West Ham on brink a decade after David Sullivan announced his ‘big club’ feelings

Of course, West Ham have been competing with Tottenham this season. The only problem there is that nobody had Spurs as relegation candidates. That was an unexpected but welcome bonus for miserable Hammers but even that lifeline is starting to slip away. Last weekend brought a potentially crucial shift in the battle to stay up, Spurs plunging West Ham back into the bottom three with a commanding win over Aston Villa, and there is a realistic prospect of the fight ending before the final day.

With Nottingham Forest, Leeds and Crystal Palace almost out of reach, West Ham will need a miracle if they lose to Arsenal on Sunday and Spurs beat Leeds at home on Monday night. The gap between the sides would stand at four points – as good as five if goal difference is taken into account – and would mean Nuno Espírito Santo’s team dropping into the Championship if beaten at Newcastle on Sunday week.

It is not over yet. West Ham slumped at Brentford last week, poor finishing and bad defending leading to a 3-0 defeat, but they have been on a good run since mid-January. Nuno, who made a terrible start after replacing Graham Potter last September, has belatedly instilled spirit and one piece of encouragement is that West Ham are unbeaten in six home league games before hosting Arsenal.

Tomas Soucek powers a header past Jordan Pickford in West Ham’s victory over Everton in the most recent game at the London Stadium. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

This is a huge game at both ends of the table. Arsenal head to Stratford on a high. Through to the Champions League final at the expense of Atlético Madrid, Mikel Arteta’s side are closing in on a first league title since 2004 after Manchester City’s stumble at Everton last Monday. This is a banana skin, though. West Ham have form when it comes to disrupting title challengers. They derailed Manchester United in 1992 and 1995 and have taken crucial points off Arsenal three times in the past three years.

It would be classic West Ham to rise to the occasion again. It is a game that could suit Nuno, who is skilled at setting up a low block and waiting for opportunities on the break. With Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville on the wings, West Ham have ways of hurting Arsenal. Then again, Arsenal ran out 6-0 and 5-2 winners on their past two trips to Stratford.

The league leaders, who are in the rare position of Spurs fans wanting them to win, should be too focused and strong for opponents who have conceded 61 goals in 35 games. Arsenal have the players to overpower and outnumber Mateus Fernandes and Tomas Soucek in midfield. Rice was outstanding against Atlético. The England midfielder takes no joy from West Ham’s plight but has warned his old side that he has a job to do.

There is no option but to be ruthless. Rice does not owe West Ham anything. Instead his return is a reminder of their recruitment failings. They would be in a much better position had they not spent the money from his transfer on a bunch of misfits. They built a slow, ageing squad. It is not a surprise they have tumbled down the table and into financial difficulty.

Declan Rice and David Moyes hold the Europa Conference League trophy following their win in the final against Fiorentina in 2023. Photograph: Daniel Leal/AFP/Getty Images

Missed opportunities and West Ham go hand in hand. There is a poignant sense of timing to the reunion with Rice falling 10 years to the day since West Ham’s final game at Upton Park, a pulsating 3-2 win over United.

Slaven Bilic’s side were up to sixth after saying farewell to the club’s home of 112 years by snatching victory with a late header from Winston Reid on a wild May evening. Dimitri Payet had the season of his life. There was cause for optimism. West Ham wanted to feel like a big club. With Sullivan running the show, though, they had no idea how to be one.