The Gunners currently sit in sixth place going into their final match of 2014, but with fourth-placed Southampton facing league leaders Chelsea in an earlier kickoff, they could start their match knowing that a win would see them leapfrog both the Saints and the Hammers into a Champions League spot.

However, they may not be feeling entirely confident of coming away with the three points considering their unconvincing displays against Liverpool and Queens Park Rangers in the last seven days.

The Boxing Day victory against QPR came at a cost, with Olivier Giroud's needless red card, and the Frenchman will begin a three-match ban as a result of his headbutt on Nedum Onuoha.

There is better news at the back, however, with Laurent Koscielny nearing full fitness after a hamstring injury. He should come in at centre-back to counteract the aerial threat of Andy Carroll, with Nacho Monreal the man expected to make way.

Aaron Ramsey is also nearing a return but is not yet be available, while Mikel Arteta, Mesut Ozil, Abou Diaby, Jack Wilshere and Serge Gnabry are all still sidelined.

Arsene Wenger will be looking for a second London derby victory in a row, and his side have a fantastic record against the Hammers in recent years, winning their last seven league meetings and avoiding defeat in their last 12.

He will be hoping that Friday's star performer Alexis Sanchez is in inspiring form once again, with the Chilean winger having scored or assisted half of their 32 Premier League goals this season.

The Gunners have won away at West Ham more often than any team in Premier League history, but rarely will they have come up against a Hammers outfit as strong as the current crop.

Defeat to Chelsea last time out saw them slip out of the Champions League places, having spent Christmas in the top four for the first time since 1985, but avoiding a loss on Sunday would see West Ham end the calendar year above Arsenal in the table.

It has been a superb season so far for Sam Allardyce and, while his side have endured a more difficult festive period than most, he will have targeted this match as a realistic chance to claim a big scalp.

West Ham seem well suited to trouble the Gunners, and Allardyce's team selection against Chelsea - resting the likes of Alex Song and Diafra Sakho - suggests that he sees this match as a very winnable encounter.

The aforementioned duo are expected to return to the starting lineup for this match, but James Tomkins is still sidelined so James Collins is once again likely to deputise.

Allardyce will be particularly pleased to be back at Upton Park, where his side have won six of their last seven games and are unbeaten since August.

The likes of Liverpool and Manchester City have already fallen at the hands of the Hammers in front of their own fans, so the visit of Arsenal will not faze them at all.

Whether Allardyce's side can maintain their impressive form throughout the second half of the season remains to be seen, but this match could provide an interesting insight into the top-four credentials of both clubs.

West Ham:

Recent form: WWWDWL

Possible starting lineup: Adrian; Jenkinson, Collins, Reid, Cresswell; Nolan, Song, Kouyate, Downing; Sakho, Carroll

Arsenal:

Form in Premier League: WWLWDW
Form in all competitions: WLWWDW

Possible starting lineup: Szczesny; Debuchy, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Rosicky, Flamini, Cazorla; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Welbeck, Sanchez

Sports Mole says: 2-1