The Gunners have made a sparkling start to the season, topping the table by two points with a game in hand, and Arsene Wenger made his customary sweeping changes for the Carling Cup win over Newcastle on Tuesday night.

West Ham may not have the extraordinary youth reserves available to Wenger, but the summer spending at Upton Park has given Curbishley the sort of options never afforded him during his 15 safety-first years at Charlton.

The Hammers made six changes for Wednesday night's last-gasp 1-0 win over Plymouth, with seasoned pros like Scott Parker, Freddie Ljungberg, Danny Gabbidon and Luis Boa Morte coming into the side.

Such selection dilemmas may mean Curbishley is in unknown territory, but the Upton Park chief is ready for the challenge as he attempts to lead his men to a fourth successive victory over their London rivals.

"They've made a fantastic start, and I watched them on Tuesday night when they made nine changes so we know they've got a fantastic squad," said Curbishley.

"It's a proper game, with a great atmosphere, and everyone is looking forward to it.

"The one thing you know about Arsenal is that they will come and play their game. It will be difficult because they are a top side but we'll wait and see what happens.

"I've got a little bit of thinking to do about my side. I was disappointed with the result at Newcastle and with our defending, and I've let the players know about that.

"It comes around so quickly. Arsenal rested a lot of players on Tuesday but I think we talk about 'three games in a week' too much. It's perhaps all in the mind a little bit, but we'll find out on Saturday.

"It's a massive game but we've just got to cope with it. If we'd have gone to extra-time against Plymouth so be it."

Parker - who made his debut after two months out with a knee injury - and ex-Gunners Ljungberg and Boa Morte will hope to keep their places against Arsenal but fans favourite Mark Noble and in-form duo Matt Etherington and Lee Bowyer will feel hard done by if they miss out.

Bobby Zamora is sidelined for a month following a knee operation but Craig Bellamy is fit after a groin problem and set to be unleashed alongside man of the moment Dean Ashton, who hit his third goal in three games to sink the Pilgrims.

"We started the season with Zamora and Bellamy, and then at Newcastle we had (Carlton) Cole and Ashton, so hopefully now we can get Bellamy and Ashton together," added Curbishley.

"Four or five players needed the game against Plymouth. Parker hadn't played due to his injury, Freddie hadn't started since Manchester City on the opening day, and Luis hadn't played a lot, but it was still a strong side.

"Parker needed to feel his way into it, and he needed to get through it. No matter how much you train you need to play games, and at least we've got him back playing."

Throw deadline-day signings Nolberto Solano and Henri Camara into the mix, as well as rested goalkeeper Robert Green and regular centre-halves Anton Ferdinand and Matthew Upson, and Curbishley could yet become one of the top flight's more unlikely 'tinkermen'.