Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp has raved about West Ham United winger Felipe Anderson, despite his team’s 3-1 loss to Arsenal on Saturday afternoon.
The Hammers initially went ahead thanks to Marko Arnautovic, but the Gunners eventually hit back thanks to goals from Nacho Monreal, Danny Welbeck and an own goal from Issa Diop.
The 5’9″ [Transfermarkt] flyer covered more ground than his team mates, running 7.3 miles through the midfield as well as contributing to the Irons’ attacking play.
However, Redknapp has claimed that Manuel Pellegrini’s side need to take their chances more with a talent like Anderson in the team, especially now they have suffered their third defeat on the bounce.
“West Ham may have lost at Arsenal but Anderson was electric. Playing through the middle he ran 7.3 miles, more than any team-mate, made Marko Arnautovic’s goal and set up another two chances,” Redknapp wrote in his column for the Daily Mail.
“With such a creative spark in their side, West Ham have to be more clinical.”
OPINION
West Ham’s poor performances have not done Felipe Anderson any justice, and he has not really had the opportunity to prove his £48 million price tag. However, Redknapp was right – he shone in a team that looked average at the most, providing most of the attacking play. If West Ham want to bring the best out of Anderson, then they need to take their chances more in the final third. The fact that they are so poor with their final touches means that Anderson cannot be at his best, and that is a shame, because he will ultimately be why West Ham survive this season. At the moment, he stands out like a sore thumb in a mediocre side, and he looks more deserving of playing in a top-level team. Clearly, he is a hard-working player based on the ground he covered, but at the moment, West Ham do not seem to be grateful for his commitment.
