I mean, this is just ridiculous...

Look away now Arsenal fans...

Image source, Getty Images

So yeah, Arsenal are currently winless in nine games in all competitions (drawing five and losing four). This is their worst run since an 11-match stint under Terry Neill in 1976-77.

That run included seven straight defeats, which saw the Gunners lose 3-0 at Middlesbrough and have their behinds handed to them by Ipswich, 4-1 at Highbury. Interestingly, they also lost 3-2 to West Ham.

The Gunners have it bad at the moment, but it could certainly be worse.

Well, they definitely weren't going to put this fella on the bench...

Image source, BBC Sport

Chris Sutton
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

That is a huge call. Alexandre Lacazette scored against Brighton and I think he is a great footballer who leads the line well, it's a big call.

But fair play to Freddie Ljunberg, he is doing it his way and picking the players he wants to pick.

What are West Ham to do with Sebastien Haller? He was supposed to be the answer in attack, Marco Arnautovic and more. It is often hard for a overseas player in their debut Premier League campaign, but the Hammers didn't part with £45m for a substitute.

Three goals in four games in the Europa League, four in two in the Carabao Cup - it was only a matter of time before Gabriel Martinelli got his first Premier League start.

If this is to be Freddie Ljungberg's last game as Gunners boss, he's going to at least do it his way.

Image source, .

One change for West Ham and it's a big one as club record signing Sebastien Haller, with only one goal in his past 12 matches, drops to the bench with Michail Antonio starting.

West Ham: Martin, Fredericks, Balbuena, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Snodgrass, Noble, Rice, Fornals, Felipe Anderson, Antonio.

Substitutes: Zabaleta, Roberto, Sanchez, Haller, Diop, Masuaku, Holland.

Image source, .

Eighteen-year-old Gabriel Martinelli, who has scored seven cup goals for Arsenal this season, starts a Premier League match for the first time with Alexandre Lacazette losing his place in the team.

Record signing Nicolas Pepe also returns to the starting 11, as does Kieran Tierney and Calum Chambers. David Luiz is among the substitutes with Joe Willock and Sead Kolasinac both not in the 18.

Arsenal: Leno, Bellerin, Chambers, Papastathopoulos, Tierney, Torreira, Xhaka, Pepe, Ozil, Martinelli, Aubameyang.

Substitutes: Lacazette, Maitland-Niles, Luiz, Nelson, Martinez, Guendouzi, Saka.

Some interesting team news coming up in a minute or two...

One other thing...

How do you imagine the West Ham fans at the London Stadium will react to defeat tonight?

And if Arsenal lose, what will be the response from the away end?

Could be a few naughty words.

Regardless of how bad things actually are at either of the two sides in action tonight, it promises to be a belting game.

Consider the narrative...

• West Ham have the worst form in division over the last eight matches and really need a win to pull away from the relegation zone.
• Pellegrini needs a victory to stave off the vultures.
• Arsenal are on their worst league run since 1977.
• Freddie Ljungberg has one point from his two games in charge so far and defeat here could mean he doesn't get a fourth.
• Oh, Ljungberg is also an ex-West Ham player.
• And this is a London derby.

Is that enough?

Crisis is an over-used word in football.

If parts of the media are to be believed, Arsenal are currently in crisis. They're not, though, are they? Not really. Yes, a series of poor decisions means they are not as good as they once were or expect to be now, but they're a Premier League side, packed with (granted, underperforming) talent, who are still in Europe and a huge draw for some of the top managers in the game.

Two games ago, West Ham were reportedly in crisis, with Manuel Pellegrini clinging to his job. OK, so they've not kicked on since moving to a fancy new stadium and haven't got the best out of some seriously decent players. But they won at Chelsea in the fixture before last and it wasn't that long ago they beat Manchester United to look like a top-six challenger.

Crisis? Try telling that to Bury fans.

Doom...

Image source, Getty Images

Gloom...

Image source, Getty Images

Pain...

Image source, Getty Images

... and suffering.

Image source, Getty Images