West Ham United could face all sorts of problems for our Premier League clash with Arsenal next week.
Arsenal at the Emirates awaits West Ham on December 28th, but we have a Premier League clash with Manchester United to come first tomorrow.
Hammers boss David Moyes desperately needs a result against Man United, after the horror showing against Liverpool, and we’ve already been dealt somewhat of a blow with Simon Hooper having been named as the referee for the game.
The Scot will undoubtedly go with his strongest possible side tomorrow, meaning that Vladimir Coufal will almost certainly start.
The 31-year-old has played almost every game this season, missing only three Europa League fixtures and one Carabao Cup match, so that proves just how important he is to the team.
However, there is some worrying news ahead of tomorrow’s game regarding Coufal…
West Ham could fall foul of new Premier League rule
New rules have come into play at the start of this season whereby players who pick up five yellow cards during the first 19 games of the season will incur a one-match suspension – Emerson Palmieri and Edson Alvarez have already fallen foul of this rule.
Furthermore, players who pick up 10 bookings during the first 32 games will receive a two-game ban.
Unfortunately for us, Coufal is currently on four yellow cards, meaning that should he receive a booking against Man United tomorrow, Moyes will have two options for the clash with Arsenal five days later.
The Scot will have to either play Thilo Kehrer at right-back – a player who will almost certainly leave the London Stadium in January, or Ben Johnson – someone who shouldn’t be anywhere near a Premier League squad, let alone a starting XI.
Now, Coufal has been pretty solid for us this season. Despite the fact that I believe Moyes needs to make a big upgrade in the right-back department, the Czech Republic international is still far and away the best player in his position at the London Stadium.
Not having the 31-year-old available for the Arsenal vs West Ham Premier League clash next week would be a real disaster.
Let’s just hope that he doesn’t pick up a booking against Man United tomorrow!
