Shkodran Mustafi explains Arsenal's plan to limit aerial threat of Andy Carroll

Eye on the prize: Andy Carroll scores the second goal of a hat-trick which inspires West Ham’s comeback in the 3-3 draw against Arsenal last April
AFP/Getty Images
James Olley5 April 2017

Andy Carroll would be a perfect fit for Arsenal in a purely narrative sense. A world-beater on his day, yet undermined by injuries and dogged by questions as to whether off-field issues compromise his ability.

Carroll displays his considerable talent all too fleetingly but the Gunners do not have far to look to appreciate the threat he poses when West Ham arrive at Emirates Stadium tonight.

Saturday marks exactly a year since Carroll took just seven minutes and 14 seconds to score the fastest Premier League hat-trick of last season in a dramatic 3-3 draw that ended Arsenal’s slim title hopes. Two of those goals were headers and manager Slaven Bilic declared Carroll the best in the world at that art after a match that highlighted familiar concerns about Arsenal’s frailty against powerful forwards.

Carroll has scored five times against Arsenal in his career — only Swansea (6) have a worse record against him. West Ham have struggled to the extent the board felt compelled to issue a vote of confidence in Bilic after last week’s 2-1 defeat at Hull but Carroll will relish the chance to seize upon the nervousness in Arsenal’s defending.

Laurent Koscielny’s absence with an Achilles problem therefore comes at a bad time. Much was made of the capitulation Arsenal suffered against Bayern Munich when he went off with the score at 1-1 in both legs only for the Gunners to lose their Champions League last-16 tie 10-2 on aggregate.

They coped adequately without him against Manchester City, keeping the diminutive Sergio Aguero at bay in the second period. However, Carroll is more reminiscent of Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski — in stature, if not pedigree — with the right kind of service.

An injury scare to goalkeeper David Ospina means the relatively inexperienced Emiliano Martinez could face a test of his ability to command a penalty area, while Shkodran Mustafi is likely to be partnered by Gabriel at centre-back and the £34million summer signing from Valencia believes stopping the supply line to Carroll is essential.

“We will play in their half trying to make things happen but then it is important when we lose the ball that we don’t stay open because it is easy for them to go down one side and cross,” he said.

“We need to win the ball straight back when we lose it or as soon as we lose it, come back as quickly as possible to make it difficult to cross the ball.

“This is the Premier League so you have to handle players like that, he is really strong in the air. Do I like a battle like that? I prefer to stay more in their half instead of wrestling in our box but it is part of the game.”

Arsenal face a major challenge to continue Wenger’s remarkable record of securing a top-four finish in every season since he took charge in 1996. They sit seven points behind fourth-placed City with 10 games left.

Mustafi said: “There are still a lot of games and points to play for. If we build on the game against City and fix a few details, it is possible to get into the top four. We need to build up from the performance we had against Man City because we did quite well.”

West Ham are looking for their own turning point after four successive defeats left them six points above the relegation zone and Mustafi has warned Arsenal must not commit mistakes to aid a Hammers revival.

“We must not give them confidence by making errors,” he said. “We have to focus on our ourselves and do the right things, try to make the game like we always do when we are at home. We have to take advantage of that. West Ham, even though they have had not so good results, they have good players and are a good club.”

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