West Ham goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski has hit new heights since Alphonse Areola challenge

Manchester City v West Ham United - Premier League
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Jack Rosser @JackRosser_1 December 2021

When West Ham signed Alphonse Areola from Paris Saint-Germain during the summer, it only seemed a matter of time before the Frenchman was starting and Lukasz Fabianski was watching on from the bench.

Areola, a World Cup winner in 2018 who boasts league titles in France with PSG and in Spain with Real Madrid, shone with Fulham last season despite their relegation and looked a shrewd addition by the Hammers.

The arrival of the 28-year-old has not heralded a changing in the pecking order at the London Stadium, however. Instead of dropping to second choice, Fabianski, who was named Goalkeeper of the Year at last season's London Football Awards, has kicked on, looks arguably better than ever for West Ham and is in talks over a new contract.

While he may have only kept three clean sheets in the Premier League so far, Fabianski has made more saves this season than any other goalkeeper in the Premier League's top five and is showing no sign of conceding the No1 spot to Areola, who has himself impressed in the Europa League and Carabao Cup.

The former Real Madrid man remains relaxed about his position when asked publicly but is pushing his teammate all the way in training and with his performances when given the chance, giving Fabianski a new lease of life.

"I think Lukasz has played really well," said West Ham manager David Moyes.

"It has given us a real level of competition and I think it has made Lukasz realise that as well.

"I think the pressure of that is on Lukasz to keep the jersey, keep playing well because he's got Phonse breathing down his neck at the moment.

"The main reason [we brought Areola in] was that Lukasz got injured in the warm-ups a couple of times last season and we just felt that if this is going to happen then in the summer we thought we might need something else.

"Lukasz's form has been so good, he's played really well. Maybe not having to turn out every Saturday, Tuesday [has helped] but we've needed Phonse as well because he's a top goalkeeper and we see a long-term future for Phonse."

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The rest from midweek action in other competitions will have been a bonus to Fabianski, who also called time on his international career with Poland earlier this season.

While he has stepped back from the international stage, there seems little chance of slowing down with West Ham. The 36-year-old even spoke recently of playing until he is 40.

Whether he can retain first place over Areola until he hits 40 is another question altogether and both players are acutely aware of the position they are in over the long term, with Moyes having told Areola the No1 shirt will be his when the time comes.

"Lukasz is aware of that," Moyes said.

"We had to get Alphonse to come on that understanding that there's a good chance he will take over from Lukasz when Lukasz's time comes. I think Lukasz has performed so well, enjoys the club, we're happy to have him around for however long he wants to stay really."

It is clear that, at some point, the two will swap places but the form of Fabianski may well have delayed that date by a considerable time.

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