A section of West Ham fans have taken to Twitter to urge Manuel Pellegrini to hand fringe player Pedro Obiang his first appearance of the season against Arsenal next week.
The Hammers have lost their opening Premier League fixtures against Liverpool and Bournemouth, with Obiang, 26, having to make do as an unused substitute in both of those games.
And ahead of the trip to the Emirates next Saturday, some West Ham fans have made it clear they want the Spanish enforcer to start, with one saying that he “fits the bill”.
This is Futbol has rounded up some of their best tweets:
According to a number of players @Obiang14 has been the best in training yet he seems to be relegated to the bench. Rightly or wrongly it’s clear the team need an intelligent ball winning cdm that can see & make a forward pass & Pedro Obiang fits the bill. He must start v Arsenal pic.twitter.com/bzvtq4J4h2
— WHUFC Bulletin (@whufcbulletin) August 19, 2018
https://twitter.com/kaz7289/status/1031133848841723905
https://twitter.com/AdrianLeftGlove/status/1031112365666918400
My team for Arsenal:
Fabianski
Balbuena Diop Rice/Cresswell
Fredericks/Zabaleta Masuaku
Obiang Wilshere(c)
Anderson/Snodgrass
Chicharito/Yarmolenko/Perez Arnie— Tom (@tomwhu13) August 19, 2018
Team for Arsenal:
Fabianski
Rice Diop Balbuena
Fredericks Wilshere Obiang Cresswell
Yarmelonko Arnie Anderson— Mark Le Masurier (@MarkWHUFC88) August 19, 2018
Can anyone explain why Obiang isn't starting?? Think he needs to come in for Noble or Wilshere v Arsenal. We need some power in midfield.
— ? AJ ? (@northwesthammer) August 18, 2018
The only team to play Arsenal for me!
GK:Fabianski
RB:Fredericks
Dc: Babuana
Dc: Rice
LB:CresswellCDM:Sanchez
CM:Wilshire
CM:ObiangRW:Yarmolenko
LW:AndersonCF:Arnautovic
— ??Brownie ?? (@WestHamMatters) August 18, 2018
THIS is how i would set up vs Arsenal. Drop Anderson, show him he doesnt start just because of his price tag, flat 3 in midfield, bring Rice back, give Obiang a chance and most importantly, YARMO STARTS pic.twitter.com/tyZS9l1Ocd
— James Alexander (@JimpyJoo) August 18, 2018
My team to face Arsenal next weekend.
I feel its time to bring Diop into the team and let him prove himself. I also think that Cresswell, Fredericks and one of Obiang/Sanchez should be brought in to play alongside Declan Rice and add more defensive discipline to the midfield. pic.twitter.com/sTAEMqbFD8
— West Ham Fan Zone (@WHUFCFZ) August 18, 2018
OPINION
With just five Premier League appearances to his name in 2018, starting Obiang at Arsenal could be a risk, but it is one that Pellegrini should probably take in order to add a bit more defensive steel to his midfield. For all the good business that West Ham pulled off in the summer transfer window, it is criminal that Pellegrini did not buy a quality defensive midfielder. Carlos Sanchez was a poor signing from Fiorentina and there’s no way that he is going to be able to do what the London club requires him to. The West Ham fans calling for Obiang to start are probably right but as mentioned, starting the Spaniard is not without it’s risks. His injuries have played havoc with his form at the London Stadium and it means that he has barely played this year. If he cannot get into the team against Bournemouth, then what hope does he have against Arsenal?