Two players will miss West Ham vs Arsenal as title race intensifies after Mikel Arteta update

Arsenal face what could prove to be a pivotal clash in the Premier League title race this weekend. The Gunners head to the London Stadium to take on West Ham on Sunday afternoon. Prior to that, they'll be watching closely as second-placed Manchester City go up against Brentford on Saturday afternoon. Heading into the weekend's fixtures, Arsenal sit five points clear of City at the summit. City do, however, hold a game in hand. That advantage means Arsenal's destiny is firmly in their own hands, knowing that three wins from their remaining league matches would secure a first Premier League title in 23 years. West Ham , meanwhile, are battling desperately to preserve their top-flight status. Their recent run of results has left them rooted in 18th place, though they remain just one point behind Tottenham as the relegation scrap intensifies. It promises to be a gruelling final few weeks for both clubs. Here's a look at the injury news for both Arsenal and West Ham ahead of this weekend's encounter. FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news and more on our dedicated Facebook page Mikel Arteta has confirmed that full-back Jurrien Timber and Mikel Merino will both miss the match. The pair are also major doubts to return before the curtain comes down on the season. Timber has been absent for the past 11 matches in all competitions due to an ankle problem, while Merino is recuperating following surgery on a fractured foot. Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Arteta said: "No chance for them this weekend." Regarding whether the pair will feature before the season concludes, he said: "I don't know, there's still a fair bit to do, so everything has to be so smooth and quick if they want to have a chance to play any minutes." Nuno Espirito Santo has confirmed his squad are fully fit ahead of the fixture at the London Stadium. "Everybody is ok, which is good for us that everybody's healthy," he said in his pre-match press conference. This means the Hammers manager faces some selection dilemmas. There have been demands for striker Callum Wilson to lead the line from the off. Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jean-Clair Todibo are also vying for starting berths. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.