Potter Could Give £25m Star His First West Ham Start Against Arsenal – Sources

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West Ham Hit by Injury Crisis Ahead of Arsenal Clash

 

Since Graham Potter took over from Julen Lopetegui as West Ham’s manager, the club has been plagued by a string of injuries, significantly impacting team selection and performance.

 

While Arsenal can certainly relate to such setbacks, the Gunners are facing their own injury concerns ahead of their crucial encounter with the Hammers at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

 

Mikel Arteta will be without several key attacking players for the match, making squad depth a pressing issue as Arsenal continue their chase for the Premier League title.

 

West Ham’s Injury Fortunes Take a Turn for the Worse

Under Lopetegui, West Ham were actually one of the least affected clubs in the Premier League in terms of total days missed by players due to injury.

 

For the majority of his seven-month tenure, the Hammers enjoyed relatively good luck on the fitness front. However, that fortune has completely changed over the past two months.

 

When Potter was appointed as manager, West Ham were already dealing with injuries to key players, including Michail Antonio, Jean-Clair Todibo, and Jarrod Bowen.

 

While Bowen and Todibo have since returned to action, the injury list has only grown.

 

Against Arsenal, West Ham will be without Lucas Paquetá, Crysencio Summerville, Niclas Füllkrug, and Vladimir Coufal, leaving Potter with tough decisions to make regarding his starting lineup.

 

With the Hammers fighting to maintain a comfortable gap above the relegation zone, any more slip-ups could spell trouble.

 

While a dramatic drop into the bottom three still seems unlikely, the team cannot afford to be complacent. Every point matters in a season that has seen unexpected results across the table.

 

Arsenal Looking to Capitalize on Liverpool’s Slip-Up

On the other side of the pitch, Arsenal are well aware of the importance of securing all three points in this match.

 

If they are to have any realistic chance of overtaking league leaders Liverpool, they cannot afford to drop points against West Ham.

 

The Gunners were given a boost ahead of the fixture when Liverpool stumbled in their 2-2 draw against Aston Villa, dropping two crucial points in the title race.

 

With the door slightly ajar, Arteta’s men will be eager to seize the opportunity and close the gap.

 

Meanwhile, West Ham’s confidence took a significant hit in their last match, a dismal 1-0 defeat at home to Brentford.

 

The team was booed off the pitch both at halftime and full-time, a clear sign of growing frustration among the fanbase.

 

The first half of that match was one of the worst performances seen from the Hammers in recent memory, adding to a troubling stretch that has seen them win just 13 of their last 52 matches.

 

And that performance came with Paquetá in the squad.

 

Now, with the Brazilian midfielder sidelined for at least a month due to an ankle injury sustained in training, Potter is faced with a major selection dilemma.

 

Could Guilherme Get His First Start for West Ham?

One of the biggest questions heading into the match is who will replace Paquetá in the starting XI. Mohammed Kudus and Carlos Soler would seem to be the most obvious candidates.

 

However, both players put in poor performances in the defeat to Brentford, leaving Potter considering alternative options.

 

According to sources, the West Ham boss is seriously contemplating giving 18-year-old Brazilian talent Luís Guilherme his first start for the club against Arsenal.

 

Hammers News understands that Potter has been impressed with Guilherme’s performances in training and is considering rewarding the teenager with a place in the starting lineup.

 

West Ham paid Palmeiras an initial £20 million—rising to £25 million—for Guilherme last summer, but he has seen very little playing time since arriving in England.

 

Across eight substitute appearances, seven of which came in the Premier League, he has played a total of just 50 minutes.

 

Despite his limited game time, Guilherme has shown flashes of his potential in recent cameos, particularly during a promising performance against Chelsea.

 

His hunger to prove himself has not gone unnoticed by Potter.

 

The deal to sign Guilherme, overseen by former technical director Tim Steidten, has been under scrutiny for months. It was one of two transfers—alongside Füllkrug—that reportedly played a role in Steidten’s departure.

 

In January, reports suggested West Ham were even open to selling the young midfielder if they could recoup their initial investment, which angered many fans who felt the club should be more patient with a player of his talent.

 

Now, with Paquetá sidelined, sources indicate that Potter is giving serious thought to handing Guilherme his full debut.

 

“The feeling within the club is that he really couldn’t do much worse than what the other players have been offering this season,” a source told Hammers News.

 

“Guilherme has the bit between his teeth right now, and the manager has taken notice.

 

Potter likes him a lot, and he fits the profile of the kind of player both he and the club’s new head of recruitment would typically target in the transfer market.”

 

While things could still change before Saturday, the latest training sessions and tactical drills suggest that Guilherme is in contention to start.

 

“Potter wants as much pace and energy in the team as possible, and Guilherme gives him that option,” the source added.

 

If selected, the teenager could be a secret weapon for West Ham, particularly against an Arsenal side that will be looking to dominate possession.

 

Potential Lineups for West Ham Against Arsenal

 

If Potter does decide to start Guilherme, West Ham’s lineup could look something like this:

 

Possible 4-2-3-1 Formation:

GK: Areola

DEF: Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Scarles

MID: Ward-Prowse, Souček, Guilherme, Kudus, Bowen

FWD: Ferguson

 

Alternatively, if West Ham opt for a five-at-the-back system, Ferguson may once again start on the bench:

 

Possible 5-3-2 Formation:

GK: Areola

DEF: Wan-Bissaka, Todibo, Kilman, Cresswell, Scarles

MID: Ward-Prowse, Souček, Guilherme, Kudus, Bowen

 

With Paquetá out and West Ham desperate for a response after their Brentford disaster, Potter faces a tough decision.

 

Will he trust an unproven but talented teenager to make an impact in one of the club’s biggest games of the season?

 

The answer will be revealed when West Ham take the pitch at the Emirates on Saturday.