West Ham star Lucas Paqueta equalled an incredible 11-year-old record held by Mohamed Diame in the crucial win over Saints.
When West Ham splashed out a club record £51m to sign Lucas Paqueta from Lyon big things were expected.
A difficult debut season has seen the Brazilian struggle to adapt and produce a consistent level of performance under David Moyes.
Paqueta has slowly but surely been finding his feet in the heart of West Ham’s midfield since the resumption of the Premier League after the World Cup.
He has played a key role in most of West Ham’s positive results this season. And Moyes will need to keep him fit and firing alongside Declan Rice if the Hammers are to achieve their goals.
When the midfielder joined most fans were expecting and hoping he would bring flair, guile, goals and assists to West Ham.
Moyes recently said himself he expected double figures in goals and assists from Paqueta after spending big to sign him.
He has not hit anything like those kind of numbers. But West Ham fans are seeing elements to Paqueta’s game that many probably didn’t even realise he possessed.
The 25-year-old produced one of his better performances for West Ham in the crucial win over Southampton.
His neat, one-touch passing stood out. But it was the Brazilian’s tenacious work off the ball for the Hammers that was just as impressive.
Many may not have realised just how impressive, though.
West Ham star Lucas Paqueta equalled incredible 11-year-old record held by Mohamed Diame in crucial win over Saints
Because West Ham star Lucas Paqueta equalled an incredible 11-year-old record held by Mohamed Diame in the crucial win over Saints.
Diame was a fantastic, powerful midfielder for West Ham under Sam Allardyce between 2012 and 2014.
According to Opta, Paqueta made 10 tackles against Southampton, the most in a Premier League game by a West Ham player since Diame recorded the same number against QPR back in October 2012.
Opta described Paqueta as ‘relentless’. And that is some statistic.
As a Brazilian midfielder, Paqueta is expected to have tricks, flicks and flair – which he does. But this amazing stat shows he is also truly up for the fight to ensure West Ham stay in the Premier League.
MORE WEST HAM NEWS
West Ham star Gianluca Scamacca signs up with Gareth Bale super agent.
Moyes made bullish West Ham claim in his programme notes.
Fan favourite issues great response to being marginalised by Moyes at West Ham.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
