View: David Moyes could start West Ham defender Arthur Masuaku v Chelsea
West Ham will travel to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.
Both teams are missing some of their key players, but the Hammers are slightly on the back-foot.
The Hammers do not boast a big squad unlike other teams around them, and injury problems hurt them badly when they arrive.
Currently, three of the four centre-backs at the club are out injured. Angelo Ogbonna is out of the rest of the season, while Kurt Zouma and Issa Diop are also being sidelined.
David Moyes has refused to put a timeline on when they can return, but surely it won’t be against their London rivals this week.
If Moyes opts for four at the back, Ben Johnson or even Declan Rice could play in central defence alongside Craig Dawson.
However, away from home, if Moyes is looking for more depth at the back, he should revert to a three-man defence, which allows the wing-backs to play a big role.
In such a smart tactical tweak, Arthur Masuaku could be brought to the side.
The 28-year-old has struggled for game time this season, managing only 12 appearances in the Premier League, making five starts.
He scored against the Blues in the corresponding fixture, and he could be a solid option for Moyes.
Masuaku is a poor defender but he can do a decent job in the attacking wing-back role.
In that case, Aaron Cresswell and Johnson can play on either side of Dawson, which in theory, should form a strong defensive set-up.
Masuaku likes to dribble and cross, and he could be a potent counterattacking threat if Moyes can use him wisely.
In other West Ham United news, ExWHUemployee has shared a big transfer update with David Moyes in a personal scouting mission.
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