Michail Antonio, West Ham badge
West Ham striker Michail Antonio. Credit: Imago
Carla Devine
Sun 1 December 2024 12:40, UK
Danny Murphy was left baffled by Michail Antonio’s defending for the first goal West Ham conceded against Arsenal on Saturday.
Antonio was left to mark Gabriel Magalhaes, who was able to get clear and head home for a simple opener at the London Stadium (30 November).
Murphy, reacting to the footage he saw on Match of the Day [30 November; 15:37], was confused as to why the Jamaica striker was even given the task of marking Gabriel in the first place.
“Antonio’s your centre forward marking their best header of the ball, I found that strange,” he said.
“He left him, he lost him, didn’t feel, didn’t seem comfortable doing it. The best header of a ball in the Premier League from set plays.”
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Although this was always going to be a tough game for West Ham, it was a disappointing display after what they showed they were capable of against Newcastle United.
Murphy is right in his analysis of the first Arsenal goal as there are plenty of questions to be asked about the Hammers and their defending of this set piece.
Antonio is not a defender yet he was marking a big threat in the box. When you watch the footage back, he loses Gabriel very easily which leaves his opponent completely free to score.
Julen Lopetegui
West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui
Although it wasn’t strong defending from the 34-year-old, it leaves questions more about the organisation of the side than the player himself.
The fact that Lopetegui’s side was set up this way for a set-piece against Arsenal suggests a lack of knowledge of their opponent and in turn, a lack of preparation for key situations in the game.
The result leaves further question marks over the future of Lopetegui at the London Stadium but the naivety shown from his side is the concerning factor which could well mean the end of the road.
In other West Ham news, after what Michail Antonio did v Arsenal, the Irons need to reconsider their striker stance.
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