There is a boost for David Moyes as Arsenal star Kai Havertz is banned for the West Ham clash just as he’s starting to come good.
West Ham bring down the curtain on 2023 with a trip to London rivals Arsenal in the Premier League on December 28th.
There is no traditional Boxing Day game this year so West Ham and Arsenal fans must wait for the Declan Rice derby part two.
Traditionally there’s never been a great rivalry between the Hammers and the Gunners.
Certainly not a fierce one. In part due to a mutual loathing of that other team from north London.
Arsenal star banned for West Ham clash
But Rice’s decision to push for a move to Arsenal means there’s now a bit more on this particular clash.
The former West Ham captain has been Arsenal’s best player this season. Just as Hammers fans told their Gunners counterparts he would be after many of them insisted Thomas Partey was the superior player before he joined Mikel Arteta’s side in a £105m deal.
One player who did not hit the ground running at Arsenal in the summer was £65m signing Kai Havertz.
In what has looked a very awkward fit, many Arsenal fans had been calling on Havertz to be dropped. But he has turned things around recently and it looked ominous for West Ham that the German had suddenly started to gel with his new side.
Havertz was just starting to come good
There’s been a timely boost for David Moyes, though.
Because Arsenal star Havertz is banned for the West Ham clash just as he’s starting to come good.
Havertz picked up his fifth booking of the season in Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at Liverpool.
And that means he will now miss the December 28th meeting with West Ham at the Emirates.
Key West Ham defender Vladimir Coufal was at risk of missing the Arsenal game.
But he avoided a fifth booking in West Ham’s 2-0 win over Man United on Saturday.
West Ham beat Arsenal 3-1 in the Carabao Cup fourth round last month.
READ ALSO
Scholes pays West Ham star the highest compliment but fires warning
Dishwater to oles: player ratings after Paqueta-inspired win over Man United
Every word Moyes said as he raves about Holy Trinity after win over Man United
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
