There are good points on both sides. West Ham United have enjoyed riches beyond dreams over recent years, crowned Europa Conference League champions in June after several seasons of progress under David Moyes, but there is little question that the ship has been buffeted by some severe storms across recent weeks.

The east London drubbing against Arsenal is probably the nadir of the campaign, but the eight-match winless run that stretches back to December is alarming and has raised questions about Moyes’ future at the head of the table.

The Scotsman’s pragmatic style of play has created a schism for some time but few could argue against the winning feeling, though that has now been lost in the ether and the club need some respite.

Moyes will be confident that he can turn things around, having crafted a high-quality over a number of years – and with silverware to show for it.

Declan Rice was sold to Arsenal in a jaw-dropping £105m transfer last summer but the Irons recruited shrewdly and topped their Europa League group in December while holding a place in European contention before the recent malaise seeped in.

Most of the transfer business over these past years has hit the mark – something that certainly hasn’t been the case for much of the club’s recent history – but there have been several misfires, with Danny Ings among the worst of the recent movements.

How much West Ham paid for Danny Ings

Midway through the 2022/23 campaign, West Ham needed some added firepower and opted to move for Premier League-proven scorer Ings, signing the nomadic star from Aston Villa for £15m.