Moving on from the high of victory and the level of performance St James’ Park to the challenge of Arsenal’s visit is sobering. Most West Ham supporters are probably expecting little out of the game if they are honest. However, upon closer inspection, the Hammers’ recent performances against their North London rivals aren’t as desperate as perhaps fans might think. Less than 12 months ago the Hammers went to the Emirates and won 2-0 with goals from Tomas Soucek and Konstantinos Mavropanos.
Of course, the February ’24 game stings in the memory with the resounding 0-6 thrashing of Moyes’ Hammers team. But West Ham were on a downward trajectory at the end of David Moyes’ tenure at that stage and showed little of the resilience on display last Monday. Half the team personnel have changed now. Will it be easy? Of course not: Are West Ham going to win? Quite possibly not. But the tactics used on Monday night could well make for a more competitive match and allow the Irons to compete on much more equal terms.
Writing in the nytimes.com/athletic, Roshane Thomas compiled an interesting Tomas Soucek bio piece which offers hope for the fixture tomorrow. Recognising Lopetegui’s midfield methodology, Thomas writes:” The midfield trio of Soucek, Soler and Paqueta impressed:.. Soucek showed his defensive traits by dropping into a back three alongside Max Kilman and Jean-Clair Todibo when the team were out of possession’. It seems as if the failed ‘Alvarez’ experiment against Chelsea worked far better with Soucek in that roving third centre back role than earlier in the season when Alvarez tried and failed to contain The Blues.
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Again carried forward from Monday, doubling up’ in defence from the wingers at times will further neutralise Arsenal’s threat but the danger of being too defensive and keeping Bowen and Summerville shackled in their own half will reduce West Ham’s own goal scoring chances.
The midfield holds the key- If Lopetegui can use the tactical nous and combative strengths shown by Carlos Soler and – tantalisingly glimpsed on Monday – a resurgent Lucas Paquetá in a less expansive role, then perhaps there is hope that West Ham can go toe to toe with their North London rivals. The Brazilian especially will need to be at his most engaged and workhorse-like self to compete with Arsenals midfield. If not a win, at least West Ham can put in a performance to make their fans proud.