Let’s analyse West Ham United player performance from Sunday afternoon’s impressive 1-1 draw at the hands of Antonio Conte’s Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League, as David Moyes’ Hammers moved a full six points clear of the bottom three in 14th position.
Joe Hart: 9/10
Keeping his place in the starting Xl in front of Adrian San-Miguel, the shot-stopper enjoyed one of his better performances between the sticks in Claret & Blue, earning the Man of the Match award for his efforts.
Hart made as many as five crucial saves throughout the match, the pick of them coming in the 88th-minute when he made an incredible diving save from an Olivier Giroud header that looked certain to bulge the back of the net to keep the point intact and with England coach Steve Holland present, he certainly didn’t do his FIFA World Cup hopes any harm.
Pablo Zabaleta: 8/10
Starting out in the right wing-back role, the Argentine veteran put in another impressive performance, more characteristic of a player ten years his younger after showing his age-defying abilities once more against Southampton last time out.
Zabaleta had more defending to do than attacking during the feisty affair and carried out his defensive duties in an admirable fashion, although occasionally being beaten for pace by the likes of Eden Hazard and Willian, whilst providing attacking support himself when needed, an all-around complete display.
Declan Rice: 9/10
Slotting into the defensive three once again, the Republic of Ireland international youngster was keen to prove the club that released him when he was 14 wrong and did exactly this.
The 19-year-old Rice rarely put a foot wrong and was dominant in both the air and on the ground, keeping Alvaro Morata and Giroud, after his introduction, at bay, failing to give any of them inches, having cemented his first-team place, the sky’s the limit for the charge.
Angelo Ogbonna: 8/10
Keeping the three-centre backs in position in the middle was the Italy International, who, like others in the Xl, can put this performance with all of his other solid displays from what is turning out to be his best campaign in East London.
Much like Rice, Ogbonna warded off danger that was airborne and that took the low approach, being remembered most in the affair for his excellent interceptions and last-ditch challenges, most notably to deny Morata a golden opportunity in the first period, staying firmly in the running for the Hammer of the Year award with his performance.
Aaron Cresswell: 7/10
Continuing to feature slightly out of position as a left-sided centre-half, the ex-England International endured an up and down afternoon at Stamford Bridge, mostly making up for some potentially catastrophic errors.
Many of Cresswell’s mistakes came in the first period and failed to lead to the conceding of goals, equally saving some good-looking Blues attacks from causing any serious problems, although his second-half injury, which saw him replaced by Patrice Evra, did appear to be serious, however.
Arthur Masuaku: 7/10
Playing in his usual left wing-back role, the Democratic Republic of Congo International ended up with more defensive duties than he is used to, though coped well and got forward at every opportunity.
However, Masuaku was lacking a little bit of momentum from the start and breaks down the left side were rare, though he was involved in most of the Irons’ rare advances, but not their equaliser, the skilful French-born star will be looking forward to a more-suited contest next Monday night against Stoke City.
Mark Noble: 8/10
Holding together a defensive midfield two in front of the defence, the club captain was more than up for the fight of the London derby, putting in his expected gutsy and determined display.
Noble protected the defence excellently with his tough-tackling style in the middle and passed well on the ball, splitting the Chelsea back-line open for his boyhood club’s late leveller with a wonderful lobbed through-ball to Marko Arnautovic, he has cut a rejuvenated figure over the last few months.
Cheikhou Kouyate: 7/10
Partnering his skipper in the centre of the park, the Senegal captain had a rather uneventful 90 minutes as opposed to his commanding and eventful afternoon in the Saints triumph.
Kouyate did manage to get forward on occasion and also fulfil his defensive duties, winning some important defensive headers from the set-pieces that the Pensioners most threatened from, his pace did prove valuable on the counter as usual and he will be happy to stay away from the limelight with a consistent performance.
Edimilson Fernandes: 6/10
Thrown in to take the place of injured Michail Antonio, much like at London Stadium last Saturday, the Switzerland International failed to impress like he did last time out and was hauled off for goal-scorer Javier Hernandez on 70 minutes.
On only his second match back from injury, Fernandes looked to struggle with the tempo and pace of the game, giving the ball away in critical areas a few too many times and not quite looking sharp enough to cause Conte’s men any serious problems going forward, one for the youngster to scrub off and go again next time.
Joao Mario: 7/10
Supporting Arnautovic from the start with Fernandes, the Portuguese International gave supporters a slight anti-climax from his last showing for the club, although did work hard and track back from forward areas when it was required of him.
Mario rarely stopped running during the affair, but much like names such as Masuaku, the match never really suited his playing style of thriving off possession-based football and as a result, one could have been forgiven for forgetting he was on the pitch at times, though he was far from the worst.
Marko Arnautovic: 8/10
Playing in his accustomed role as a lone striker, the physical forward looked a frustrated man for much of the contest, however, still managed to pop up with one defining moment of quality late in the afternoon.
This was, of course, Arnautovic’s assist for Chicharito’s equaliser, in which he brought down a long ball from Noble with the help of Gary Cahill, swivelled and found the Mexican to smash home from just inside the penalty area, add that to his red-hot run of form and impressive recent goal and assists tallies.
Patrice Evra: 6/10
Coming on for the injured Cresswell in the second-half to play in an uncharacteristic centre-back role, the former France International held his own and managed to keep the home side out in a nervy final ten or so minutes.
Evra looked energetic and eager to get involved in the action, wandering out of defence to win back and collect the ball in midfield and often playing as high-line refreshingly, he may have to re-accustom to the position over the closing matches with the defensive injuries Moyes possesses.
Javier Hernandez: 8/10
Playing the role of pantomime villain to the Chelsea side yet again when coming on for Fernandes with around 20 minutes remaining, West Ham have the ex-Manchester United star to thank for a crucial away point.
Chicharito made a difference from the second he entered the field, holding the ball up well at the start of the leveller move and then getting in position in the box to finish in trademark style, a wonderful effort past Thibaut Courtois from just inside the penalty box, continuing his run of netting each and every time he has come off the substitutes’ bench at Stamford Bridge.
Josh Cullen: 7/10
Enjoying some valuable game time by replacing Mario with five minutes of normal time remaining in the encounter, the Academy of Football product appeared to be more than capable in defensive midfield.
Cullen helped the East Londoners to hold on to their late lead by putting his body on the line in front of the backline and not cracking under the pressure just a day after his 22nd birthday, the youngster is looking more and more ready for first-team action.
So, now that each and every featuring West Ham United squad member has been well and truly rated from one of the better away performances in Claret & Blue this term, can the Hammers stars rack up yet more high-scores come next Monday evening? After Paul Lambert’s Potters have visited Stratford in the Premier League? Join us once again then to find out.