Curbs preparing for Arsenal encounter

With the Hammers set to take on Arsenal at the Emirates stadium today, Alan Curbishley admitted he won't be ringing the changes after the last two results.

"We'll be taking roughly the same squad as we had last week," he said. "Matty Upson has had a recurrence of his calf strain, Calum Davenport is still suffering with an injury to the underside of his foot and Nigel Quashie's foot is still sore.

"Yossi Benayoun has tried to get through his week. He needed to be rested after playing two games in four days for Israel, but the team have done alright. He's trained all this week so we'll see what happens."

Arsenal away is admittedly a tricky fixture, but Curbs said: "The position we find ourselves in is simple: we need to win the majority of our games.

"We needed to get some three pointers and we've managed to pick up two. I see it as another game we have the opportunity to win. Lots of sides look at games against the top sides as bonus games but we need to win the majority of our remaining games and Arsenal's one of them."

Curbs reflected on Arsenal's season so far and admitted the Hammers are hopeful of getting a good result at the Emirates.

"They've gone into a transitional period," he said. "They are rebuilding and they've had their share of injuries. Robin van Persie and Thierry Henry have been out for long periods and they're two top strikers.

"When Arsenal played at Upton Park earlier this season they had a lot of established players out and West Ham won. We'll be playing a very different eleven but it's a big game. The fans are expecting us to do something and we have to go and try to do something."