West Ham Shake Up Their Squad with a shocking ‘Verbal Agreement’ to Offload Key Player – Is This the Start of a Major January Overhaul?
Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge took a significant hit as they were held to a dramatic 2-2 draw by Aston Villa on Saturday, while West Ham United endured their first league defeat under Graham Potter, succumbing to a 2-0 loss at the hands of Crystal Palace. For Arsenal, the result was a bitter pill to swallow. The Gunners surged into a commanding 2-0 lead but conceded twice in a chaotic eight-minute spell, squandering the opportunity to close the gap on league leaders Liverpool. Earlier in the day, Liverpool had extended their advantage at the top with two stunning stoppage-time goals to secure a 3-2 win over Brentford, further piling the pressure on Mikel Arteta’s men.
West Ham’s woes were compounded in the second half at Selhurst Park as Crystal Palace struck twice, sealing a deserved victory over the Hammers. To make matters worse for Graham Potter’s side, they were reduced to 10 men late in the game when Konstantinos Mavropanos was sent off in the 80th minute. It was a sobering outing for the Hammers, who had shown promise under Potter’s stewardship until this point.
Reflecting on the disappointing defeat, West Ham manager Graham Potter did not hold back in his assessment of his team’s performance. “In terms of the performance today, it wasn’t one that we’re so happy about, and obviously, the result we’re disappointed with,” Potter admitted. “I don’t think we deserved to get anything from the game. We have to accept that, as much as it’s not nice to hear. We have to be honest with ourselves and say, ‘Okay, we need to do better, we need to find a way to improve,’ and that’s where the work is. That’s where we have to focus.”
On the other hand, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed both pride and frustration after his team’s draw. “I’m incredibly proud of the team. I think it was an immense performance, immense,” he said. “Against this team, what they’ve done, and after playing three times in six days with the same players, not having enough to rotate, I cannot be prouder of the effort. However, I’m very disappointed with the result. Defensively, we let ourselves down, especially with one of the goals. That kind of defending cannot be part of our game if we want to compete at the highest level in this country. The rest, what else can I ask of the team against a really strong side?”
Away from the on-field drama, West Ham have reportedly finalized a loan deal with Serie A club Genoa for winger Maxwell Cornet. The 28-year-old signed a five-year contract with the Hammers in August 2022 but has struggled to cement his place in the squad. Cornet was sent on loan to Southampton at the start of the current season, but his stint has been underwhelming, with just four appearances across all competitions, including two in the Premier League. His move to Genoa presents an opportunity for the Ivorian to reignite his career after a challenging spell in English football.
As Arsenal reflect on missed opportunities and West Ham look to rebound from their setback, both clubs face crucial weeks ahead. Arsenal must find consistency to keep their title dreams alive, while West Ham need to rediscover the form that saw them go unbeaten under Potter before this weekend.
