West Ham vs Arsenal team news: Laurent Koscielny returns to the Gunners starting XI, while Alex Song captains the Hammers

The match kicks off at 3pm

Laurent Koscielny starts for Arsenal (Getty Images)

Laurent Koscielny has returned to the Arsenal starting XI to face West Ham at Upton Park today, while former Gunner Alex Song captains the Hammers.

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The French defender has been out since 3 December after suffering a calf injury. Elsewhere, Francis Coquelin starts for the first time in the Premier League since January 2013, when the Gunners lost 2-1 at Chelsea.

Coquelin was recalled from his loan spell at Championship side Charlton earlier this month.

Gunners' striker Olivier Giroud starts his three-match suspension for his head-butt on QPR's Nedum Onuoha in the 2-1 win on Boxing Day.

Barcelona loanee Alex Song, who made 179 appearances for Arsenal between 2005 and 2012, captains West Ham in the absence of Kevin Nolan, who is on the bench.

West Ham: Adrian, Reid, Cresswell, Tomkins, Kouyate, Song, Downing, Sakho, O'Brien, Amalfitano, Carroll.

Subs: Jaaskelainen, Nolan, Noble, Collins, Demel, Cole, Valencia

Arsenal: Szczesny, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Flamini, Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Alexis, Welbeck.

Subs: Ospina, Gibbs, Chambers, Campbell, Walcott, Podolski, Akpom