by Staff Writer
Friday, 8th May 2026
It might not necessarily be a must-win game, but it's almost certainly a must-not-lose fixture when Arsenal visit Stratford this weekend.
And Nuno Espirito Santo fielded a number of questions on Friday lunchtime at his pre-match press conference regarding such varied subjects as squad availability, Sunday's challenge against the Premier League leaders and his own personal future.
Q: Hello, I'd like to begin by asking you about Brentford. Just how did the team feel after that game?
NES: It was a tough weekend for all of us of course, a bad result. First half positive, I think we performed well. We had our moments, but overall a bad weekend. Like I said before, it's only helps us to react and bounce back.
Q: Do you feel like this team is kind of set to bounce back? You've had these moments in the season where it's felt quite down, but the team actually managed to respond quite a few times?
NES: Yeah, we've been able to always react, including during the games and during the season with poor performance, poor results, but the next one comes and we'll be able to perform well, achieve a result. This is what we expect from Sunday. We proven ourselves that here at West Ham, nobody gives up, so let's go.
Q: How's the team looking in terms of fitness?
NES: Yeah, everybody, everybody's OK, which is good, for us that everybody's healthy.
Q: In terms of bouncing back, it's Arsenal that you face next. Obviously, an amazing result for them in the Champions League. Is that one of the worst times playing when their spirits are going to be so high?
NES: It's difficult because they are very good. They are a very talented team that is fighting for huge things, achieving huge moments, reaching the Champions League final, fighting for the league title. Tough opponent, tough opponent, but we are at London Stadium, which give us always a plus of energy. And especially for us, we have to give it all. There's no hiding. We have to be there.
Q: A bit of a narrative, maybe they're playing with a bit more freedom in the last couple of games and they've released the shackle slightly in terms of their attacking output. Would you agree with that?
NES: I see them very well. Like I said, talented, a group of players that have been a while together, they have routines. A tough, tough opponent.
Q: This week, there's been talk about your future and I know you've said previously that you'll think about that towards the end of the season. But even if you can't share it with us, have you thought about it personally? Do you sort of know in your head what you might do come the end of the season in both scenarios, if the team stays up, or if the team has the unfortunate...
NES: I'm going to be honest with you. I don't have one second to think about next season! It's so demanding that what we have the challenge, especially the game of Sunday, is what we have to focus. I don't have any second thoughts on my mind, I don't have enough energy to think about what is ahead. It's just tomorrow after tomorrow, day by day.
Q: And is that the same with the people you work with in the board, are they also kind of prepared to leave that to the end of the season or are they trying to engage at the moment?
NES: I think all the club, all the staff, all the board, the players, everybody, the fans, we have our mission in hand. It's about Sunday. Just focus on Sunday.
Q: And just in terms of Sunday and what's happened before then, how hard is it at the moment, I guess, or how much work do you have to do to to make sure the players aren't thinking about Brentford? Crystal Palace was a good performance, but there was dropped points there so how hard is it to just get them to have tunnel vision just on Sunday and not think about things that have happened?
NES: Think about Everton, think about Wolves, think about the first half of Brentford, the positive things that we've been showing ourselves that we can do. This has to be our mindset. Anything that happened before, it cannot change or impact what's ahead of us.
Q: I guess for me we like to say, when we talk about games, this is the biggest game in West Ham's season. This is the biggest game for West Ham in years. But does it feel like that? And also, how important are the home support going to be, the home crowd at the London Stadium? Because to use that cliche, it does feel like it's the biggest game for West Ham in a long, time.
NES: It's a big game. Our fans know and they've been fantastic to us at London Stadium. We've been showing inclusive results and performance that we can count on them. So realising that it's up to us to deliver, but it's a big game.
Q: Just going back to Arsenal, obviously in a really good moment at the moment, they've got a great record against West Ham at the London Stadium in particular. Where do you see their weaknesses?
NES: They don't have many! They are very good and they do things very well with the ball, off the ball, work hard, disciplined, organized, talented. There aren't many weaknesses to exploit.
Q: They're obviously really good with set pieces, and West Ham have conceded I think it's 15 goals this season. How smart do you think your players need to be on Sunday to avoid giving away those sort of situations? But then, obviously, when they're trying to defend those situations, kind of be really aware of how Arsenal will try and tackle those?
NES: Yeah, Arsenal is one of the teams that takes more advantage of the set pieces. We've been working today and what we ask from our players is do your tasks, focus, realise the importance of that moment and help each other.
Q: There's another stat that I saw: West Ham haven't scored in three of their last five Premier games. I was at the game against Brentford last weekend where the woodwork denied you several time so obviously the chances are there, but does it make you rethink your strategy from the off when you're seeing players with chances, or is that the time that you then try and give them more confidence?
NES: I think they need confidence, especially the players in our front line. Tati, hit the post two times, he needs confidence. Things will change and we are positive that Sunday is the day.
Q: You talked about the need to react. How have they been in training?
NES: Good, We've been working well, committed, focused, realising the importance of but getting ready. And we're going to be ready. We're going to be ready.
Q: On Sunday, there's obviously so much to play for, for both teams. Arsenal, the title, you're trying to stay up - do you think it'll be a very nervy game and do you think that could benefit you guys being at home?
NES: Being at home is good for us, especially recently, I think our fans are giving us an extra run, so being really, really helpful. Nervy? It's always nervy, especially in these final games of the season. There's always anxiety involved in the games, so it's up to us to try and control our nerves and deliver what we want.
Q: And I was wondering, did you watch the Aston Villa game yesterday?
NES: I watch all the games!
Q: They didn't play so great against Spurs but were fantastic yesterday. Do you ever think about things like that, like, oh, this didn't go in our favour? Or do you just have to focus on yourself?
NES: Yeah, exactly what you say. Focus on yourself. You cannot judge the decisions. It's up to you to try and make an impact. It's your team, your game, your decisions. This is what I think and I focus on.
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