Alphonse Areola defended David Moyes’ choice to designate him West Ham United’s starting custodian just before halftime of Sunday’s derby match with Chelsea.
Areola, 30, began last weekend’s Premier League opener away to Bournemouth in lieu of Lukasz Fabianski, 38, who is only expected to play in the three cup tournaments this season. Fabianski has been a longtime first-choice but will only play in those games this year.
Areola’s stop of Enzo Fernandez’s penalty just before halftime, when the scores were tied at 1-1, served as confirmation of that elevation. The France international has denied just one penalty kick since moving to West Ham from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2021, when he had previously given up four.
The game changed as a result of Fernandez’s saved penalty. Following that, West Ham regained initiative and won 3-1 courtesy to goals from Michail Antonio on 53 minutes and a penalty through Lucas Paqueta.
Areola’s performance against Chelsea showed positive signs for the rest of the season that lays ahead-
Areola again distinguished himself in stoppage time by tipping Noni Madueke’s deflected shot around the post with an outstretched save. When he was chosen man of the match, the audience cheered loudly.
The Frenchman, who served as Fabianski’s assistant before, had to wait patiently for his chance. Although Areola is eight years smaller than his Polish competitor, Moyes thought it was vital to make the transition this season since he is seen as West Ham’s long-term custodian.
Areola, who joined the club from PSG in the summer on a permanent basis, made 23 appearances in 2022–23, largely in the team’s successful Europa Conference League campaign and the two domestic cups, giving up 21 goals and recording 10 shutouts.
The one-year option in Fabianski’s contract was exercised this summer, making this his seventh consecutive full season at the London Stadium. However, he had been told by Moyes and goalkeeper coach Xavi Valero two days prior to that 1-1 tie with Bournemouth that he would not be the No. 1 this season.
Moyes has frequently emphasised the importance of competitiveness among the group. He wants athletes to be pounding on his door, pleading for time. Even though he has justified his approach to Fabianski’s removal, difficult judgements can result in disappointment.
The decision for Moyes to join West Ham in the first place was made in large part by his goalkeeping coach
In the summer of 2021, when the team was looking for a new ‘keeper, Valero put together an argument that convinced Moyes that Areola was their best choice. In that presentation, Valero discussed the qualities of the former Real Madrid and Villarreal player, his 2020–21 Premier League season with Fulham (during which he was chosen as the club’s player of the season by the supporters), and why the Frenchman and Fabianski would make an excellent team.
The 57-cap former Poland international has backed West Ham’s new No. 1 after being sacked.
In back-to-back Ligue 1 championship seasons in 2017-18 and 2018-19, PSG’s first-choice ‘keeper is more likely to send a short ball to a defender than Fabianski, who is more likely to throw a panicked kick higher upfield. Despite Fabianski’s advantages, a typical complaint is that when his side has a chance to break, he frequently hesitates before making the fast pass.
the signing of In the victory over Chelsea, Edson Alvarez made his professional debut. The new teammate of the former Ajax midfielder pleased him with his play.
