OPINION
News that their club captain was an injury doubt for a crunch clash against one of their city rivals would usually have fans seriously worried about their hopes, but that may not be the case at West Ham.
The Irons are currently sitting second bottom in the Premier League table – avoiding the very foot of the division on goal difference alone – after defeats in both of their opening two games, and face a tricky test against London counterparts Arsenal in their next outing.
However, they look set to head to the Emirates without midfielder and captain Mark Noble, after it was confirmed by manager Manuel Pellegrini that the central star had suffered a back injury which had kept him out of training.
He told Football.London: “In this week, we just have the three players who will continue to be injured for a couple of months more and Mark Noble has a problem with his back that means he couldn’t work.”
Noble has not exactly been flavour of the month in August, with many fans and pundits jumping on his back for his displays against Liverpool and Bournemouth, but his absence does pose a question as to who takes his place in the starting XI.
Well, with everything to play for and little point in not taking a gamble, Pellegrini must think about throwing the unproven Carlos Sanchez – a summer signing from Fiorentina – in the deep end at the Emirates Stadium, bringing a little bit of bite into a Hammers midfield which has lacked in combativeness so far.
The 32-year-old might lack game time with the Irons but with 88 international games under his belt, he does not lack the experience of big games, which is exactly what this clash against the Gunners is.
A veteran of the game, it is time to unleash the shackles and let him run riot over the Arsenal midfield – Pellegrini really has nothing to lose.