Nuno Espirito Santo faces Alphonse Areola and Mads Hermansen dilemma at West Ham again
West Ham have a decision to make over who their number one goalkeeper will be.
When West Ham signed Mads Hermansen from Leicester City for around £20million on a five-year deal last summer, it seemed the 25-year-old would be the club’s first-choice stopper.
However, after shipping 11 goals in his first four Premier League games, the former Brondby man was dropped for Alphonse Areola.
Since then, Nuno Espirito Santo has tended to pick Areola, who has made 20 league appearances, to Hermansen’s eight.
In recent weeks, both keepers have had spells in goal, but as the London Stadium outfit prepares for their final 10 games of the season, who will be Nuno’s number one?
Who is the better West Ham goalkeeper?
In 20 league games this season, former Paris Saint-Germain stopper Areola has let in 37 goals, while Hermansen has shipped 17 goals in eight matches.
In fact, Areola edges his rival keeper per 90 minutes in the league in saves, goals conceded, and errors made, while the Dane is out in front on clean sheets, distribution, and claims.
Areola makes more saves and has a higher save percentage, but has yet to earn a single clean sheet this term. Hermansen does edge him on that front and on goals prevented, ever so slightly.
Nuno’s West Ham tend to hit teams on the counter, something accurate long balls help with. Areola is ahead in that facet of the game, plus he has made fewer errors leading to a goal.
The Frenchman also has more Premier League experience, and despite being dropped from the team for their last four games, in which they have one win, drawn two, and lost one, Areola may get another crack between the sticks as they bid to stay up.
West Ham don’t have an embarrassment of riches in the keeper department.
Ultimately, the Hammers need to score more at the other end to stave off relegation, but getting that call at the back will be key, too.
West Ham’s tough Premier League run-in
West Ham sit 18th in the Premier League table, just two points behind 17th-placed Nottingham Forest with 10 games to go.
The Hammers do still have to play the likes of Manchester City, Aston Villa, and Arsenal, but also have winnable games such as Wolves, Crystal Palace, Everton, and more.
After winning three out of four league games earlier this year, they have now won once in five outings. On Saturday, they battled hard but still lost 5-2 to Liverpool.
| West Ham’s next four Premier League games | League position |
| Fulham vs West Ham (4 March) | Ninth |
| West Ham vs Man City (14 March) | Second |
| Aston Villa vs West Ham (22 March) | Third |
| West Ham vs Wolves (11 April) | 20th |
The games they have won recently include victories over 19th-placed Burnley, 16th-positioned Tottenham, and out-of-form Sunderland. Good wins, but ones they would have targeted.
If Nuno’s team are to pull off a great escape, they need to throw in the odd surprise victory, particularly as their rivals have easier fixtures on paper.
Next up is a trip to Fulham, and a win there would set the cat amongst the pigeons.
For more on West Ham’s struggle at the bottom, check out Football Insider for the latest.