Alphonse Areola

Key strength: Shot-stopping

Shot-stopper

Rooted in 18th position with only a single point from their last five matches, West Ham United are staring down the barrel of relegation—and between the posts stands their most reliable lifeline. Alphonse Areola, the 32-year-old French international, has been a rare beacon of consistency in a season that has spiralled into crisis. With 14 appearances and 1,260 minutes under his belt, the commanding 1.95m goalkeeper has been an ever-present figure, remarkably avoiding even a single booking in the heat of desperate battles. Valued at €7 million, Areola brings elite pedigree from his Paris Saint-Germain days to a defence marshalled by Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Tomáš Souček. His 78-rated shot-stopping has repeatedly kept West Ham competitive when defeat seemed inevitable, launching attacks with distribution skills that modern goalkeepers demand. As the January window approaches and survival becomes paramount, Areola's composure under relentless pressure may yet prove the difference between Premier League football and the Championship abyss.