The next in the merry-go-round of Lopetegui’s must win games sees selection challenges for the Spaniard to try and engineer a win away at Leicester. Lopetegui alluded to a continuing problem with Jean Clair Todibo after the weekend, plus Konstantinos Mavropanos was suffering from a virus and missed the Arsenal bench.
Be very afraid if the squad is announced with Edson Alvarez as a centre back.
Lopetegui’s choice is seemingly ‘Summerville or Kudus’ – he’ll choose Kudus instead of considering playing them both, Kudus centrally in the ’10’ role he worked so well at Ajax. That would mean Lopetegui would have to drop his ever-present 10 Lucas Paquetá, which we feel is long overdue but the man in the dugout doesn’t agree. So our take on J’Lo’s selection is as follows:
Most Read on West Ham News
Areola | Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson | Soler Alvarez Paquetá | Bowen Antonio Kudus
Universal sigh of disappointment If we see Rodriguez back in the starting line up. Fabianski becomes the ‘fall guy’ for the Arsenal capitulation even though he wasn’t to blame – so Areola returns.
My score prediction: 1-1
Lopetegui’s squad will be announced at 7.00 and we’ll bring it to you immediately!
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Last Time v Arsenal
Fabianski | Wan Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Emerson | Soucek, Paquetá, Soler | Bowen (c) Antonio, Summerville
11/11 but ahem. My 1-1 score prediction has not aged well. But it makes it more likely I’ll be right this time around!