After failing to contain an improved but less elite attack then the pending Arsenal squad, David Moyes may draw up an unorthodox but exciting team to challenge the Gunners.
Issues with Issa Diop and Aaron Cresswell highlighted the gaps that Callum Wilson and Jeff Hendrick exploited to net two for Newcastle in the opening week loss for West Ham. While Moyes cannot remove both players he can adjust the team and set them up to succeed at a higher rate.
Some ingenuity will be required, but a five-at-the-back set up from Moyes should be expected against a formidable attack as this Arsenal team have to offer. This provides extra width to deal width the attack and an extra central defender to help cover the overlapping runs of the Gunners front three.
Will it actually be used? How will it be counter-balanced up top? Who will make this new-look West Ham team? Here it is, the predicted XI:
Fabianski
Fredericks – Diop – Rice – Ogbonna – Masuaku
Cullen – Soucek
Bowen – Haller – Anderson
Bench: Randolph, Johnson, Balbuena, Lanzini, Fornals, Yarmolenko, Antonio
Talk about a new-look team! While extra defensive, this wingback formation could be the key to getting the best out of Moyes’ team, as both Ryan Fredericks and Arthur Masuaku would be in positions that actually favour their skillsets better!
Both of these fullbacks offer more going forward than they do defending. Having Declan Rice as the central center-back gives more pace and defensive coverage to allow both wingbacks to get forward and add extra width to the attack when the Hammers have possession.
And, the only reason this formation is viable is due to the ascension of Josh Cullen after his great preseason and showing against Charlton. With Mark Noble not at 100%, Cullen allows Rice to be dropped into the centre-back role and promises solid passing, tracking back, and overall midfield presence.
Will Moyes select a team like this after his late-season success last season with a very different setup? Probably not, however, he did use a five-at-the-back formation in his first stint at West Ham so the precedent has been set. Some exciting ingenuity would be welcomed, and this is the match to do so.