Fans are used to rumours and counter rumours during the January transfer window, things peak on the last day, Big Jim White vacates his role at Talksport and assumes his customary role as the Sky Sports transfer deadline day commentator.
The UEFA Champions League is hurtling towards the knockout stages, with the usual suspects jockeying for position as they get set for the cut-and-thrust of knockout football to begin. Manchester City can be seen as the current betting favourites in the Champions League winner odds to win the competition, with Barcelona and Juventus in close pursuit.
Never one to be short of an opinion or a story, Zlatan Ibramimovic took time out from criticising Cristiano Ronaldo for suggesting Lionel Messi should move to Italy for a new challenge, by suggesting that 'Zlatan', as he likes to call himself in the 3rd person, might well make a surprise return to the Premier League in a short term loan capacity with a 'big club' in London.
West Ham:Fabianski, Zabaleta, Ogbonna, Diop, Cresswell, Noble, Rice, Antonio, Nasri, Anderson, Arnautovic. Subs: Adrian, Masuaku, Obiang, Snodgrass, Diangana, Perez, Carroll.
Arsenal: Leno, Mustafi, Koscielny, Sokratis, Maitland-Niles, Xhaka, Guendouzi, Kolasinac, Iwobi, Lacazette, Aubameyang. Subs: Cech, Bellerin, Lichtsteiner, Monreal, Torreira, Ramsey, Nketiah.
The Barclays Premier league is the most popular and lucrative franchise of Football in The World, it may be called Soccer in the USA but to the rest of the World it is Football! The style of play is unique, no other league around the globe can boast such guaranteed 'gladitorial' confrontations between the top players in the world.
During the transfer window speculation will always be rife with regards to certain West Ham players, Hammers' talisman Marko Arnoutovic has invariably been the name linked with a big money move away from the London Stadium, in the recent past Manchester United among many other clubs have been 'interested' in bringing the mercurial Austrian to their club. However it now emerges that 'Arnie' is now of interest to a certain club or clubs in China who are prepared to spend big to acquire the Hammers' hitman and are prepared to pay him a 'King's randsom' for his services.
As we have previously reported, La Liga's Real Betis are actively pursuing the signing of former Arsenal striker Luca Perez who has failed to establish himself at West Ham following his £4.5 million summer move.
The Emirates FA Cup fourth round sees West Ham United drawn to face AFC Wimbledon, Hammers have already faced Wimbledon at their Cherry Red Records home this season, having played them in the second round of the Carabao Cup in August. Manuel Pellegrini's men won on the day with goals from Issa Diop, Angelo Ogbonna and Javier Hernandez.
There was a 'touch of the Di Canio' when Hammer's manager Manuel Pellegrini decided to 'hook' Marko Arnoutovic just a few minutes in to the cup tie against Birmingham City at the London Stadium. 'Arnie' had scored within two minutes but then fell quite heavily, when he got back to his feet he did the usual Arnoutovic grimace, he always looks as if he is carrying a knock! In this instance, whether he was crying wolf or not, Arnie found himself being 'hauled off' by his manager, who obviously had the slight matter of a crucial home game against Arsenal in a week's time on his mind.
That paragon of virtue Stan Collymore has briefly come down from his seat high up on Mount Olympus in order to chuck his two pennies worth regarding the price charged by West Ham for match day mascots. No one emerges with much credit from the situation, least of all West Ham, but for a well known beater of women to come out spouting such hypocrisy beggars belief!