Stop the count: West Ham’s Hammer of the Year was decided in win over Arsenal

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There was no lack of irony as West Ham’s former Hammer of the Year Declan Rice watched the next to be crowned deny him the Premier League title.

When Declan Rice was leaving West Ham, he said it was because he wanted to go and win the top trophies in football.

So it angered and baffled many Hammers fans when he chose Arsenal over Man City.

West Ham actually ended Rice’s hopes of two trophies in his debut season with the Gunners.

The Irons knocked Arsenal out of the League Cup then beat them 2-0 at the Emirates – a defeat which let Man City back in to defend their Premier League title.

This year it is Liverpool taking advantage of City’s slip.

And West Ham’s superb 1-0 win at the Emirates courtesy of a Jarrod Bowen goal has all but ended Arsenal’s title hopes again.

Former HOTY Rice watches next one end his trophy hopes

Rice was poor against his old club once again, hooked off early in the second half.

The former Hammer of the Year could only watch on as the one surely set to etch his name alongside the likes of Rice put in another man of the match display.

Stop the count because West Ham’s Hammer of the Year was decided in the win over Arsenal.

While the victory does not move the Hammers up the league, it does at least breathe some life into a dismal season.

West Ham fans have not had much to shout about over the last 14 months.

But now Graham Potter’s side have given them plenty of ammunition.

One man was key to the win, though.

And while Potter worked his magic at Arsenal – where he has an excellent record by the way – that player has been brilliant all season long.

West Ham’s Hammer of the Year decided in win over Arsenal

Step forward Hammer of the Year 2024/25 Aaron Wan-Bissaka.

When West Ham signed Wan-Bissaka for just £15m it looked a bargain on paper.

But all Hammers fans heard was that while he was an excellent one-on-one defender, Wan-Bissaka was abysmal going forward.

Man United fans and journalists were adamant that is why they could do without him.

It is fair to say he has been proving them wrong in just about every match since.

The Spider has been West Ham’s best player all season and his brilliant display of boundless energy sealed it.

Wan-Bissaka’s lung busting run and brilliant skill and cross to set up Bowen’s goal was the decisive moment of the match.

But that is only scraping the surface of his performance.

Wan-Bissaka’s game against Arsenal in numbers:

• Wan-Bissaka played the full game and had 48 touches
• 20 passes completed (80%)
• Six clearances
• Six ground duels won
• Four successful dribbles
• Three aerial duels won
• Two key passes
• One key tackle
• One shot blocked
• One big chance created
• One shot on target
• One assist

Not only is Wan-Bissaka head and shoulders West Ham’s Hammer of the Year.

Wan-Bissaka a signing of the season contender

He is up there for Premier League signing of the season.

Man United fans are incredulous their club sold him.

And it is easy to see why.

West Ham tied the defender down to a seven-year deal.

If he sees that contract out he will go down as a West Ham legend without any shadow of a doubt.

A true 10/10 performance in every sense of the word and could even have had another goal to add to his tally.

What a player, what a signing, what a bargain.