OPINION
West Ham United secured one of their biggest wins so far under Manuel Pellegrini as they beat Arsenal 1-0 at the London Stadium on Saturday, and there were plenty of talking points to take away from the clash.
Declan Rice was the hero for the Hammers as the 19-year-old scored his first goal for the club early in the second half, with Pellegrini’s side managing to hold on for a valuable three points.
This is Futbol have picked out three things we learned about West Ham v Arsenal below.
Anderson puts in all-round display
Felipe Anderson has really begun to prove his worth for West Ham since his club-record arrival from Lazio in the summer, with the Brazil international having netted eight goals already this term. While there is no doubt about his attacking prowess, there have however been questions about his defensive work, with Anderson more often than not failing to track back properly. Saturday against the Gunners was very different however as Anderson put in his best all-round display yet for the club. His tracking back was exemplary, with Anderson proving his ability to work for the team as well as himself. Hopefully this is the start of more performances like that, which will only serve to increase his standing at the London Stadium even further.
Cresswell cements left-back spot
Left-back has been a hugely problematic position for Pellegrini so far this season, with both Arthur Masuaku and Aaron Cresswell failing to prove their worth and nail down a starting spot. Initially it was Masuaku who was favoured by the Chilean, but England international Cresswell has slowly begun to make his way from the fringes into starting contention, and Saturday really proved that he is the better option there. The 29-year-old was exceptional all game long for the Hammers, making a couple of crucial interventions over the course of the 90 minutes as well. His delivery into the box is also more consistent than counterpart Masuaku’s, and giving him an extended run in the starting team is now a no-brainer for Pellegrini, who has seen a big headache eased after this Saturday stormer.
Nasri move was a masterstroke
Eyebrows were raised when Pellegrini decided to take a punt on former Arsenal and Manchester City star Samir Nasri, who has returned to the game after an 18-month doping ban. Questions were asked about the France international’s attitude, with Nasri not being a universally popular figure at his previous clubs. However, judging by the way he has started his West Ham career, it looks as though Pellegrini has committed an absolute masterstroke in signing the 31-year-old on a free transfer. Nasri was instrumental in their 1-0 win on Saturday, also providing the assist for Rice’s winner in a really promising display. His fitness is not quite there yet, but that is to be expected, and once that is sorted he will be a real weapon for the Hammers in the closing months of the campaign.
