Let’s take an in-depth look at West Ham United player performance from their Sunday afternoon heavy defeat to Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League, as David Moyes’ Hammers lost their three-game unbeaten run in the league.
Joe Hart: 6/10
Keeping his starting place in front of Adrian San-Miguel despite making a two-points-costing mistake in the draw with Stoke City last Monday night, the England goalkeeper would have been disappointed with the sheer number of strikes he let past him in North London.
Hart did pull off two excellent second-half saves to deny Granit Xhaka and Danny Welbeck in the second period, but was embroiled in a misunderstanding with starlet Declan Rice for Arsenals all-important second goal, being beaten at his near post by the third goal scored by Alexandre Lacazette, a mixed outing for him.
Pablo Zabaleta: 7/10
Starting in his usual right wing back position the Argentine veteran put in a fairly average display by his rather high standards, enduing what was a quiet afternoon for him.
Zabaleta was handy both at the back and in attack, however, putting in some decent challenges to thwart the Gunners attacks and providing support with some neat movements and passes going forward, his durability this campaign for his age and volume of playing time continues to be a revelation.
Declan Rice: 6/10
Starting in his fourth match in a row for the first time in Claret & Bile, the London derby will be treated as a steep learning curve by the 19-year-old and one that he will be keen to bounce back from in future.
On 82 minutes, Rice having out in another competent defensive display up until that point, decided to leave an Aaron Ramsey delivery at the near post for Hart, who was not behind him and still on his goal-line, leaving the ball to fall into the far corner, putting the home side 2-1 up, a rare and costly mistake from the Republic of Ireland International.
Angelo Ogbonna: 7/10
Starting in the middle of the three centre-backs while his injured colleague James Collins watched on from the away end with members of the Claret & Blue Army, the Italian International managed to stay out of the headlines in 90 minutes of mistakes.
Ogbonna was mostly dominant in the air and on the ground at the back, largely keeping the likes of Alex Iwobi, Danny Welbeck and Alexandre Lacazette quiet for the first 85 minutes, edging ever-closer into the reckoning for the Hammer of the Year prize in what has arguably been his best campaign in West Ham colours.
Aaron Cresswell: 6/10
Occupying his usual left centre-half role and off the back of one of his better displays this season in the Potters draw, the defender seemed to take a step forward and two steps back with another questionable display in the Sunshine.
Cresswell’s most notable mistake at the back came early in the second period when the man he was marking from a corner Nacho Monreal slipped away from him to volley home first-time from the delivery, and aside from this, going forward, his quality of delivery was also off, a bad day at the office.
Arthur Masuaku: 6/10
Turning out in the left wing back role within the back five, the Democratic Republic of Congo International has struggled to find his form after returning at the end of March from a six-game ban and this rut would continue at the Emirates.
While offering very little in an attacking sense and unable to be his usual effective self in the final third, Masuaku was another to be highlighted for a defensive error, failing to guard the near post properly when Monreal opened the scoring, instead of clearing the ball, he seemed to move away from it, earning him criticism once more.
Mark Noble: 7/10
Featuring as the right pivot of the custom two of defensive midfielders alongside Cheikhou Kouyate, the Hammers skipper led by example with a gusty London derby performance of tough-tackling and neat passing in the middle.
Noble was quick to snuff out danger when it threatened his defence and equally a dab hand when his men were getting forward, as seen by the role he played in Marko Arnautovic’s equaliser, his form has quietly improved over the last few months.
Cheikhou Kouyate: 7/10
Playing alongside his captain Noble in the middle, with a little bit more luck it could have been a very special outing indeed for the Senegal skipper on the ground he scored at during the 2015/2016 season.
Kouyate head onto the crossbar in the first 20 minutes and had a large hand to play in the Irons getting level just after the hour-mark in what was an impressive offensive performance from him, he was also solid in a defensive sense for the away side.
Joao Mario: 6/10
Figuring next to Edimilson Fernandes supporting the lone forward Arnautovic, the Inter Milan loanee’s game won’t live long in the memory of him or any member of the travelling brigade of West Ham supporters for that matter.
In spite of having a few early chances to get his second goal in Claret & Blue, Mario was largely quiet and ineffective in the final third from here on in, deservedly being substituted on 60 minutes, the showing may not hold his chances of being signed permanently by West Ham in the summers in good stead unless he can bounce back.
Edimilson Fernandes: 7/10
The Swiss International was Mario’s partner behind the striker and, although he was substituted at the same time as him rather unfortunately, performed a world better than the man alongside him.
Fernandes was energetic in the Arsenal half and always giving the home defence work to do, often winning the ball back off midfielders to start attacks, his final ball somewhat missing but he has been excellent since returning from injury and is showing few signs of letting his form slip away.
Marko Arnautovic: 8/10
Starting in the single centre-forward role that he has had made his own in times more recent, the club record signing carried on paying back his £25 million price tag by getting into double figures in the Premier League for the season.
Arnautovic got his side on level terms with the home team in the 64th minute, having squandered a few half-openings by that stage, receiving a poked pass from substitute Manuel Lanzini, controlling and smashing a weaker foot volley past David Ospina, he is now ahead of teammate Javier Hernandez by two in the race to become the Irons’ top-scorer for the term.
Manuel Lanzini: 7/10
Coming on for his second outing since returning from an injury he picked up while on Argentina duty on 60 minutes, “The Jewel” had a near instant impact on the affair by registering an assist to his name.
Lanzini reacted quickly to a Kouyate pass falling his way to turn and flick the ball past defenders to Arnautovic to finish, he also gave the midfield of West Ham a little extra pace and creativity, expect him to return to the starting Xl next Sunday at London Stadium.
Javier Hernandez: 6/10
Coming onto the field at the same time as Lanzini, Mexico’s all-time goal-scorer’s presence surely had some say in the East Londoners levelling the scores shortly after he was introduced
However, after that, Chicharito could do little that would impact the match in a profound way, seeing very little of the ball and largely staying out of the action, the last few weeks have been frustrating for him as his time in East London looks to be coming to an end.
Andy Carroll: 6/10
Replacing the off-key Masuaku in the 86th minute, the tall forward came onto the playing field with his teammates two goals down and now with little chance of coming from behind for the second time.
Carroll made himself known to the home defenders by getting up to win a series of headers and seemingly see more of the ball than Hernandez, but he will be hoping for a little more game time next weekend as his fitness slowly starts to return after another lengthy injury lay-off.
So, now that each and every featuring West Ham squad member from one of the better performances on the road this term for the Hammers has been well and truly rated, will the Claret & Blue stars be able to rack up higher numbers come next Sunday afternoon, after Pep Guardiola’s Premier League champions have visited Stratford? Join us once again then to find out.
