Bereft of the creative input that the injured Manuel Lanzini and Samir Nasri bring to the team, manager Manuel Pellegrini has been handed what many will see as a poisoned chalice in the form of a 'fit again' Jack Wilshere. It appears that the very talented but much injured former Arsenal and England midfielder will be adding to his miserable quota of four games played by featuring for the home side at some point during the match against Leicester City at the London Stadium this Saturday afternoon.
It is all too easy to criticise and also to be envious of Jack Wilshere, after all he is picking up around £100,000 per week in wages and is generally not playing! However Jack's injury issues were well known to the club before he signed for West Ham United, and had it not been for 'previous' with the likes of Kieron Dyer and Andy Carroll, Jack's injury woes would have been concerning but definitely not highlighted as much as they have been given his predecessors predilection for long term 'expensive' injuries.
The sun will be out at the London Stadium this afternoon, not the disgraced red top but that big yellow thing in the sky, not those blighters from Murdoch's sky but the other clear blue one! The new 'carpet' will be there for all to peruse and there should be a 'feel good' factor present, at least at the beginning of the match. Hammers are in a similar position to Manchester City, not financially or from an achievement point of view of course, but the fact that they play in a Stadium that was not originally designed for football, the atmosphere can be very quiet, especially when things are not going to plan. However when it is rocking, the Etihad is a joy to behold, similarly when the London Stadium is rocking it is a great place to be, even the most diehard of London Stadium haters would have to admit as much!
Alarmingly Hammers still need a point to be guaranteed of safety against relegation, those old timers who remember the 38 games: 42 points West Ham United (2002–03) relegation season will still be feeling uneasy until 'mathematical' relegation is completely ruled out, although Manuel Pellegrini will be hoping to set his ream up to win and not just whimper across the line, and after all pints mean prizes.
The higher up the Barclays Premier League that Hammers finish the more 'prize money' the club receives, so it is in everyone's interest, even the players who want to leave, for the club to finish as high as possible (not in the AC back in the day fashion!). Marko Arnautovic seems to have finally 'forgiven' the club for his failed lucrative January move to China, and he seems to have been 'finally forgiven' for his attempt to leave by Manuel Pelllegrini.
It is to be hoped that both Arnautovic and Antonio start the match together, likewise despite his recent good form, it would be beneficial if Angelo Ogbonna made way for Issa Diop in order for the imposing Frenchman to link up with the General that is Fabain Balbuena. - Ed
