Alphonse Areola has seemingly lost his place in West Ham United’s starting lineup for now, at least in a Premier League context.
The Frenchman was previously something of a regular, having replaced summer signing Mads Hermansen after just four games during the Premier League campaign following the Dane’s struggles.
However, Hermansen has replaced Areola in the West Ham team recently, with manager Nuno Espirito Santo impressed by the former Leicester stopper.
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A graphic showing Nuno Espirito Santo's quote after West Ham draw with Manchester United
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Interestingly, Hermansen is the only Hammers ‘keeper to have kept a clean sheet this season. He’s got two of them, while Areola doesn’t have any despite playing 21 games.
Still, Areola remains a fine shot stopper on his day. That is proven by the fact he’s just won the Premier League’s Save of the Month award.
Now, he’s closing in on a record.
Alphonse Areola makes a save from Tolu Arokodare during West Ham vs Wolves in the Premier League.
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Alphonse Areola is one award away from equalling a Premier League record for Save of the Month
On Friday, it was confirmed that the former Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper had won the award for the month of January.
Though Hammers fans here in east London and beyond are unlikely to remember the game all that fondly, Areola won it for the save he made to deny Tolu Arokodare in West Ham’s 3-0 defeat to Wolves at Molineux.
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The Wolves star powered in a header from close range and looked almost certain to score, but Areola swung out a leg to send it over the crossbar.
Obviously, it was a dreadful result for the Irons, but it was a moment of real quality.
A statement on the Premier League’s official website read: “Areola wins January’s award after votes from the public were combined with those of a panel of experts.”
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It is the second time Areola has won the award, having previously received it in 2023 for a save he made against Aston Villa.
Only David Raya, Andre Onana and Jordan Pickford have won it more often than Areola. The competition started in 2022 and that trio have all won it three times.
Alphonse Areola’s save percentage in the Premier League this season
Areola was also nominated for the award back in November, though he didn’t win it.
It’s ironic, then, that he hasn’t kept a clean sheet this season. Perhaps he will record his first of the campaign when West Ham play Burton in the FA Cup on Saturday, as Nuno has already confirmed the Frenchman will start.
Areola has played well for West Ham this season, however. In fact, only eight goalkeepers in the Premier League have amassed a better save percentage than him thus far (67.5%).
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