Nuno Espirito Santo’s starting XI did not lack in creativity, but it felt like West Ham United could have kept playing until Halloween without breaching Arsenal’s backline at the home of the Premier League challengers.
Though those defensive positives were clear to see – Konstantinos Mavropanos bullied Viktor Gyokeres on a day when Alphonse Areola and Max Kilman held their own – Nuno Espirito Santo knows improvements are required in the other direction.
‘Frustrated’ and ‘disappointed’; while Graham Potter often resembled a man scrambling through the haystack in desperate search of a needle-shaped positive, Nuno clearly holds himself and his West Ham United charges to higher standards.
“We were organised, compact, we improved slightly on our positioning in set-pieces against a tough opponent,” Nuno said after a 2-0 defeat in which the Hammers mustered only 32 per cent of the possession and a grand total of zero shots on target.
“At the same time, there is a lot of negatives, [especially] in possession.”
Former West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini, though, certainly cannot say the same. Not with Pablo Fornals playing the best football of his career in a deeper midfield role.
On a weekend in which Mateus Fernandes and Lucas Paqueta struggled to offer much of a creative outlet, Fornals provided a ‘goal contribution’ for a fourth successive La Liga match in the green and white of Real Betis.
Not only that, a fan favourite who left the Hammers for just £6.8 million now ranks among the finest midfielders in the whole of Europe in a few key areas.
Former West Ham United hero Pablo Fornals outshines Bruno Fernandes and Vinicius Jr
Speaking on El Tel and Jon’s La Liga Weekly podcast after Fornals scored in a 3-1 victory over Real Sociedad last month, Spanish football expert Terry Gibson admitted his surprise at the West Ham cult hero’s trajectory in a Betis shirt.
“I have [always] liked him, wherever he has been and whoever he has played for,” Gibson said. “But he has become a different player to what I thought he was initially going to be.
“A year ago, you’re looking at him thinking; ‘A midfield with Pablo Fornals in it? I don’t know about that. He’s a silky, creative, attacking, skilful player. But now, he is a proper, box-to-box, all-round attacking midfield player who defends and gets forward.”
How Nuno could have done with a Fornals-esque presence on a day when West Ham were crying out for someone capable of picking up possession in the centre of the pitch before springing a speedy transition.
Take Real Betis’ winner during Sunday’s 2-1 win at Espanyol. After clearing a Periquitos corner, Fornals needed only two touches to control a high ball and then split the Espanyol backline with a gorgeous trivela pass.
Abde Ezzalzouli did his part – a wonderful touch and a cool finish – but this is exactly what Gibson was talking about when he described the ‘fabulous’ Fornals as an ‘orthodox central midfield player’ with all the qualities to join the La Liga elite.
Across the whole of Europe’s top five leagues, Fornals ranks fourth when it comes to shot-creating passes.
Real Betis star in ‘spectacular form’ with Champions League the aim
Only Pedri, Kylian Mbappe and Paris FC playmaker Maxime Lopez have produced more, while Bruno Fernandes, Harry Kane, Vinicius Jr, Jack Grealish and Michael Olise are currently choking on his dust.
Fornals ranks joint-third when it comes to passes which ended up in a goal. He has five already.
The Spain international has also mustered the eighth most passes into the final third of any player in La Liga, the Bundesliga, Ligue 1, Serie A and the Premier League.
“Real Betis had very high expectations for the 2025/26 season and, after a month and a half of competition, they are more than meeting them,” Andalusian-based publication ABC write. “A large part of Betis’ success stems from the boots of Pablo Fornals.
“The Betis number eight is in spectacular form, leading his team to the Champions League spots.”
If Nuno is to get West Ham moving in the right direction, he may need similar levels of statistical excellence from his own midfield options.
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