There is a bitter irony after the wife of West Ham star Alphonse Areola aimed a dig at Nuno Espirito Santo and the club’s fans following an award announcement.
Alphonse Areola has been one of West Ham’s better and more consistent players since the arrival of Nuno Espirito Santo.
That may not count for much given just how poor the Hammers have been for the most part this season.
But Areola has certainly been a standout performer in many matches and once again won the Premier League’s latest Save of the Month award.
However, that has not stopped Areola from being dropped by Nuno in recent matches.
Areola finally gets first West Ham clean sheet this season
Following the recent 3-2 defeat to Chelsea, Nuno replaced Areola with Mads Hermansen.
The Dane made a horror start to his West Ham career following a £15m summer move and has barely featured since after a string of errors.
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The decision to start Hermansen in the relegation six-pointer against Burnley shocked Hammers fans.
But Hermansen went on to keep a rare clean sheet in the 2-0 win. West Ham have only kept two clean sheets all season and he was in goal for both, the other being the 3-0 victory over Forest in what turned out to be Nuno’s last game in charge of the Tricky Trees.
West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola makes a stunning save to deny Wolves forward Tolu Arokodare in a Premier League match.
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Hermansen kept his place for the 1-1 draw with Man United but Areola was brought back in for West Ham’s FA Cup fourth round win over League One Burton Albion.
Areola put in a solid display as he had to deal with a number of crosses and long set-pieces into the box and was faultless after being dropped for the last two Premier League games.
Some Hammers fans still think Areola is the best option as West Ham’s number one.
But Nuno was a top class goalkeeper himself as a player so his opinion on the position carries more weight.
Areola’s wife aims dig at Nuno and West Ham fans after award
The real reason behind Areola being dropped recently means there was a bitter irony as his wife aims a dig at Nuno and West Ham fans after his award.
Areola won January 2026’s Coca-Cola Save of the Month award for his incredible stop against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
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The French ‘keeper instinctively readjusted his positioning and thrust out his left boot to somehow divert Tolu Arokodare’s powerful header over the crossbar in the 37th minute.
In the grand scheme of things the save was meaningless as West Ham lost that relegation six-pointer 3-0.
West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola with wife Marrion watching the French Open
Photo by Rindoff Petroff/Suu/Getty Images
Hammers News understands the reason Areola was dropped from the team in favour of Hermansen is communication.
Nuno felt the 6ft 5in star was not vocal and commanding enough in organising the backline in front of him.
The head coach felt that was a key factor in West Ham conceding so many goals and made the change accordingly.
Areola is a quiet and shy character by his own admission.
But he has a wife who is not afraid to speak up on his behalf.
Marrion Areola has been hitting out at West Ham fans on social media over comments about him not keeping a clean sheet this season after he finally got one against League One Burton.
When some supporters bit back, Marrion claimed it was just banter.
Then she appeared to aim a clear dig at Nuno for dropping her husband and the fans for their criticism.
Under his save of the month post, Marrion said: “How ironic football can be! Just to make sure, in case you don’t Mr Areola, that you are the first ever French goalkeeper in the Premier League that won this trophy not one but twice papapappapapapapapapapaa.”
The irony of Areola’s wife speaking up for him won’t be lost on Hammers fans given he is out of the starting XI at the moment due to his quiet nature.
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