West Ham set to deploy 'gifted' forward against Arsenal thanks to Deadline Day decision

West Ham manager Graham Potter is expected to hand 18-year-old winger Luis Guilherme his first ever start for the club this weekend in the Premier League clash against Arsenal.

The Hammers make the short trip to the Emirates Stadium looking to bounce back from back-to-back defeats against Chelsea and Brentford. Meanwhile, the Gunners are buoyed by an unbeaten run of 15 fixtures in the top flight.

Potter has already been managing without Niclas Fullkrug, Michail Antonio and Crysencio Summerville and this week has been handed another injury blow with news of Lucas Paqueta being sidelined. The Brazil international’s versatility has made him a key figure under Potter so far but the former Chelsea boss must now find an alternative against Arsenal.

West Ham to deploy teenager against Arsenal

Hammers News claims that the alternative is teenager Guilherme. The winger joined West Ham from Palmeiras last summer in a £25 million move but has barely had a look-in under Julen Lopetegui or Potter.

Guilherme has played just 55 minutes this term across all competitions but could now be thrown into the deep end against title-chasing Arsenal. The outlet claims: “Now Potter may hand a £25m star his first ever West Ham start against Arsenal according to sources. Hammers News understands the new boss is considering rewarding Paqueta’s fellow Brazilian Luis Guilherme with his full debut against the Gunners.”

That decision comes just weeks after the player was heavily linked with a move to Saudi Arabia on Deadline Day of the January transfer window, just six months after putting pen to paper on his deal at the London Stadium. West Ham were also said to be ‘in talks’ with Feyenoord over a late January transfer, just hours ahead of their match against Chelsea on Deadline Day.

It was Football Insider who carried those reports, with Poro also linked with a move. Speaking about the player in January, Potter had said: “He (Guilherme) is in the squad. He’s training every day and he’s another one that we’re trying to understand more and find out about and to help. I have no plans to lose anybody, but again, because it’s the window and because things can happen, and it’s because it’s football, you never know with any of the players, is the reality.

“But my focus is on helping, supporting and understanding them and trying to work out how we can get them to be themselves and play for West Ham. I think with every young player, you’ve got to strike the balance between training and playing because it’s not rocket science. Players get better when they play football and play football in a competitive situation.

“At the same time, he’s settling in from another country. It’s a big move and he’s understanding the club, the language, the culture and everything else. So it’s finding a balance. It doesn’t necessarily happen overnight.”

Guilherme praised as ‘exciting young talent’ when arriving at London Stadium

Guilherme signed a five-year deal when joining West Ham last summer in a move that saw technical director Tim Steidten fly to Brazil to push the deal over the line. The winger was announced as a West Ham player with much fanfare.

Steidten said: “We are really happy that Luis Guilherme is now a West Ham United player. He is a very exciting young talent who we have followed for some time, and once we became aware that he was available, Julen and I were determined to bring him to London.

“Luis has enjoyed a fantastic start to his professional career with Palmeiras – naturally a wide player but with the flexibility to play across other attacking positions, which is an important and valuable factor in the modern game.

“He is technically very gifted, but also has very good physical qualities - great pace, strength and stamina, and these are traits that will help him to adapt to the demands of the Premier League and English football. “Luis is obviously still very young, but we have no doubt that he is ready to make an impact in the first team here. He is coming to a great environment, where he will be surrounded by other exciting young players and good people who will support him every step of the way.

“We will look after him, help him and his family to settle in and allow him time to adapt. But we are very excited about his immediate potential and are looking forward to seeing the progress he can make at West Ham United."

In other news, one West Ham loanee is struggling with injury and could face a fight go get back into a Championship squad following a turn in form.