BBC pundit Alan Shearer believes defensive frailties is the biggest issue that West Ham need to rectify if they are to turn around their fortunes.
The 5 goals they conceded against Arsenal at the weekend means that Julen Lopetegui‘s side have now let in 24 in 13 matches – the joint-fourth-worst record in the Premier League. Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer said that the Hammers’ failure to capitalise on a good result against Newcastle last week demonstrates that there are underlying problems that need to be fixed:
“I didn’t expect them to win against Arsenal, but I expected a bit better, particularly after the result against Newcastle last Monday evening. Where they really deserved that result against Newcastle, so I was thinking, ‘Here we go, we might see a little bit better from them’.”
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“But yeah, I don’t think they’re great at the back, and they give too many chances away – yeah, I’m not convinced all is well at West Ham.”
West Ham’s defensive numbers
It is not an accident that the Irons have conceded so many goals. The underlying stats back up how poor they have been at the back.
Against Arsenal, they conceded 3.27 xG in the first half. They did tighten up after the break but the damage was already done. The 23.91 xG they have conceded across the course of the season also shows that they have not been unlucky in terms of goals against either – it’s nearly bang on the 24 they have actually let in.
It’s a problem that precedes Lopetegui
Many fans have been rightly critical of the fact that the current manager has not improved the team in any conceivable way since the departure of David Moyes.
West Ham were poor defensively last season, conceding an average of 1.35 xG per game; the third-worst defensive record in the entire Premier League. Under Lopetegui, the defensive issues have persisted.
Find out who is in West Ham’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here