OPINION
West Ham United will look to make it two Premier League wins on the bounce on Sunday when they face Chelsea at the London Stadium.
The visitors boast a 100% winning record so far this season, but the Hammers notched their first league victory against Everton last time out and will be hoping for more of the same against Maurizio Sarri’s side.
To give themselves the best chance in what is a monumental task for the East London side, manager Manuel Pellegrini must forgo any temptation to recall Javier Hernandez.
Chicharito is a good player of course, but West Ham functioned so well with Andriy Yarmolenko, Marko Arnautovic and Felipe Anderson as their front three last week that to change the attack would be tantamount to treason from Pellegrini.
At 5’7″ [Source Transfermarkt] Hernandez would have a tough time finding joy in the air against the Blues’ formidable centre back pairing of David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger, while he is not as technically gifted with the ball at his feet as any of the aforementioned trio.
Arnautovic has emerged as the club’s talisman over the last year, and he has show so far this season that he is capable of playing as a false nine sort of frontman.
He was on the scoresheet against last week, before limping off, as was Yarmolenko who hit a brace. Neither man can be dropped on current form, while Anderson produced his most complete display as Hammer at Goodison Park.
It’s not 100% certain whether either Arnautovic or Hernandez will be fit to play against Chelsea, although West Ham insider ExWHUEmployee revealed on ‘The West Ham Way’ podcast that Chicharito should be good to go.
The London Evening Standard reported recently that the Hammers will monitor Aranutovic’s fitness up until the last minute, but if there is any indication that he can play then he must start.
He has the frame, as well as the technical ability, to be a real handful for Luiz and Rudiger. Everyone knows that Luiz isn’t the most conventional of defenders, and the Austrian can take advantage of that by tormenting the Brazilian.
Pellegrini struck upon a system that worked last week, both in midfield and up front, and unless Aranutovic simply isn’t fit to play then he cannot countenance breaking up his attacking trio.
Hernandez will be an important player for the club this season, but not just yet. For now Pellegrini must ride the hot hand, and place his faith in Messrs Yarmolenko, Arnautovic and Anderson.
