West Ham United head to north London to take on Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday.
Graham Potter is in desperate need of a big result against Arsenal, in order to prove that the improvements he’s overseen at West Ham regarding our playing style are backed up with some real substance.
Potter took over at the London Stadium at the start of last month, but since then the Hammers have fallen even further adrift of the top 10 in the Premier League table.
In fairness to Potter, he has faced some terribly difficult games, and the injury problems at West Ham continue to stack up, with Vladimir Coufal the latest to be ruled out.
The Hammers head coach we will be well aware that he needs to strengthen his squad at West Ham in the summer.
He is said to be planning a big rebuild when the summer window swings open.
However, in the here and now, he needs to get the very best out of what he has available to him.
Graham Potter must use West Ham star Edson Alvarez in new position vs Arsenal
The clash with the Gunners will be an incredibly difficult one for the Hammers.
And Potter has to think outside the box, if we are to get a result.
With Coufal currently out injured, the thought of Konstantinos Mavropanos playing against Arsenal is a frightening one.
So Potter should ensure that the Greek defender isn’t anywhere near the starting XI.
The West Ham boss should drop Edson Alvarez back into the back three in between Jean-Clair Todibo and Max Kilman.
Then Carlos Soler could partner Tomas Soucek in central midfield.
I really believe this will be the best way to set up, if Potter is to achieve a positive result against the Gunners.
Alvarez’s ability to play out from the back and coolness in possession will be crucial when coming up against Arsenal’s aggressive and incessant high press.
Signed for £32 million from Ajax in the summer of 2023 (Evening Standard), the Mexican has disappointed on the whole in a Hammers shirt.
It has actually been claimed that Potter could even sell Alvarez in the summer transfer window.
He’s not dynamic or athletic enough to play in central midfield in the Premier League as far as I’m concerned.
So perhaps a new role for Edson Alvarez in the heart of West Ham’s defence, where he can orchestrate proceedings, would see him flourish.
