West Ham are basking in what’s been labelled a ‘famous’ win at Arsenal but it means nothing unless Graham Potter passes a key test.
It has been a miserable 14 months for West Ham United.
Going into the game against rivals Arsenal, the Hammers had won just 13 of their last 53 matches in all competitions.
That was under three different managers, going back to January 1st 2024.
Ironically the rapid decline started after West Ham’s memorable 2-0 win at Arsenal last season.
Things unravelled for the Irons and then boss David Moyes after that victory, which ultimately stopped Arsenal winning the league.
Julen Lopetegui’s tenure was a disaster and featured a 5-2 loss against the Gunners, who also beat West Ham 6-0 under Moyes in the second half of last season.
West Ham have been a touch watch in the last 14 months.
So Hammers fans and the players can be forgiven for enjoying the performance and result against the Gunners.
West Ham have nothing but league placing money to play for between now and the end of the season.
But stopping Arsenal – and Declan Rice – winning the title again at least gives the campaign some semblance of meaning.
West Ham win at Arsenal means nothing unless Potter passes test
However, West Ham’s win at Arsenal means nothing unless Graham Potter now passes a key test.
There has been much enthusiasm around Potter’s appointment.
On the whole performances and the approach have been much more in line with what West Ham fans wanted and expected when the club parted company with Moyes to move in a different direction.
West Ham have been an easy target for journalists, pundits and rival fans since, given that the direction of travel has been downwards.
Hammers fans were not the ones who chose or wanted Lopetegui, though.
The appointment of Potter has won much more universal approval in east London.
That’s not to say there haven’t been doubters.
Many raised concerns over the fact Potter had been out of the game for nearly two years before accepting the West Ham job.
Lacklustre defeats to Brentford and Palace at home – and some of the tactics – fuelled those doubters.
But the win at Arsenal – Potter’s second in seven matches thus far – has made a big statement.
Summer signings Max Kilman and Aaron Wan-Bissaka were excellent again.
In fact one of them essentially stopped the vote for West Ham’s Hammer of the Year award.
Another big investment Jean-Clair Todibo, who will cost West Ham £32m from this forthcoming summer’s budget, was superb.
Crysencio Summerville has looked very exciting for West Ham too up to his disappointing injury setback.
And there is even excitement around Luis Guilherme after he showed what he’s all about in the recent defeat to Chelsea.
Hammers at a fork in the road and must beat Leicester
Suddenly West Ham’s summer window doesn’t seem all that bad after all under the right manager.
The real examination comes this Thursday night, though.
West Ham should be wiping the floor with woeful Leicester City at the London Stadium.
The Foxes have been horrendous all season but somehow managed to beat West Ham 3-1 in the reverse fixture in December.
That was the game which saw West Ham’s hardcore away support fully turn on Lopetegui and call for his head.
Now it is the game which will prove whether Arsenal was another flash in the pan or if West Ham are truly on the up under Potter.
Alan Shearer believes West Ham’s win at Arsenal was different from similar victories under Moyes.
Potter must ensure Gunners win isn’t another false dawn
Nothing other than a convincing win will do.
And if the Hammers flop again and Arsenal does prove another false dawn, then the blame certainly does not lay with Potter.
It will be cast iron proof that the players and their motivation is the big problem.
If West Ham do manage to build on the Arsenal win with another victory, Potter will have achieved something that hasn’t been seen for almost an entire year – back-to-back Premier League wins.
The last time the Hammers managed that was victories over Brentford and Everton last March.
Back then, Moyes was on his way out of the club after almost five years of progression.
This time it could signal the start of a new era of West Ham moving in the right direction again.
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