David Moyes admits West Ham United expected Alphonse Areola to have replaced Lukasz Fabianski as their No1 ‘by now’. But he now has the chance to start after the latter’s injury.
West Ham have confirmed that Fabianski faces a period out after the 37-year-old fractured his cheekbone and eye socket. The Irons are yet to determine if the goalkeeper will require surgery or the timeframe for his return. Yet his absence opens a slot for Areola to impress.
Moyes has so far held Areola to a reserve role since the 30-year-old secured his permanent transfer from Paris Saint-Germain. The Hammers paid £7.75m to take up the option to buy in the terms of his earlier loan switch. He had spent the 2021/22 campaign in east London.
Fabianski has started in all 24 of West Ham’s Premier League fixtures so far this season. He has further kept six clean sheets to 27 goals conceded. Areola has now come on to replace the ex-Poland international during three matches, though, following Fabianski’s latest injury.
Areola replaced Fabianski against Manchester City on the opening day after the latter took a knock to his hip. He also came on against Manchester United in October after Fabianski’s knee injury. Areola has mainly acted as Moyes and West Ham’s cup goalkeeper otherwise.
Moyes admits Fabianski has kept Areola out ‘a bit longer’ than West Ham expected
West Ham visit Manchester United in the FA Cup on Wednesday with Areola in line to start following Fabianski’s injury. The Frenchman also started their fourth-round win over Derby County in January. He further started all eight of the Irons’ Europa Conference League ties.
Moyes also picked Areola over Fabianski for West Ham’s EFL Cup loss to Blackburn Rovers in November. While the five-cap France star’s UEFA games returned four clean sheets. But Moyes feels Areola’s reserve status at West Ham so far has been down to Fabianski’s form.
“We told him, eventually, he will take over from Lukasz Fabianski,” Moyes said, via quotes by football.london. “Let’s be fair, Lukasz Fabianski has played ever so well and, if anything, [he is] experienced, steady, very reliable [and is] very calm in his goalkeeping.
“He’s gone on a bit longer, maybe we thought Phonse might have been there by now. But it’s more to do with how well Lukasz has played.”
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