Another Premier League afternoon, another goalless day for Niclas Fullkrug as the West Ham United striker’s wait for a first of 2025/26 drags on.
And, in truth, there was never really any sense that his drought was going to end at the Emirates.
The Germany international’s record now stands at a highly-underwhelming three goals in 24 Premier League matches. So while Niclas Fullkrug should not be blamed alone for that disappointing return – he is a centre-forward who relies on service, and service was hardly forthcoming away to Arsenal – the £27 million signing from Borussia Dortmund is not covering himself in glory either.
There were a couple of nice flick-ons and the odd towering header in North London. But, overall, Fullkrug offered relatively little before Nuno Espirito Santo introduced Callum Marshall for his top-flight debut around the hour mark.
Over in Spain, meanwhile, a former West Ham United starlet ended a goal drought of his own.
After Toni Martinez scored in Deportivo Alaves’ opening day victory over Levante, the 28-year-old showed against a previously unbeaten Elche that there is more to his game than salmon-esque leaps and bullet headers.
Former West Ham United starlet Toni Martinez ‘playing like prime Karim Benzema’
After an explosive burst of acceleration to leave an Elche defender for dead, Martinez settled himself and fizzed a lethal finish into the bottom corner.
“Sorry to those who sold me in Fantasy Football,” the former Spain Under-19 international laughed after netting his first goal in nearly two months. “Let’s go!”
“[I am] happy. Thanks once again for the support [at the] Babazorros. We’re still together and we want more.”
While Toni Martinez is not the most prolific of centre-forwards – he hit the net for fun with West Ham’s youth teams between 2016 and 2018 but has scored only 52 times since leaving East London six years ago – he does have the odd unplayable streak in his locker.
And even when he is not featuring on the scoresheet, his formidable work-rate always gives Alaves a useful outlet.
“Toni Martinez is playing like prime [Karim] Benzema today,” one La Liga viewer wrote after watching the one-time Porto and Valencia forward fire Alaves into the top half.
“Toni Martinez is a luxury of a striker and another centre-forward masterclass.”
“Possibly Toni Martinez’s best game since arriving [at Alaves] from Portugal.”
“What forward play and what a forward’s finish. Great goal by Toni Martinez.”
“Toni Martinez is a warrior. It seems like he doesn’t show up, but he’s there all the time. He’s a stubborn fighter. He runs, presses, collides, fights, and leaves it all on the pitch. Today, he [draws] a red card and scores a goal to seal the deal. Head held high. Fighter.”
“What a great game from Toni Martinez. He forces the red card from [Elche’s David] Affengruber and seals the 2-0 to put the match away. To me, he’s a striker I like a lot.
Beyond everything he gives you in terms of duels and work rate, I think he’s a great finisher. I think he’s a bit underrated.”
Mateo Pellegrino and Kaio Jorge linked with West Ham
On a weekend when Atletico Madrid slipped up again, when Alexis Sanchez rolled back the years as Sevilla obliterated Barcelona 4-1 at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuain, Martinez joined Vinicius Jr and co in Marca’s Team of the Week.
Back at West Ham, former Upton Park boss Harry Redknapp feels a new centre-forward is a must ahead of the upcoming January transfer window.
Brazil and Cruzeiro striker Kaio Jorge appeared to shut the door on the Hammers after links emerged back home in South America. According to Tuttosport, Parma’s Mateo Pellegrino is a West Ham target now too.
While modelling his game on Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, Pellegrino has shades of Italy icon Christian Vieri, not to mention two-time Serie A Golden Boot winner Luca Toni.
“He’s a striker who’s improving and has a lot of room for improvement,” former Parma forward Emiliano Bonazzoli tells Parma Live.
“He has the qualities of a [traditional] striker. Excellent in the air, at protecting the ball, at moving the team forward, at acting as an outlet, and he’s also quite clean in his execution. He can help create a fluid attacking build-up, also bringing more pace.
“Vieri, a slightly more powerful striker, or Toni come to mind.
“It’s certainly a long road to get to these two players, because they were truly top players. But let’s just say that, given his youth and the desire and hunger that are evident when he plays, I think he has great potential.”
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