Talisman Declan Rice is walking an Arsenal tightrope as West Ham take on Burnley at Turf Moor in the Premier League today.
Rice is unquestionably West Ham’s best and most important player.
The 22-year-old Hammers ace will once again be leading David Moyes’s side as they look to consolidate their place in the top four up at Burnley.
Declan Rice walking Arsenal tightrope as West Ham take on Burnley
The Hammers midfielder has picked up four bookings during our first 15 Premier League games so far this season.
The threshold for a suspension is five yellow cards and that doesn’t change to 10 until the 18-match mark.
It means Rice is walking an Arsenal tightrope against Burnley because if he is booked against Sean Dyche’s side then he will be suspended for Wednesday night’s crucial game at the Emirates.
With the Gunners breathing down West Ham’s necks in the battle for the top four, it will be crucial that Rice is available for the match.
Should Rice avoid a booking against Burnley he will be available for Arsenal. With strugglers Norwich up after that, the pressure will ease on any prospective booking.
And it raises to 10 bookings following the Norwich game anyway.
Avoiding a booking at Burnley may not be easy. The perennially difficult trip to Turf Moor sees West Ham face a side that are once again battling for their lives.
Burnley is never an place to go and Dyche’s side are regarded the most physical opponents in the top flight.
Facing Arsenal without Rice does not bear thinking about because with him, the Hammers surely have a great chance of beating their London rivals.
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