

However, midfielder James Ward-Prowse, who recently returned from a loan spell at Nottingham Forest, believes Potter will change their fortunes.

"I firmly believe, having seen the work we've done in the last week, that things will turn around," he said.

"We know where we are and where we have to get to. We're not playing up to standard at the moment, and it's up to us as players to put that right."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Arsenal – Mikel Merino

Arsenal have scored more goals from crosses than any other side in the Premier League this season (13), with both of Merino’s strikes against Leicester coming via crosses. 

However, just 8.5% of West Ham's goals conceded this term have come from a cross (4/47), with only Brighton having a lower share (7.9%). 

If Merino does get another chance to lead the line, he will have to get the better of a physical Hammers backline.

West Ham – Jarrod Bowen

Bowen is one goal away from becoming the second West Ham player to reach 50 goals in the Premier League, after Michail Antonio (68).

He has scored three goals in 10 Premier League appearances against Arsenal, only netting more often against Wolves (six goals) and Brentford (five).

MATCH PREDICTION – ARSENAL WIN

Arsenal have won 6-0 and 5-2 in their last two Premier League meetings with West Ham – the only team to score five or more goals in three consecutive games against an opponent in the competition are Liverpool (versus Norwich City between 2012 and 2013).

Only against Middlesbrough (four in a row between 1930 and 1932) have Arsenal scored five or more goals in three consecutive league meetings.

West Ham, meanwhile, have only conceded five or more in three straight league games against Aston Villa (between 1930 and 1931).

The Irons did win this exact fixture 2-0 last season – they last won at Arsenal in consecutive campaigns in 2005-06 and 2006-07, when they became the last team to beat the Gunners at Highbury, and then the first to do so at the Emirates.

Arsenal, though, are huge favourites for this match. They are unbeaten in their last 15 Premier League games, their longest run since a run of 16 between December 2010 and April 2011. 

The Gunners are also unbeaten in their last 15 home league games, last having a longer run between August 2018 and April 2019 (16).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Arsenal – 71%

West Ham – 12.1%

Draw – 16.9%