There may, once again, be a feeling of optimism around the London Stadium. For too long, West Ham have endured mediocrity, a far cry from the side that, under David Moyes just a few seasons ago, were consistently qualifying for European competition. After ill-fated stints in charge for both Julien Lopetegui and Graham Potter, the club have appointed Nuno Espirito Santo as their new manager, just weeks after the Portuguese departed Nottingham Forest.
Espirito Santo, with his brief tenure at Spurs aside, has established a reputation in the Premier League as a manager who can make his team compete, with both Forest and Wolves. He took charge of the Irons for the first time against Everton in the English top flight, becoming the first away team in the league to score at the Hill Dickinson Stadium as the sides drew 1-1.
It is imperative that Nuno has a swift impact at the London Stadium, as it is still early enough in the campaign for West Ham to salvage something from this season. There were plenty of positives to take from their game against the Toffees, as the Irons showed much more resolve and grit on Merseyside than they did in arguably any matches under Potter’s leadership. Such characteristics will be vital for Nuno as he aims to guide West Ham back towards the top half of the table.
Within his next five matches at the helm, the Portuguese will have a chance to better shape his team to his philosophy, but how will the Hammers fare in those games?
Arsenal vs. West Ham – Fixture Difficulty: 4
Next up for West Ham is a trip to title contenders Arsenal, who will be riding high following their dramatic late win away at Newcastle last time out. The Gunners, similar to recent seasons, are expected to be one of the sides battling for Premier League glory.
Mikel Arteta has turned the Emirates Stadium into a fortress, with just two away wins in the Premier League there since the start of last season. For how impressive Espirito Santo has been in recent months, it is hard to predict even him being able to come away from his cross-capital visit with any points. The Fantasy Premier League have ranked this game’s difficulty at grade four, the second-highest tier.
A team that score well at home, it may be that the Gunners emerge as 3-1 victors, as West Ham could perhaps grab a goal on the counter-attack, like Nuno’s Forest team did so often last season, against their hosts who, under Arteta, focus on retaining possession.
Prediction: Arsenal 3-1 West Ham
West Ham vs. Brentford – Fixture Difficulty: 3
Following the October international break, West Ham will return to the London Stadium, facing a Brentford side who, in their latest game, beat Manchester United 3-1. Hammers supporters may view this match as the one that yields the first win of Espirito Santo’s reign.
Brentford are a well-structured club, though Keith Andrews is still in the infancy of his managerial career. That is not to slight the Irishman, who has also picked up a point against Chelsea and a win over Unai Emery’s Aston Villa in the Premier League alone so far in the campaign.
Away from home, however, the Bees have struggled, scoring just three goals in three Premier League games and winning none of them, conceding eight times in that time. Andrews was bested by Espirito Santo’s Forest in Brentford’s opening game of the season and it could be that the Portuguese once again wins by a two-goal margin, be it 2-0 or 3-1.
Prediction: West Ham 2-0 Brentford
Leeds United vs. West Ham – Fixture Difficulty: 2
One of two of West Ham’s upcoming fixtures to be ranked at difficulty level two by the FPL is their game away at Leeds United. The Whites, having been promoted last season, have, alongside Sunderland and Burnley, enjoyed a far more promising start than any of the newly-ascended teams across the past two years.
West Ham will, no doubt, see this as a game to win, being against a team that are brand new to the league. Leeds, however, have been resilient at Elland Road thus far, having already picked up a win over Everton and draws against both Newcastle and Bournemouth.
Espirito Santo’s side could certainly score against Leeds, but the Whites have shown grit in bouncing back from concessions, so may well pull a goal back against the Hammers in what could be a 1-1 draw.
Prediction: Leeds United 1-1 West Ham
West Ham vs. Newcastle United – Fixture Difficulty: 3
Though they are a Champions League club for the second time in three seasons, Newcastle United look like a completely different team away from St James’ Park, where the intensity of their home support pushes them on.
On the road, Newcastle have not yet conceded, but neither have they scored a goal. Each of their opening three away games in the Premier League have ended as 0-0 draws. This, in theory, could well be the case once more at the London Stadium, as Eddie Howe is a manager that, in recent years, Espirito Santo has struggled to overcome.
Prediction: West Ham 0-0 Newcastle United
Burnley vs. West Ham – Fixture Difficulty: 2
The last of West Ham’s upcoming five matches will see them travel to Turf Moor, where they will face a Burnley side that, under Scott Parker, have become known for their defensive resolution which, excluding their defeat against Manchester City, has translated well to the Premier League.
Burnley’s only loss at home came against defending champions Liverpool. Even then, that defeat only happened after a momentary lapse from midfielder Hannibal Mejbri which, in turn, saw the Clarets concede a penalty. Otherwise, even with 10 men, Burnley showed they could compete, just as they did in their narrow 3-2 loss away at Manchester United earlier in the season.
West Ham could cause problems for Parker’s side, but it seems fair to presume that his team’s tough defence will hold when the Hammers journey north to visit them, with a 0-0 draw perhaps the most likely outcome.