In a sport that relies heavily on tactical in-game substitutions, the goalkeeper position remains the one area on the pitch where there is little threat of being hauled off mid-match for under-performing.
Even 'keepers who have had an absolute shocker usually remain in goal for the 90 minutes. On the whole, the only time a goalkeeper is replaced is due to injury, with the rarely-used deputy often scrambling around to find his gloves while the number one hobbles off.Goalkeeper injuries during matches are also rare: last weekend, only one goalkeeping substitution was made in the top four divisions of the English pyramid. On a balmy evening in Stratford last Saturday, Alphonse Areola failed to reappear for the second half, after being humbled by a magnificent brace from Erling Haaland.
His deputy, Łukasz Fabiański, was introduced to the Hammers crowd, with many of those finishing half time refreshments not noticing the change until Haaland bagged his third, chipping over the onrushing Pole, coincidentally making his 200th West Ham appearance.
West Ham are not new to the otherwise lesser seen 'keeper sub. In fact, I'm sure we've had well over the average 'keeper substitutions in the last two years. In the 79 matches since the start of the 22/23 season, Areola and Fabiański have bailed each other out on SEVEN occasions.
In comparison to other clubs on our level, this seems extremely high: Newcastle have had just one GK substitution; only twice have Wolves made a keeper switch; and the seemingly ever-present Aston Villa stopper Emi Martinez has limped off just three times in the last two years.
So what's going on at West Ham, with such high numbers? Perhaps the goalkeepers at the club are playing through existing injuries, only for them to resurface during the match. Both Shaka Hislop and Rob Green have previously spoken about playing through the pain barriers, aware of their value to the team in a position that is hard to cover.
Or maybe we're simply unlucky. A twist here, a sprain there: these things happen to outfield players during marches and 'keepers are susceptible just the same, especially given the level of involvement often required for The Hammers' number one.
Going back two seasons, with Fabiański installed as first choice 'keeper, Areola had to replace the Polish stopper during another familiar home defeat to Man City. Both goals were scored after the swap, a result of Fabiański picking up a hip injury in the first half.
Three months later, in late October 2022, Areola was again brought on to replace Fabiański, who had suffered a head injury at Old Trafford forcing the Frenchman to again deputise at half time. For a third time in the 22/23 season we saw a mid-match goalkeeper change, with an injured Fabiański replaced again by Areola, as West Ham were held goalless at home to Nottingham Forest.
Following the 'keeper substitution on 69 minutes, Danny Ings inspired The Hammers to a 4-0 win, with the French international keeping a clean sheet.
Last season we saw three more in-game goalkeeper switches, all on the road. Manchester sides appear to be the goalkeeper hoodoo, with a trip to Old Trafford proving too much for the new first choice keeper Alphonse Areola. Fabiański stepped in at half time with West Ham 1-0 down before eventually succumbing to 3-0 defeat.
In the seven games that we've seen a GK switch, four have occurred against Man City or Man United. In mid-January, Areola clattered Sheffield United's Ollie McBurnie deep into injury time, conceding a penalty and hobbling off injured. The resulting spot kick saw The Blades nick a late point in South Yorkshire, with Fabiański’s sole contribution being to pick the ball out the net.
Two months later, West Ham went into half time 2-1 up at St James’s park, before Fabiański again replaced Areola at the break, who had suffered a groin pain. Bowen made it three shortly after, before a final 15 minute meltdown resulting in Newcastle earning all three points.
It will be interesting to see what happens this season. Areola appears to have shaken his most recent injury, meeting up with the France squad for the international break. If Areola picks up something serious in the future, relying on a 39-year-old Fabiański could potentially result in summer signing Wes Foderingham making a rare appearance.
For now, we will see Alphonse quickly drafted back in - but if history is anything to go by, don't be surprised to see our veteran Pole reappear from the subs bench again this season.
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