In Focus: Areola is pushing to be West Ham's safest pair of hands

Lukasz Fabianski is West Ham’s No1 for now — but Alphonse Areola is breathing down the Polish stopper’s neck. 

Following the Paris Saint-Germain custodian's arrival on loan in the summer, competition between the sticks has never been fiercer at the London Stadium.

The 6ft 5in colossus has yet to feature in the Premier League this season but has caught the eye in cup matches for the Irons. 

With Areola set to get another chance to shine in tonight’s Europa League clash with Genk, we turn the spotlight on how the former Fulham star is pushing hard for a starting berth with David Moyes’ high-flying Hammers.

The passing of the gloves

Despite more than a century of appearances for West Ham, Fabianski cannot play on forever. 

The 57-cap international will be 37 at the end of the season and his performances appear to be on the wane. 

The Irons have conceded 10 goals from an expected goals against (xGA) total of 9.92 this season, meaning they are one of only two top-half teams — along with Everton — to be underperforming in this particular metric. 

For added context, Chelsea’s xGA total is 9.76 but they have conceded just three times, largely thanks to the exploits of in-form goalkeeper Edouard Mendy. 

A better shot-stopper could push Moyes’ side into the battle for a top-four finish. 

And Areola is just that. Despite Fulham's struggles in 2020-21, he racked up a save percentage of 73.1% — the seventh-best record in England’s top flight.

Bargain buy

West Ham finished sixth last season, only two points off of a Champions League spot. 

They have started this term in similarly impressive fashion and find themselves just a point outside the top four, while also sitting at the summit of their Europa League group with six points from their opening two clashes.

The Hammers have recruited well — adding Kurt Zouma and Nikola Vlasic to their ranks during the summer, while also keeping hold of their key players. 

But if Areola, 28, impresses when he finally gets regular opportunities, the £11million clause to make his move permanent might make him the best bargain of all. 

Moyes’ outfit are the Premier League’s fifth-highest scorers this term but the three-cap France international could shore up their back line for a remarkably modest price.

Premier League experience

It might seem hasty to change your goalkeeper when we are not even a quarter of the way into the campaign — but Areola is already accustomed to the Premier League. 

He is not going to need a transition period and the switch should not have a negative impact on the team’s defence. 

While on loan with the Cottagers last term, he made 36 top-flight appearances and was named the club’s Player of the Season. 

Areola can also include LaLiga, Ligue 1 and World Cup winner's medals in his collection, earned during his time at PSG and Real Madrid as well as with the French national team.

That sort of experience is invaluable and is something former Fulham manager Scott Parker referenced last season. 

He said: "It’s big for us to have a player with the experience he has in terms of being around the top ilk of clubs in big competitions. 

"He brings that experience which will help us and help the players who do not have it. They can take things from him and that’ll be vitally important."

A deserved chance

Areola may have only started two matches for the Hammers but he has yet to concede. 

He impressed against Manchester United last month as West Ham knocked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men out of the Carabao Cup. 

The Parisian made six stops as the hosts pushed for an equaliser — four of which were from inside the penalty area. 

He has yet to put a foot wrong for the Irons and another impressive outing in the Europa League could go some way towards forcing Moyes’ hand.

Europa League shop window

Even if Areola is not able to usurp Fabianski between the sticks, the Europa League is an ideal platform for him to show off his talents. 

Last season, he was the main man for a relegated team, which is not the sort of accolade that boosts a CV. 

But being the No1 for a team that goes deep into European competition is sure to get you noticed. 

The incentive is there — not only for the former Real Madrid loanee to give Moyes a selection headache — but to put interested clubs on high alert, too.

At this stage of his career, Areola needs a permanent home and opportunities like this evening may well help him find one.