Is it merely coincidence that West Ham United’s only clean sheets in the 2025/26 Premier League campaign have both come with Alphonse Areola on the bench and Mads Hermansen in the team?
That is a question that is bound to spark many a debate over the next 72 hours, before Nuno Espirito Santo and co make the trip to Old Trafford for the midweek kick-off.
In the 20 league matches in which Alphonse Areola started between the sticks, West Ham United did not keep a single clean sheet. In fact, clean sheet number one and clean sheet number two actually arrived five months apart; in Mads Hermansen’s final Premier League appearance under Graham Potter in September, and in his first under Nuno in February.
Describe Mads Hermansen’s West Ham return in ONE word! 🧤
Nuno handed Hermansen a shock recall at Turf Moor. This was only his sixth appearance since an £18 million move from Leicester City last summer.
Does he deserve to keep his spot ahead of a daunting clash against Michael Carrick’s resurgent Manchester United? Well, that depends on who you ask.
Mads Hermansen keeps a clean sheet as West Ham United beat Burnley
Hermansen’s performance saw some good, some bad, some rather ugly moments.
He started the game as you might expect from a young goalkeeper who had been out of the team since September, and one whose return will have placed him directly in the way of the spotlight. A few misplaced passes, a couple of unhelpful flaps, and one moment when he charged out of his goal, found himself in no-man’s land, and was at risk of giving away a ninth minute penalty before VAR waved play-on.
As the afternoon progressed, though and as Crysencio Summerville emulated Jesse Lingard, Hermansen’s confidence grew notably. Burnley put the pressure on and turned the screw at the start of the second-half – West Ham threw away a two-goal lead at Chelsea just seven days earlier and briefly looked in danger of suffering the same fate – but Hermansen was on hand to repel the hosts’ best efforts.
There was one flying save down to his left. And then, after West Ham made a mess of dealing with a corner, a terrific point-blank stop to keep out Zian Flemming. Had that gone in, halving West Ham’s lead with over half an hour to go, the nerves in the away end will have jangled louder than a janitor’s keys.
Hammers fans give their view on Hermansen’s Turf Moor display
The response from the Hammers fans towards Hermansen’s performance was, as you might imagine, pretty mixed.
“Clean sheets with Mads Hermansen in goal this season; two. Clean sheets with Alphonse Areola in goal this season; zero. It was a big call from Nuno to drop Areola for Hermansen but it paid off,” The Athletic’s Roshane Thomas writes on his X account.
“Areola has been at fault for so many goals this season. Hopefully people start to see that Hermansen -while not that great – is still a clear upgrade,” another agrees.
“Hermansen just looked far more assured today and had more command of his area. Even the defenders in front looked more at ease and comfortable. Pleased for Hermansen, I must say.”
What a weekend 😍😍
That one felt big – how do you now feel about the relegation battle?! 🤔
“So refreshing to see the keeper catching the ball. Felt like we had Fabi [Lukasz Fabianski] back in goal today. Good game from Hermansen.”
“I keep seeing people talk about how they’re not sure on Hermansen but, in the games he’s played, our defence looks more stable. Also think [Axel] Disasi played a huge part today and makes Mav [Konstantinos Mavropanos] look more solid too!”
“What a win. Summerville again, absolutely fantastic. Disasi, fantastic debut. And kudos to Hermansen, he was great today. He’s really improved.”
“Hermansen is so fun. He looks petrified every time the ball comes anywhere near him yet he’s the one who’s kept the only two clean sheets.”
“Great goals by Cry and Taty [Castellanos]. He is a really good header of the ball. Disasi has had a steady start and looks assured. Hermansen still looks a bit dodgy on crosses but overall has done just about OK.”
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Nuno Espirito Santo faces a ‘very big decision’ against Manchester United
Now, onto the more negative stuff.
Fortunately, while Hermansen still looks ill-at ease with high balls into the penalty area, he does have two aerial giants capable of doing the dirty work in Disasi and Mavropanos.
“Hermansen ain’t filling me with confidence at all today,” another fan writes.
“Hermansen pinned to his line every time the ball comes into the six yard box. It makes me feel nervous, so God knows how his centre halves feel.”
Who was your MOTM vs Burnley and why? Let us know in the comments 👇
“Hermansen still terrifies me in goal.”
“Good result. Both clean sheets have come under Hermansen but I can’t help but notice how small he looks. With Manchester United looking deadly from long shots, Nuno has a very big decision.”
He does indeed.
And considering that West Ham spent much of January chasing a new goalkeeper – the Hammers initially tried to sign Bento Matheus from Al-Nassr while Tottenham blocked a loan deal for Antonin Kinsky – the long-term future of Nuno’s goalkeeping options looks just as uncertain as in the short-term.
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