Can Antonio Make an Impact for West Ham Against Arsenal?

The reviews were in early on Michail Antonio after Liverpool away with nearly everyone watching demanding he was dropped from the squad. Sure enough, when Bournemouth Visited the London Stadium he was gone. After two losses should West Ham return to their pacey right winger against Arsenal?

Not only does this option not seem likely, but it doesn’t seem wanted from West Ham fans. The uproar over Antonio’s effort in West Ham’s opening loss to Liverpool was unavoidable on twitter as the outspoken supporters were rightfully demanding his place.

Robert Snodgrass started on the right side in his place, albeit in a different formation. While Snodgrass offers more versatility on free kicks, corners and tracking back more thoroughly, Antonio has very elite pace and strength. And for this reason, alone I would take him on my team against Arsenal.

The rumors are there: Michail Antonio disappears against elite competition. Arsenal provides an opportunity for Antonio to put this tag as a “non-elite player” behind him and embarrass the poor left-back that would line up against him. Speed and physicality, that’s all Antonio needs in order to be a dominant winger in this match as the opportunity to play isn’t based on his form, but rather the form of his opposition.

Nacho Monreal is a solid Premier Leafullbackback, but Unai Emery has made it very clear he has injury and depth problems with both sides of his defensive back four. In their opening week match, Ainsley Maitland-Niles picked up a leg injury that should see him out weeks alongside Sead Kolasinac who picked up a knee injury this offseason.

That leaves Monreal as the only left-back option for Emery. And while Monreal was expected to be back August 18th against Chelsea which he was, there was no doubt an early shoe-horning in of the player who was still rehabbing a knee injury during Arsenal’s week one loss to Manchester City.

Arsenal is weak at left-back, down to one of three originally available players. Monreal is a terrific defender but in his weakened condition how effective can he be for 90 minutes? The only option to replace him, as Emery showed, is newcomer Stephan Lichsteiner from Juventus. The former Juventus right back can on to the left side against Man City when Maitland-Niles was injured but is undoubtedly not a left-sided defender.

Is this the opportunity Antonio needs to step up against a big team like Arsenal and have a game? It seems like the perfect opportunity for the speedy winger to take advantage of the situation and keep the semi-healed Monreal constantly running.

For me, it is the perfect time to put him back in. He was brutal against Liverpool and rightfully lost his spot, but should he see time on the pitch for match-week three he will be effective. If Yarmolenko is still injured enough to not get the start it is a no-brainer to start the Muscle Moose in his spot, if not bring him on later to keep the speed of the game intensely high down the right side.