Caution was always likely to be Nuno Espirito Santo’s approach when West Ham United hosted Premier League leaders Arsenal knowing that a defeat could prove fatal to their survival hopes.
Nuno is, after all, far more of a pragmatist than he is a purist.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Jean-Clair Todibo return to the XI for the first time in March. Pablo Felipe drops out, as does Kyle Walker-Peters; Nuno opting to introduce a back-five against the division’s second-highest goalscorers.
What do you make of Nuno’s two BIG calls?
Wan-Bissaka and Todibo return…
Now, West Ham United did snatch a point off Manchester City with a five-man backline two months ago. Yet, up against an Arsenal side who look to dominate possession and field one lone centre-forward in Viktor Gyokeres, will Nuno’s changes backfire?
Will West Ham find themselves outnumbered in the middle of the park? Pinned in and unable to escape?
West Ham United fans concerned ahead of Arsenal clash
Adama Traore appeared a useful outlet with his rapid counter-attacking speed but, for reasons as yet unknown, the fastest forward in the building is not part of Nuno Espirito Santo’s matchday squad.
And for all of his faults, Pablo is statistically a fine presser and a useful disruptor of an opposition’s rhythm.
“Not sure what to make of this line-up,” one sceptical fan writes on X. “Arsenal play with one striker, if anything we needed to crowd the midfield and press high. I think we may just be inviting Arsenal too much. Todibo deserves his chance, to be fair, unlike AWB.”
“Do not agree with AWB coming back into the side,” argues another, keen to see Walker-Peters keep his place ahead of a right-back who has slipped quite a way from his Hammer of the Year-winning heights.
“Three at the back not worked all season. So negative.”
Are there any areas of WEAKNESS you have spotted in Arsenal? 🧐
Mavro has already gotten the better of Gyokeres once…
Now, that is not entirely true.
Todibo, Axel Disasi and particularly Dinos Mavropanos were imperious in that hard-earned Manchester City draw. Yet, the Hammers mustered only one shot on goal that day. While scoring from it – a Mavropanos header from a Jarrod Bowen corner – that is hardly a sustainable tactic.
Especially on a day when a draw probably isn’t enough, a point behind Tottenham ahead of Spurs’ winnable home clash with Leeds on Monday night.
“Hard to disagree with this other than Wan-Bissaka being brought back in,” one fan writes, the 3-0 drubbing by Brentford still very much an open wound. “Why, particularly after last week, would that be a logical decision?”
“Back five in a must win home match? Looks like there’s no intention to play on the front foot. Far too cautious for my liking.”
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