Arsenal have allowed numerous talented players to leave the club for minimal fees in recent years, many of whom are now thriving in the Premier League.
Alex Iwobi, Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson are impressing for Fulham, while Eddie Nketiah and Joe Willock are plying their trade as squad players at Crystal Palace and Newcastle United respectively.
Meanwhile, less prominent academy graduates Omari Hutchinson, Donyell Malen and Stephy Mavididi are also enjoying successful top flight careers at Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Aston Villa.
The Gunners will face one that slipped through their grasp for a small fee when they host West Ham on Saturday afternoon at the Emirates.
- READ MORE: Arsenal and Liverpool’s next six fixtures compared as one club has a clear advantage in title race
Konstantinos Mavropanos will play against Arsenal for West Ham United
Mavididi was unable to haunt Arsenal last week, as the North Londoners ran out 2-0 winners against Leicester at the King Power Stadium courtesy of a brace from Mikel Merino.
The time around, a familiar face will return to N5, with Konstantinos Mavropanos making an appearance at his old stomping ground.
Mavropanos joined Arsenal from PAS Giannina in January 2018, but ultimately only made eight appearances for the club.
Behind the likes of Laurent Koscielny, Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis Papastathopoulos in the pecking order in his time at the Emirates, the Greek centre-back left permanently for Stuttgart for just €3.20 million (£2.7 million) in the summer of 2022, after impressing on loan with the German club.
After an exceptional season in the Bundesliga, West Ham opted to splash £16.5 million on Mavropanos in 2023.
Now a staple figure of the Hammers’ back four, Mavropanos will be looking to dent his former club’s title hopes when Graham Potter’s side travel north to face Arsenal on Saturday afternoon.
Mikel Arteta’s team can close the gap with Liverpool to just five points with a victory against the East Londoners.
Mavropanos scored against Arsenal in this fixture last season, condemning the Gunners to a damaging 2-0 defeat that ultimately cost them the title.
The 27-year-old will be looking to replicate this threat from set pieces on Saturday, while dealing with whoever Arteta opts to select up front.
Arsenal should ease past West Ham
Arsenal will be without Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka for the clash with West Ham.
Leandro Trossard started as the centre-forward in these players’ absence against Leicester, but struggled to provide the focal point the Gunners needed.
Mikel Merino saved the day off the bench, and he ought to be considered from the start for the upcoming showdown at the Emirates.
Regardless of who Arteta picks to lead the line, Arsenal should have too much for a poor West Ham side in bad form.
Potter’s team sit 16th in the Premier League, and have won just one of their six games with the former Chelsea boss in the dugout.
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 14 |  EvertonEverton | 25 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 27 | 31 | -4 | 30 |
| 15 |  Man UtdManchester United | 25 | 8 | 5 | 12 | 28 | 35 | -7 | 29 |
| 16 |  West HamWest Ham | 25 | 7 | 6 | 12 | 29 | 47 | -18 | 27 |
| 17 |  WolvesWolves | 25 | 5 | 4 | 16 | 35 | 54 | -19 | 19 |
| 18 |  IpswichIpswich | 25 | 3 | 8 | 14 | 23 | 50 | -27 | 17 |
Lucas Paqueta has been ruled out with an ankle injury, meaning Arsenal should be able to play with an aggressive and front-footed appraoch.
The Brazilian playmaker is West Ham’s creative heartbeat, and without him, they will struggle to offer significant threat.
While Mavropanos will be looking to thwart his former employers, this should be a run-of-the-mill victory for Arsenal.
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