There is perhaps an argument that West Ham United would benefit from taking El Hadji Malick Diouf out of the line of fire, as their Premier League status hangs by a thread.
Unfortunately for Nuno Espirito Santo, things are not quite as simple as that.
The prospect of Ollie Scarles going eyeball-to-eyeball with Bukayo Saka next weekend at the London Stadium has many a West Ham United supporter fearing the worst.
What a sorry old mess 😪 How have we let it slip AGAIN?!
Diouf endured one of his most miserable afternoons in a Hammers jersey during Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Brentford. The Senegal international was blamed for Konstantinos Mavropanos’ own goal just 15 minutes in, and then gifted the Bees their second with a reckless sliding challenge on Dango Ouattara inside the penalty area.
In truth, El Hadji Malick Diouf has seldom hit those early-season heights since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations. But if Nuno has questions to answer regarding the 21-year-old left-back’s involvement against Arsenal, Scarles is seemingly not ‘the answer’.
West Ham United fans debate El Hadji Malick Diouf dilemma
“Scarles isn’t really the answer,” one fan writes our Facebook page. “I don’t think we can afford to miss the creativity of Diouf.”
Right to the heart of that ‘Catch 22’. The jury remains out on whether Scarles is even a Premier League-level left-back. And for all his defensive issues, Diouf is still one of West Ham’s most reliable sources of creativity.
Only Jarrod Bowen has more assists than his tally of five.
“Scarles would get taken apart next week,” another fan writes, perhaps recalling the day West Ham’s reigning Young Player of the Year was given the runaround by Rayan Cherki at the Etihad. Saka is showing signs of getting back to his fleet-footed best, and would therefore represent a similar challenge.
“[Diouf] is normally mustard. Erratic player but always puts a shift in. Can’t knock him. He’s only human,” one argues, while another points out that only a narrow offside call against Mavropanos denied Diouf a sixth assist of 2025/26 at Brentford.
“He put in a sublime cross for Mav to score which was unlucky to be ruled out. 1-1 then, and a different game.”
“Love the fact that Scarles is an academy graduate. He will be great for this team but, honestly, don’t think he’s ready just yet.”
“[Diouf] is a poor defender of late and goes missing but he does have a lethal cross.”
What should West Ham’s defence look like against Arsenal? ⚒️ 🆚 🔫
Todibo back in? Scarles over Diouf? KWP at left-back? Let us know 👇
Nuno has Kyle Walker-Peters and Aaron Wan-Bissaka options
At the time of writing, responding to a Hammers News poll, 74 per cent of our TalkingPoint users voted to keep Diouf in the XI ahead of Scarles.
There is, of course, a third solution. A fourth, too.
Kyle Walker-Peters has done a very solid job ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka in recent weeks. There is certainly a world in which Nuno could play the two competing right-backs in the same backline. Walker-Peters excelled occasionally as a left-back in his Southampton days.
Furthermore, Nuno also has the option of re-introducing Jean-Clair Todibo and pushing Diouf forward into a wing-back role.
“I’d go with a back three when you’re playing Diouf because he can’t defend for toffee.”
“I would go with a solid back three. Todibo was playing really well. Give AWB and Diouf licence to bomb forward and get the ball in the area. [Tomas] Soucek and [Mateus] Fernandes in the middle with Bowen, [Callum] Wilson and [Crysencio] Summerville up top. That’s our best team.”
“Personally, I would consider introducing Todibo again, to have Todibo, Mav and [Axel] Disasi as a three.””Scarles ain’t good enough for the Prem, really that simple. Play KWP on the left and AWB on the right. Diouf needs to up his game, he’s gone off the boil in my opinion.”
“Play Walker-Peters on left and Wan-Bissaka on the right.”
“I would consider dropping Diouf, but not for Scarles. I’d rather have either Wan Bissaka or [young Ezra] Mayers on the left.”
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
