West Ham United face a crucial clash against Newcastle United tonight, with manager Julen Lopetegui’s job hanging by a thread.
The Spanish manager is considering recalling Alphonse Areola to the starting line-up after he missed the last three games due to injury.
While Areola enjoyed a decent spell last season, his performances have been far from impressive this term.
The Frenchman has been a major contributor to West Ham’s defensive woes, with his error-prone displays and poor decision-making costing the team dearly.
His advanced metrics paint a grim picture, highlighting his struggles. Areola’s goals-prevented number sits at an abysmal -4.56, by far the worst among goalkeepers in the Premier League.
This metric quantifies a goalkeeper’s ability to stop shots on target, and Areola’s negative score suggests he is letting in more goals than expected.
By contrast, Lukasz Fabianski has shown glimpses of his old form, producing crucial saves and commanding the penalty area.
The 39-year-old’s experience, positioning and shot-stopping abilities should see him continue between the sticks for tonight’s game, but Lopetegui has made stranger decisions.
Areola’s distribution skills are questionable, which can disrupt West Ham’s build-up play. His tendency to aim long balls instead of short passes has exposed the team’s defensive vulnerabilities.
With Fabianski’s contract expiring at the end of the season, West Ham should prioritise securing his services.
However, the club must also explore long-term solutions for the goalkeeping position. Caoimhin Kelleher, Marcin Bulka and Alvaro Valles could be potential targets to strengthen the squad.
