Nuno Espirito Santo suffered his first defeat as West Ham United manager with Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka firing Premier League challengers Arsenal to a comfortable 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium.
Here is how Hammers News rated Nuno’s players.
23. Alphonse Areola – 7/10
The Frenchman continues to justify his inclusion over Mads Hermansen. The command he has in his penalty area from set-pieces is night and day compared to the £18 million Dane.
Areola made a few excellent punches from corner-kicks, as well as a handful of fine saves from open play. He denied Jurrien Timber an opener less than 10 minutes in and deserved more when he parried Ebere Eze’s fizzing drive, only to see Declan Rice turn in the follow-up unmarked.
Slightly lucky to avoid an own goal when a Ricardo Calafiori effort rebounded off the post and onto his back.
Nuno is determined to fix West Ham’s ‘big problem’, and Areola could help find a solution.
29. Aaron Wan-Bissaka 5/10
Wan-Bissaka was Nuno’s only change from that 1-1 draw at Everton. Introduced presumably due to his one-v-one defending, the reigning Hammer of the Year did make a couple of useful interventions before Rice opened the scoring in the 38th minute.
However, Arsenal created a fair few overloads down his flank and Wan-Bissaka offered relatively little resistance. Offered nothing going forwards, although few did in reality.
Replaced by Kyle Walker-Peters.
15. Konstantinos Mavropanos – 8/10
Much maligned, and usually rightly-so, but Mavropanos was arguably the pick of the bunch at the Emirates. He dominated Arsenal’s £64 million centre-forward Viktor Gyokeres, especially in the air, while denying the Swede a couple of chances inside the penalty area with his diligent marking.
Mavropanos is often guilty of switching off, but he was solid and focused today. A superb block late on to deny Gabriel Martinelli.
3. Max Kilman – 7/10
Defended solidly alongside Mavropanos for the most part, and was not at fault for either of Arsenal’s goals. Took some risks in possession when playing out from the back.
Kilman’s mishit cross at 2-0 down was one of the few occasions when David Raya in the home side’s net actually looked a little nervy. Also produced one excellent – and rare – run into Arsenal territory.
12. El Hadji Malick Diouf – 3/10
Diouf had Bukayo Saka ‘in hell’ when Senegal stunned England in June. There would be no repeat of that here. The popular left-back was caught ball-watching frequently, with Saka making regular darts into the space he left in behind.
Diouf got lucky when Saka saw an opener ruled out for offside but that good fortune ran out when he fouled Jurrien Timber in the box. Arsenal’s number seven emphatically scored the resulting spot-kick.
No opportunities to get forward either up against a dominant Gunners side.
27. Soungoutou Magassa 5/10
Magassa is still getting used to Premier League life and this was a difficult afternoon against elite opposition. He made one brave block after a speculative Declan Rice piledriver early on but set the tone somewhat when he gifted Arsenal a free-kick in a dangerous area with a heavy touch.
A few more clumsy moments thereafter. Particularly when he and Paqueta collided trying to clear a high ball, resulting in VAR check for handball.
Needs to improve in possession, especially in games where West Ham don’t have much of the ball.
Replaced by Freddie Potts
18. Mateus Fernandes – 4/10
Like Magassa, worked hard in front of the back four and held his shape early on. However, Fernandes was guilty of letting Eze drift in behind him in the build-up to Arsenal’s opener. Not a natural defensive midfielder and it showed.
Fernandes dropped into a back three briefly at the start of the second half to allow Wan-Bissaka and Diouf to push up.
Dispossessed in his own half when Arsenal were pursuing a third.
20. Jarrod Bowen – 5/10
The man who scored West Ham’s winner here in February was anonymous as an attacking force eight months on. Bowen’s work-rate was commendable, helping out Wan-Bissaka and drifting infield to follow the roving Calafiori.
Delivered one good right footed cross on 76 but, apart from that, barely got the ball in dangerous areas. Spent far more time in his own area than Arsenal’s.
10. Lucas Paqueta – 5/10
Like Bowen, this was a day when Paqueta’s best attributes barely showed.
Keen to press Rice and Martin Odegaard in an attempt to disrupt the rhythm but, in possession, barely had any opportunity to make anything happen in the final third. Paqueta wasted one rare chance with a terrible free kick.
7. Crysencio Summerville – 6/10
Probably the West Ham player most likely to make something happen with his ball-carrying and adventure.
Summerville worked really hard defensively and posted a threat in transition. Led a counter after snatching the ball off Saka at 0-0.
Inadvertently forced Odegaard off following a clash of knees initiated by the Norwegian. Summerville received the first booking of the day on 58 minutes for late challenge on Saka.
11. Niclas Fullkrug – 5/10
Chances were always going to be at a premium here. Fullkrug did at least offer a useful, physical outlet, winning a couple of aerial duels against Gabriel Magalhaes and Ricardo Calafiori. Some nice lay-offs too, albeit one touch was ballooned horribly out of play.
Fullkrug rightly asked questions of his fellow attackers when a clever flick-on in the penalty area had no takers.
Replaced by Callum Marshall.
Substitutes
32 Freddie Potts 5/10
Nuno wants to give West Ham’s youngsters a chance, and Potts has already made more appearances under him than Graham Potter. The damage was largely done by the time he was introduced, though.
50 Callum Marshall – 5/10
West Ham fans have been clamouring for Marshall to get a go, and they got their wish here. The Northern Ireland international was likened to Jamie Vardy by some in pre-season. Though he was never given a chance to showcase his pace, pressing or movement here, Marshall could be a very useful option when the Hammers need to rely on counter-attacking.
He did show Vardy-esque traits when robbing Gabriel on one occasion, though. Had West Ham’s best chance in stoppage time when he headed over a Paqueta corner under pressure.
2. Kyle Walker-Peters – 4/10
Couldn’t turn the tide late on.
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