Wan Bissaka could return for West Ham against Arsenal

Aaron wan bissaka may be back in West Ham United’s starting lineup against Arsenal after sitting on the bench in last week’s 3-0 loss to Brentford. The decision matters because West Ham need all three points, and Nuno Espirito Santo has a direct choice to make at fullback after Kyle Walker-Peters has seemingly taken the spot since the last international break.

West Ham and Brentford

Wan-Bissaka had started 10 of West Ham’s last Premier League games before the last international break, then failed to return to London on time and missed a crucial FA Cup quarter-final tie. Since then, he has been left on the edge of the team sheet while Walker-Peters has filled in.

That change has left Nuno with a cleaner selection call for Arsenal, but not an easy one. West Ham are in a relegation battle, and the back line has to deal with a side that has scored 67 Premier League goals and posted an xG of 60.6.

Arsenal’s wing threat

Arsenal’s danger is not spread evenly across the pitch. Bukayo Saka has been involved in more Premier League goals against West Ham than any other opponent, with five goals and four assists against them, and all nine involvements have come in his last eight appearances against the club.

He is one piece of a wider wide threat. Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Noni Madueke give Arsenal more pace and one-on-one force on the flanks, which is why West Ham’s fullback choice carries extra weight before the meeting at London Stadium.

Nuno’s London Stadium call

Oliver Scarles and El Hadji Malick Diouf are also part of the picture, but Wan-Bissaka remains the most natural option if Nuno wants more security on the right side. His place on the bench against Brentford suggested the manager was already willing to move on from the previous setup.

For West Ham, the issue is simple enough: the response to Brentford has to be sharper, and the Arsenal matchup demands better control on the wings. If Wan-Bissaka is restored, it will say the benching was a reset rather than a permanent break.