No Paqueta, No problem!
Over the past few games with Graham Potter, we've been testing the waters with new tactics and have also been suffering with many injuries, which has caused us immense trouble.
After Brentford's horror show last week, today, Potter got it spot on.
We set up going back to a five-back this week, which was definitely the right call after the attempted four-back last week, which went horribly wrong.
Jean-Clair Todibo, fortunately, didn't step into the same shoes as Mavropanos before the match but did step into the starting squad, giving him his first start since his injury against Manchester City.
Ollie Scarles also lined up for his starting debut, playing an absolutely brilliant game on that left-hand side. It can well and truly be said that he will be saving us a lot of money in the summer, if this game wasn't enough to prove that he's able to start, then no game will!
It was an expected game, We know from previous games, such as the Aston Villa match in the Premier League, that we are most suited for a backline of five and play counter-attacking football utilising the defence.
Today, West Ham didn't just beat Arsenal; Potter utilised the squad we have to the fullest potential and put together a team that he knew could get a result. Our midfield of JWP, Soucek and Alvarez was perfect for the Emirates; they all were played to their strengths, four passes from each player entered the final third, and along with the attacking fallbacks, we were able to make the most of it.
In the 44th minute, we struck what would be the only goal of the game as Aaron Wan-Bissaka found space down the right-hand side and, from the halfway line ran to eventually beat his man, Caliafiori, whipping in a delightful cross to Jarrod Bowen who placed the ball into the back of the net with a diving header, not only making the score 1-0 to West Ham but in doing so, also knocked in his 50th Premier League goal for the club!
We couldn't tell if today we played AWB or if we played Wan-BisSAKA because I remember that a certain set of fans said he couldn't attack...oh how wrong they've been!
The remainder of the game would be a bit of back and forth with a few chances from Arsenal, but we got a lot more comfortable in our seats after Lewis-Skelly saw red for Arsenal just 17 minutes after coming on! What was initially given as a second yellow for him was quickly overturned for a straight red as he brought down Kudus after being dispossessed, leaving VAR no option apart from to send him off for denial of a goal-scoring opportunity.
Arsenal should've scored towards the closing stages of the game, but the curse of not having a striker seems to also be rubbing on them.
The win today retains us our 16th place in the table but now leaves us just 3 points from 12th, which could be achieved against Leicester City on the Thursday night next week.
A brilliant performance from Potters lads, three points and the ability to enjoy Match of the Day... who's presenting nowadays?
Comments
Solid performance.
Excellent discipline form West Ham and I feel we deserved that by restricting Arsenal and making them play across the pitch. Each man was up to the task on the day. The willingness to track back and indeed a positive Moysesque type performance regards outcome. But this result and performance will have a massive say in how the season ends and could prove to be the most valuable 3pts we have gained and bodes well going forward. Of course it will count for nowt if we don't win on Thursday.
First time ever for me.
Posh seats they say well forget that i was lucky enough to accept an invite to watch the match from an Executive box today and it was an eye opener no pie mash and liqor here oh no.....Champagne Wine Choice of meal a dedicated host to help with any problem the main one being the fire drill!!.
A very different match day experience for sure but one to savour as the only Hammer in the box that held 12 and to hear the entitlement of there supporters about it only being West Ham and they don't need a striker against that lot to win 3/4 nil.... i bit my lip i bided my time and the moment AWB took off i just new what was to come and with Bowen evading Rice and heading it in i gave it to them all both barrels lol and they had nothing nothing they could give back. talk about silence and the heads that turned from the terraces looking up thinking whys someone cheering from the posh boxes i just gave them the crossed hammers sign ahhh it was a moment to savour.
Second half when they took Rice off i laughed and said only Arsenal could take a £100million player and turn him to shite and when Lewis Skelly got sent off I really let them have it and pointing out he is no where near fit enough to Lace Scarles boots..... They bitched a bit but mainly about Arteta and not signing a striker YAWN but they did not like it when i called them Bottle FC lol.
I doubt i will get that invite again but it was fun and to be honest i prefer to be on the terraces but seeing my team in the flesh again and winning deservedly so makes me so proud and the 3000 of my fellow Hammers in the away end had a day to remember and understand why we follow the best club in London COYI
Declan who
No league winners medal thanks to us. Lol
I reckon this is what you
I reckon this is what you will see from now,times of magic,then get caught in games we should win,till Potter can get the team he wants.
To a man everyone stepped up
To a man everyone stepped up and if I'm honest. If we had of played Paqueta this performance would not have been possible. Thats because of his play acting and histrionics.
Some players really impressed me though. JWP was excellent and with no real game time to speak of this season was magnificent in the middle. Scarles did not put a foot wrong and must surely start now, what a find this boy is.
Kudus was unplayable today and had his best game of the season seriously impressed with him, when he's on it. But most of all and it surprises me to say. That I believe if we persist with 3 at the back. Then Creswell has made that left side of the 3 his own. For me he was man of the match. Playing there his natural left foot and assistance to Scarles is priceless. How good and composed was Todibo, by the way?? I'd expect 90 mins from him on Thursday night.
On the whole, this is why I was excited by Potter, this is who we can be now. Must keep the momentum up from here. COYI
Thing about Paqueta
(and don't get me wrong, I'm fully on board with the play acting and histrionics) is that he is probably the best player we have at carving open the defence, particularly with Bowen. Kudus, for all his work rate in that game, I don't recall him making one pass that looked remotely dangerous. If it wasn't for One Biscuit we probably wouldn't have that one shot on target stat that fortunately was a goal.
yes agree boogers
Potter has got momentum ,some thing loopy never had or was any where near getting .Also thought J.W.P had a great game
Still need a solid center back
but would love to see Jean-Clair Todibo in a midfield holding role a la Declan, I think he has all the power, pace and the touch to shine in such a role, a real footballer!
Let's not run away with
Let's not run away with ourselves, at least wait until thursday night , it was 0-1 ,hardly a landslide victory
?
It's a win at Arsenal. Respect it. What happens Thursday doesn't change a great away win
Burkie for me it wasn't about
Burkie for me it wasn't about the victory. Or how many chances we created, or goal scored 1 in this case.
It was the whole performance. Identity is there now. Shape is there now. Togetherness as a team and belief in Potters system and methods. The team dynamic and work ethic.
All of this has been missing with Lopoteugi. Moyes had an identity but it was called Moyesball. I'm not even going into that.
I expect a lot of fans me included. Are waiting for a hatful of goals on Thu night. Ferguson will probably make his starting debut. Your right in respect of results. As if it does not happen, there will no doubt be questions asked..
I'd like to think with confidence and team positivity being through the roof. We will start on fire on Thu. But we'll see?
Leicester give us a shooing
Leicester give us a shooing last time out so I'm playing my cards close to my chest