Could West Ham revert to 5 at the back to build stability?

West Ham have shipped 6 goals in the opening two games, and haven’t looked tight at all. Could we see a reversion to 3 centre-backs against Arsenal?

Under both Slaven Bilic and Moyes, West Ham regularly played with 5 at the back. This saw three centrebacks with two wingbacks for the wider defenders. However since Pellegrini took over it has been exclusively a back four, signalling a more attacking change. But that hasn’t all paid off.

For a lot of the game the defence seem as though they are unsure whether to push or standoff, and we are cut down the side a lot. So for the time being, as Pellegrini gets the side working hard elsewhere, could we see a switch to 5 at the back?

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Is Rice the key?

Before everyone shouts at me for returning to negative ways, please note that I have long said 5 at the back does not mean being negative. It means that we need to attack in a different way, but we can still push other sides. You only have to look at Spurs to see how it can work, and a player like Declan Rice could be the key.

To play with three centrebacks you need to be comfortable on the ball, and they need to be able to chase back to cover the advanced wingbacks. Dropping Rice into a position in the back three would allow us to have a young back three capable of passing the ball with ease and getting back. Diop, despite the fact he hasn’t been used yet, was signed because of these qualities. Cresswell even played in this role fairly well last season.

Pushing these three up, with a defensive midfielder killing the space in front of them, can control attacks and kill space for the opposition. This would also allow attacking fullbacks, step forward Masuaku and Fredericks, to really push the attack and provide the width. All of Spurs’ attackers (Moura, Kane, Alli and Eriksen against Fulham) are traditionally narrow players, but the fluid movement can still provide variety for attacks.

I am not close to suggesting we have players at a similar level to Kane and the like, but the system shows it doesn’t have to be defensive. If Pellegrini is willing to give it a go with the right mentality, playing in that formation against the big teams that may exploit our lack of a commanding midfielder when playing a flat back 4. After seeing us in action against Liverpool, I’d say the defensive options can’t get much worse.