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West Ham United enter a midweek clash with Arsenal on the back of four consecutive Premier League defeats, which has raised fresh concerns on the future of manager Slaven Bilic.

The Hammers publicly backed the Croatian boss after the weekend’s defeat to Hull City but Bilic, who is set to enter the final 12 months of his contract, could be replaced this summer.

Having lost 5-1 to Arsenal at the London Stadium earlier this season, the situation for the Hammers as they prepare to travel across London to the Emirates Stadium looks particularly bleak.

Unfortunately for West Ham, BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson doesn’t predict a positive outcome for the Hammers but he does believe a key decision will be made this week.

“It took Arsenal a while to work out how to stop Manchester City playing from the back in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Emirates Stadium. The Gunners never really closed the City players down and there were spells where they looked rudderless.”

“West Ham have problems of their own, though, and I am sick of hearing about what their owners think about it. They don’t have to apologise on social media every time the Hammers lose, but it is like they cannot stay off it.”

“Why not just let the manager explain if the team are beaten, and back the manager? Instead, Slaven Bilic’s future seems to be a topic of discussion every week.”

“I am going for an Arsenal win on Wednesday, and if I am right we will probably hear a lot more about whether Bilic is being sacked – or not – this week.”

West Ham slipped to 14th in the Premier League table following the weekend’s loss to Hull City and now stand just six points above the relegation zone- with Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough and Sunderland below them all having a game in hand.

The Hammers face a crucial challenge in April as they tackle Swansea City, Sunderland, Everton and Stoke City, before a tricky end to the season with clashes against Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Burnley in May.