Arsene Wenger and Sam Allardyce are not exactly a match made in heaven, far from it. The two managers with completely different playing styles will renew their rivalry when Arsenal make the short trip to West Ham United in Saturday's late kickoff of the English Premier League.

Arsenal were far from their best in their previous Premier League game against Chelsea, even if they were a little unlucky to come away without a single point. That loss, their first of the season, put a little dent on their bright start, leading many to believe the Gunners were going to implode.

This year's Arsenal team, however, has a bit more of a backbone in them, showed by their fighting performance against an impressive Olympiakos side in the Champions League.

The game against West Ham will be the battle of the opposites - Arsenal who like to play with the ball at their feet against West Ham who are happy to play the long balls and get in the crosses from the wide areas as much as possible. Allardyce's teams, as much as he might try to deny it, is all about getting the strong center forward to hold up the ball and use the side's physical prowess as often as possible.

"Arsenal are very good at keeping the ball so there will be times in the game when we need to concentrate out of possession to ensure they don't get a chance to score," Allardyce told reporters.

"It is always a big test for everybody, especially the players who need to try and match the quality of opposition they're playing against.

"We won't see the ball as much as we have done at Upton Park in previous games so we have to approach the game in a different way and of course make sure we make the most of the ball when we have it.

"All teams have weaknesses, what we need to do is make sure we find them and exploit them to score a goal."

Wenger will know all about the tactics, having had many an altercation with Allardyce during his time with Bolton, in particular. The Frenchman, however, should not be too bothered by what West Ham will throw at them, instead concentrating on his side.

Per Mertesacker, who has been Arsenal's best defender this season, is expected to be available after contracting a virus, which ruled him out for the Olympiakos game, and it will be interesting to see whether Wenger brings back the big German defender against West Ham.

Apart from the obvious injuries misses, Abou Diaby included, Arsenal will have everyone available and Wenger might think about starting with Olivier Giroud, taking into account the opposition and the fact that it is an away game, although with the form shown by Gervinho down the middle, the Frenchman might be tempted to stick with the same forward line. Aaron Ramsey, though, might get the nod ahead of Francis Coquelin in the center of midfield.

West Ham will be buoyed by the return of Andy Carroll, but Allardyce refused to be drawn out on whether the big center forward will start the game against the Gunners. "I will let you know that when I pick the team on Saturday! Like I said I haven't made that decision yet, it will be made on Friday and we will take it from there," a coy Allardyce told reporters.

Defender Winston Reid will be available for selection after shaking off an injury, which forced him to come out of the Monday night game against Queens Park Rangers.

Expected line-ups: West Ham: Jaaskelainen, McCartney, Reid, Collins, Demel, Noble, Diame, Nolan, Jarvis, Vaz Te, Carroll.

Arsenal: Mannone, Gibbs, Vermaelen, Mertesacker, Jenkinson, Arteta, Ramsey, Cazorla, Gervinho, Podolski, Giroud.