In a win over Burton Albion over the weekend goalkeeper Alphonse Areola made a big save in the final minutes to preserve the1-0 victory and he also secured West Ham's hopes of fighting on for a FA Cup title. West Ham fans have seen a lot of heroic moments this season from Areola. Even with some heart stopping saves, manager Nuno Espírito Santo and his coaching staff decided to restructure their goalkeeper situation and elevating Mads Hermansen to the starting role while Areola takes over FA Cup duty.
Throughout the January transfer window there were several rumors that claimed the Hammers were looking to bring in a keeper and secure their issues at the position. The issues were, despite how good Areola could be between the posts, overall he wasn't the answer for the team. As you might have heard made an attempts to acquire several keepers including Brazil's Bento, Antonin Kinsky who has been used primarily as a backup with Tottenham and James Trafford who has played behind Gianluigi Donnarunna all season at Manchester City. All of those keepers were going to be given the opportunity to start as soon as they got to West Ham.
Unfortunately for West Ham none of those deals came to fruition, but the plan to move on from Areola was still in play. While the French international has been seen making big save after big save, the coaching staff faced a big call. With the Hammers battling relegation and every match critical, advanced metrics suggest starting Hermansen could provide a significant edge in both defensive solidity and build-up play.
The Case For Mads Hermansen
Hermansen ranks in the top 10% of Premier League goalkeepers for Post-Shot Expected Goals (PSxG) differential – meaning he consistently outperforms the quality of chances faced. Areola, by contrast, sits in the bottom quartile, with several high-profile errors contributing to dropped points this season.
METRIC | HERMANSEN | AREOLA | EDGE |
|---|---|---|---|
Save Percentage | 75.2% | 68.4% | Hermansen |
PSxG +/- (Goals Prevented) | + 3.9 | -4.2 | Hermansen |
Pass Completion % | 87.3% | 79.1% | Hermansen |
Launch Completion % | 62.4% | 55.7% | Hermansen |
Defensive Actions Outside Penalty Area | 1.92 | 0.85 | Hermansen |
Crosses Claimed % | 92.1% | 88.6% | Hermansen |
Clean Sheets (per 90) | 0.38 | 0.24 | Hermansen |
* (Data courtesy of FBref and Opta, as of February 17, 2026) |
Under Nuno, West Ham aim to play out from the back more assertively. Hermansen's passing accuracy and composure under pressure enable progressive play, reducing turnovers in dangerous areas. His 87.3% completion rate includes a higher proportion of forward passes that bypass opposition presses. As a sweeper-keeper, Hermansen's 1.92 defensive actions outside the box per 90 dwarf Areola's 0.85. This proactivity neutralizes counter-attacks – vital against pacey sides like Brentford, who love transitions.
Areola remains a reliable shot-stopper in isolation and has experience on his side at 33, but his distribution has regressed, and his lower sweeping numbers expose the backline more often. At 25, Hermansen is entering his prime and represents long-term stability. Areola, now 33, has been a solid servant but shows signs of decline in reaction time and decision-making under pressure.
The data is compelling: Hermansen prevents more goals, distributes better, and sweeps more effectively. Starting him against Bournemouth and beyond could provide the marginal gain West Ham desperately need in their dual fight for survival and cup progression.