De-throning of ‘King Arthur’ Masuaku leaves Cresswell to pull sword from stone against Man Utd for West Ham
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One was not amused when ‘King Arthur’ Masuaku got his marching orders at Villa Park on Monday.
His first booking - a first-half WWE style body slam on Frederic Guilbert - was a cynical foul and one which is fairly typical from the attack minded left-back.
But his second - while undeniably soft - was far from regal behaviour and even further from that expected of a starting left-back at a Premier League team hoping to break into Europe this season.
His aimless second-half lunge in a position of zero threat to the Hammers saw Ahmed El Mohamady throw himself to the ground in dramatic fashion and Mike Dean gleefully grasp the opportunity to send Arthur off.
Manual Pellegrini said after the game Masuaku would not have been sent off for such a foul if it was at the London Stadium.
Now while that maybe true, the game wasn’t being played at the London Stadium.
Just like 50 per cent of West Ham’s games this season will not be.
Masuaku – to the surprise of many Hammers fans – was rewarded with a contract extension in the summer and his new deal takes him to 2024.
He is very much Pellegrini’s first choice, taking priority over former England international - but ever fading - Aaron Cresswell.
Cresswell’s decline cannot be denied and it undoubtedly plays a huge part in Masuaku’s role in the team.
But ‘the King’ cannot afford to rest on that and - when defending – needs to find his head in a hurry.
He also needs to adopt a certain wiliness to his game and learn when to check his tenacious nature when the situation demands it.
Monday night at Villa Park was such a situation.
At 26, the DR Congo international undoubtedly has the right ingredients to make it at the top.
He also has time on his side and – having been dubbed “better than Lukaku” by the claret and blue masses – cult status that can make or break a player in East London.
But it’s up to him under the guidance of Pellegrini to strike a balance and refine his game to a level befitting a King.
In the meantime, Manchester United at the London Stadium stand in the way of five game unbeaten Premier League run for the Irons.
There have been calls for 19-year-old Ben Johnson to stand in for Masuaku after his impressive Premier League bow against Manchester City last season.
But it is likely too soon for the youngster and Cresswell will almost certainly be left-back regent for the day.
But the Hammers will still believe.
Paul Pogba and Daniel James remain injury doubts and Anthony Martial – a man whose career is a litany of goals against West Ham – is also unlikely to feature.
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Add to that last season’s Issa Diop inspired 3-1 drubbing of the Red Devils at London Stadium, whoever dons Masuaku’s crown for the day, West Ham will be confident they can pull the sword from the stone once again.
Long live the King.
is a journalist for SunSport and co-founder of .