Source: Telegraph
Valon Behrami: off-field problems hurting West Ham as team prepare to face Arsenal
One of Steven Gerrard's deus ex machina moments stole the FA Cup away from them and the rich promise brought by the Icelandic biscuit billions evaporated with similar alacrity as the economy crumbled.[LNB]West Ham have won the FA Cup three times but they enter the competition this season on their knees. Carlton Cole is injured, Matthew Upson may have to be sold, Gianfranco Zola is under pressure and morale is understandably fragile. It's not easy to play Arsenal at any time, but in this state there's got to be a lot of closing of eyes and hoping.[LNB]The New Year might bring some respite at Upton Park. It is understood that the club are optimistic of securing either significant investment or even a new owner by the end of the month. Valon Behrami, the Swiss-Kosovan midfielder, is candid about how much the uncertainty about the club's future has been weighing on him and his team-mates.[LNB]"I am hoping this year will be better for everyone at West Ham and we can have some positive things because right now there is a lot of negativity," he said. "Off the pitch there has to be stability because when you have problems like this it can affect you on the pitch and may be the reason why things are going like this for us.[LNB]"I have spoken a number of times with the people above us to make the situation clear and what is the real situation. Right now I am told to believe what the media are saying but it is clear that we need to know our future. I am looking for someone in January to help us and [tell us] that we don't have to sell players." [LNB]Behrami concedes that Arsenal represent a considerable challenge for a depleted West Ham, especially given the fact that Mark Noble, Scott Parker and Herita Ilunga are missing with hamstring injuries.[LNB]"The FA Cup has arrived for us at a moment when we are struggling in the Premier League and we have a lot of players who are injured so this is not a good moment for us," Behrami said. "We know the competition can give us great emotions because it was very nice to play in the FA Cup last year and it is a different atmosphere. We need to get back the injured players because the situation got worse against Tottenham when we lost two more inside the opening 20 minutes.[LNB]"The draw was not very kind to us but we are at home and if we play like a team, we can have a good result. A good Cup run could help us in the league but the most important thing is the condition of the players because when we have everyone available we feel more secure and everything is less difficult when we have our best players on the pitch.[LNB]"Mentally this can give us a boost. We have been playing like a team in the last three games and those important players who are out can give us that bit of extra quality." [LNB]Arsenal will be strong, with Arsène Wenger intending to play close to his best available side. That excludes Cesc Fabregas, the in-form captain, who is rehabilitating his own hamstring problem. Whether that gives Behrami the chance to exert his authority on the game is another matter but if West Ham want to reach the next round, they will need the Swiss to make up for his absent team-mates. How the West Ham supporters, let alone Zola, could use an inspired performance this afternoon. [LNB]
