Areola could be axed again at West Ham amid ‘error’ claim
West Ham United’s goalkeeping battle is far from over with Alphonse Areola still capable of a mistake, according to Ian Darke.
The Hammers have Areola and Lukasz Fabianski both vying for the jersey between the sticks in Graham Potter’s starting line-up, while the equally experienced Wes Foderingham is also a backup option.
Both Fabianski and Areola have started 12 games apiece in the Premier League this season, with the latter replacing the former during the Boxing Day win at Southampton due to injury.
Areola v Fabianski battle is tight says Darke
TV commentator Darke, exclusively speaking to West Ham Zone, has delivered his thoughts on the ongoing goalkeeper battle taking place.
Areola was dropped by former head coach Julen Lopetegui after the 4-1 defeat by Tottenham on 19 October, but has featured in five of the last seven Premier League matches and appears to be Potter’s current first-choice.
Fabianski turns 40 before the end of this season and is the Premier League’s oldest registered player, starting his professional career in 2004 – for perspective, the same year newest signing Evan Ferguson was born.
“People had written off Fabianski before – I thought Areola had already taken over earlier on, but Fabianski came back in,” Darke analysed.
“They’ve got two reasonable goalkeepers there, and maybe these advanced years for Fabianski mean Potter is going with Areola for now.
“At his best, he’s really good and has played for top clubs, but has an error in him. You can never rule out another change.”
West Ham might not phase out Fabianski just yet
This season was widely anticipated to be the one in which Fabianski was slowly phased out, having lost his regular spot after the Conference League-winning season of 2022-23.
In December 2023, West Ham triggered the option in his contract to extend his terms until the summer of 2025, which arrives at the end of this season when the former Polish international is north of 40.
But the performances of Fabianski this season – while unglamorous – have not been demonstrative of a goalkeeper embarrassingly past his best or anything of the kind.
It is just as likely he will be bid a fond farewell in the coming months, especially with Foderingham standing by and Areola’s contract running an extra two years.
But don’t be surprised to see another year craftily added on, even if he is kept around to ease the transition period the Hammers have found it very difficult to navigate through this season.