West Ham United may well be underdogs heading into Sunday’s Premier League clash with Arsenal but Nuno Espirito Santo needs to be the protagonist.
While this could well be the game that Arsenal all but seal the Premier League title, West Ham have to focus on themselves.
Their destiny is no longer in their hands but West Ham can still control a single result, as difficult as it may be to do so.
What changes would you make to this team and why? 👀
With that in mind, all eyes are on Nuno heading into Sunday’s game as West Ham play Arsenal.
Nuno’s tactical approach may decide West Ham’s fate
Sitting deep and trying to hit Arsenal on the counter would make sense and it is previously a tactic that has served Nuno well.
The Gunners will almost certainly have most of the ball regardless of what West Ham do and recent weeks have seen Mikel Arteta’s side click out of the funk they found themselves in going forward.
To boo or not to boo, that is the question… 😂
As such, trying to soak up as much pressure as possible before unleashing the likes of Crysencio Summerville and Jarrod Bowen on the counter makes a certain degree of sense.
Time, however, is against Nuno.
West Ham running out of time to be defensive
Nuno is often accused of being too defensive as a manager, but it is a brand of football that has generally served him well over the course of his career.
West Ham – and therefore their head coach – are up against it.
Had this game come a few weeks ago, then perhaps there’d be scope to be reactive rather than proactive.
Now, there are only three games left. Nuno does not have that luxury, he must force the issue.
While it would be foolish to suggest West Ham go toe-to-toe with Arsenal, some of the more extreme defensive tactics that have frustrated supporters here in east London and beyond over the last few months just won’t do.
The way in which Nuno sets his team up – and indeed how bravely they approach the game – could define what happens at both ends of the table.
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