Hint of good news for West Ham’s troubled defenders ahead of Arsenal Crunch

“West Ham United‘s day of reckoning” is how some commentators are framing Sunday afternoon’s London Stadium clash with Mikel Arteta’s champions elect. Arsenal’s arduous season looks to have taken it’s toll on several starters as the season nears its finale whilst the Hammers, for once, appear to be reaping the benefits of their summer rebuild and winter spurge.

The Irons are likely – once again – to have a fully fit squad to choose from. Arteta however is juggling fitness issues, none more challenging than Bukayo Saka’s achilles problem which has kept him from training and limited his game time in recent weeks.

Thierry Henry even referred to it on CBSSports, suggesting:

“[Against Atletico Madrid] he had to play while barely training. I know he’s suffering with his Achilles tendon….So you have to give those guys a lot of credit. Sometimes we take it for granted. We all played through injuries. We all played with moments where you’re not 100 per cent and he had to do it, deliver it for Arsenal”

Now of course Arsenal without Saka is still a formidable opponent with the potential to steamroll over West Ham en route to their first premier League title since 2003.

But El Hadji Malick Diouf at least may be able to rest a little easier knowing that Arteta is likely to give the marauding Saka the day off and instead select the talented but less daunting Noni Madueke in his place.

Small comfort to West Ham who will be seeking their first victory against the Gooners since February 2025.

Nuno, West Ham’s squad and a slim proportion of the 55000 fans who will turn up to watch in hope more than expectation will still “believe”: Time, perhaps, to summon up Nuno’s inner ‘Ted Lasso’.