Arsenal handed huge boost for West Ham Premier League clash

West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui will be banned from the touchline for the club's next Premier League match at home to Arsenal.

The under-fire Hammers boss was shown a yellow card by referee Craig Pawson in the 21st minute of his team's match away at Newcastle United on Monday night. The Spaniard was gesturing in disapproval after his attacker Crysencio Summerville was penalised for a foul in a promising position on the edge of the Magpies' box.

As he had already been punished in the same manner earlier in the season in matches against Liverpool and Everton, he has officially crossed the three-card threshold for a top-flight manager to be handed a one-game ban and will now miss the game against the Gunners at the end of the month.

He was perhaps in his right to be angry, as speaking on Sky Sports' coverage of the game, Andy Hinchcliffe said: "He does actually get a touch on the ball and you can see why his coach and Summerville aren't happy."

Amidst his poor disciplinary record, Lopetegui has been under pressure as his West Ham side sat 14th on 12 points heading into the international break. The hope in East London was for a greater impact after taking over from David Moyes in the summer.

He will now have to dictate his ideas through his assistant Pablo Sanz from the stands at the London Stadium against one of the more difficult visitors in the Premier League.

In February, Mikel Arteta's side won 6-0 against their rivals from the capital in one of their best results of the 2023/24 season.

Victory looks like it is going to be vital on Saturday evening as league leaders Liverpool play second-place Manchester City at Anfield a day later. Either Arne Slot's team, Pep Guardiola's team or potentially even both could drop points, so the Gunners will need to capitalise.

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