Arsenal early team news v West Ham United: Thomas Partey ruled out for weeks

Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is set to miss the Carabao Cup game against West Ham on Wednesday (1 November).

Speaking in his pre-match press conference on Tuesday (31 October, via Arsenal's official website), Mikel Arteta said the Ghanaian international will be "out for weeks".

He added that the 30-year-old midfielder has another appointment on Tuesday about a muscular issue as the Gunners prepare to travel across London to face the Hammers in the fourth-round tie.

Rice likely to play

It will have come as a blow to Arsenal to learn that Partey is due to miss the game against West Ham and the next few weeks as he is an important player in their midfield.

It means that Declan Rice is more likely to play - and potentially start - against the Hammers on his first visit back to the London Stadium since making his big-money move to the Gunners.

If he does get the nod, the England international will be looking to make his mark on the game when he comes up against the Irons' new-look midfield.

Although it will be a difficult match, David Moyes will see it as an opportunity to progress into the latter stages of the competition, potentially putting his side in with a chance of claiming some silverware.

The Scotsman could do with a positive result and a better performance on the back of three straight defeats over the past week.

In other West Ham news, an £8million development has emerged in the club’s bid to sign Kalvin Phillips.