Julen Lopetegui will be absent from the touchline for West Ham’s upcoming Premier League match against Arsenal this Saturday, following a one-match ban. The West Ham manager, who has been under intense scrutiny early in his tenure, had been facing reports suggesting he was on the verge of losing his job.
However, his position was strengthened after his side delivered a solid 2-0 victory over Newcastle, a result that lifted them to 14th in the league and arguably marked their best performance of the season.
Lopetegui’s suspension stems from a yellow card he received in the 20th minute of the Newcastle game for protesting a referee’s decision. This was his third booking of the season, triggering the ban. He will now be sidelined for the match against Arsenal at the London Stadium.
Following the win over Newcastle, Lopetegui expressed his frustration with the suspension but remained focused on his team’s success. “A win is always important. It shows we can compete and trust in ourselves,” he said.
The yellow card against Newcastle was the second consecutive caution for Lopetegui, having also been booked during West Ham’s 0-0 draw with Everton. Earlier in the season, he received a yellow in the 5-1 Carabao Cup defeat to Liverpool.
Meanwhile, West Ham midfielder Lucas Paquetá is now just one booking away from a suspension, having accumulated four yellow cards so far. Other players, including Carlos Soler, Emerson, Guido Rodríguez, Max Kilman, and Tomas Soucek, are each on three yellow cards.
