An absolutely huge double boost has emerged for West Ham on the eve of the Arsenal clash and David Moyes will be mightily relieved.
West Ham face a daunting trip to league leaders Arsenal on Boxing Day evening as the domestic action resumes following the World Cup break.
There was a stark contrast between how the pause for Qatar was received by West Ham and the Gunners.
For the Hammers and manager Moyes it was a blessing in disguise with the team woefully out of form and sliding towards the relegation zone.
But for Arsenal it threatens to disrupt their surprise title bid, especially after star striker Gabriel Jesus was injured and ruled out for three months when on World Cup duty with Brazil.
At the weekend we reported on West Ham being hit with a quadruple injury nightmare ahead of the Arsenal clash, as Moyes faces the biggest battle of his Hammers tenure.
Striker Michail Antonio missed the friendly draw at Fulham with a thigh concern. Then £35m summer striker signing Gianluca Scamacca limped off with an ankle injury during the game at Craven Cottage.
Aaron Cresswell also missed the game with a hamstring injury sustained at Cambridge. And Maxwel Cornet, who Moyes said would be back after the World Cup, remains out injured having not been seen since going off with a calf knock at the start of October.
With Kurt Zouma out until mid-January and uncertainty over Nayef Aguerd’s availability for the restart, things were looking seriously ominous for Moyes and West Ham ahead of the short trip to the Emirates on Monday evening.
But an absolutely huge double boost has emerged for West Ham on the eve of the Arsenal clash and Moyes will be mightily relieved.
In a pre-Arsenal training picture gallery, West Ham posted a series of 20 pictures from the club’s preparations at Rush Green.
And two of the big injury doubts – Antonio and Cresswell – were both seen taking a very active part in the session, suggesting they will be fit to face the Gunners.
The second image shows both Antonio and Cresswell in the same shot in training for the Hammers.
And the fourth and 14th pictures show Antonio alongside Angelo Ogbonna doing a drill.
It is a much needed boost for West Ham and Moyes, who according to reports from elsewhere must pick up six points from the next four games to keep his job.
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