Team News: Olivier Giroud and Per Mertesacker start for Arsenal against West Ham United

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has recalled Olivier Giroud and Per Mertesacker to his starting lineup for the trip to West Ham United.

Laurent Koscielny and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are the players who make way from the team that beat Olympiakos 2-1 in midweek.

Aaron Ramsey also earns a place in central midfield ahead of Francis Coquelin, who is one of a number of Gunners players struggling with a flu virus.

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce welcomes Andy Carroll back from a hamstring injury in only his second start for the Hammers.

Carroll comes in for Carlton Cole, with George McCartney also replacing Joey O'Brien after he was injured in Monday's win over Queens Park Rangers.

West Ham: Jaaskelainen, Demel, Collins, Reid, McCartney, Noble, Diame, Vaz Te, Nolan, Jarvis, Carroll. Subs: Henderson, Tomkins, Cole, Maiga, Taylor, Benayoun, O'Neil.

Arsenal: Mannone, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Ramsey, Cazorla, Arteta, Gervinho, Giroud, Podolski. Subs: Martinez, Koscielny, Andre Santos, Walcott, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Coquelin, Arshavin.