West Ham United have suffered a significant selection boost for their Premier League clash against league leaders Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Boxing Day.
The Hammers head to north London in three weeks time hoping to climb up from 16 th in the league table, currently sitting just a point clear of the relegation zone after picking up just four points from a possible 18 in their last six league matches.
Next on the official fixture list, after mid-season friendlies away at Cambridge United, Udinese and Fulham, is a meeting with the Gunners, who have wowed the Premier League so far this season, sitting five points clear at the top after 12 wins, one draw and a defeat from their 14 league games this term.
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West Ham will need to be at their best and hope for as much fortune as possible to get a positive result against Mikel Arteta's side, and the latest Arsenal injury news could prove to be fortuitous for the Hammers.
Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus, who is the only player in the league so far this season to have scored five goals and set up as many, suffered a knee injury during Brazil's World Cup defeat to Cameroon in Qatar on Friday night.
Football.london understands that Jesus is set to miss between three and four weeks of action at the very least, while reports have suggested that Jesus' lay-off is much more serious, rendering it almost impossible that he will feature against West Ham on December 26.
With ten direct league goal contributions this season (five goals, five assists), Jesus is joint-top for league goal involvements in the Gunners' squad this season alongside England international winger Bukayo Saka (four goals, six assists), with his absence set to be a major blow for Arsenal's attacking line.
Another likely absentee for the Gunners is attacking midfielder Emile Smith Rowe, having undergone groin surgery in September. Smith Rowe has been included in Arsenal's squad for the Dubai Super Cup this month, but is not expected to be fit enough to return to action until the New Year.
Going into that clash, West Ham boss David Moyes will be hoping to overturn a career record of 70 league matches as an away manager without ever recording a league win against Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool or Chelsea.
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