Points and great performances in three matches against Everton (away), Chelsea, and Manchester United means one thing: Brighton away is totally a trap game. West Ham need to keep their focus and mental strength in order to avoid a loss against a team that the Hammers should handle.
As it stands right now, West Ham sit in 14th in the Premier League with seven points in through seven matches. Brighton are right behind them ranking 15th with five points. On table alone this matchup looks like it would be close, however, Brighton are adept at grinding out points which they’ve done all season whereas West Ham started slow but are starting to look deadly. The matchup is intriguing and West Ham need to keep their focus to handle Brighton.
For West Ham, the sleeping giant is awake; time to start on the front foot and plan the attack, not set up to defend. All of the front three forwards have gotten in on the scoring in recent games with Yarmolenko up to two goals, Arnautovic at four, and Anderson potting one. The team clicking offensively is important because the game planning gets simpler – “forget the opposition, how can we get some goals.”
Contrary to previous matches this season, West Ham’s game plan was dictated by their opponent. The Hammers set up defensively minded against teams like Liverpool and Arsenal, worrying about their opposition’s attack more than their own. The times have changed, however, as West Ham now have the players and performances to scare other teams off.
Anderson scoring is extremely important in this attack-first mindset. No forward on the pitch works harder than Anderson when not in scoring areas, yes including Arnautovic. Yarmolenko tends to cede his defensive responsibilities to his midfielders and fullback, waiting for the ball further up the pitch.
Without a veteran defender like Zabaleta backing him up, Anderson has to go retrieve the ball often from Masuaku and carry up the play along the left wing. Not only does this take him out of the direct goal scoring areas immediately, but it makes Anderson much more integral to the entire offensive side of West Ham other than just finishing. It was just desserts for Anderson who finished coolly past de Gea and Manchester United and could be the start of something special.
Yamolenko doesn’t do as much as Anderson off the ball, but he offers a ton in the offensive third. Most notably his left boot. He put one passed Pickford after stutter-stepping his way into space, and did the same against United. More important than proof of his awesome shot power, though, was the run he made on his first goal for West Ham. Yarmolenko lost his marker at the halfway line and did extremely well to get open, stay onside, and calmly slot home the squared ball. He’s in on the goals and looks motivated to keep it that way.
Has Arnautovic ever had this caliber of forward on his flanks? As a striker, certainly no as he was solo up top all of last season. But now the true potential is getting unlocked, Arnie has scoring, playmaking wingers and the whole Premier League should be scared.
What he does so well is everything. Now that sounds ridiculous but hear me out. Arnautovic has never been the marquee man in the league and has always played second fiddle to big-name players on high profile teams. He takes these facts and uses them as a chip on his shoulder to bully defenders, physically and embarrass them with finesse.
He is getting his recognition now but hasn’t let that distract him from earning every minute he gets on the pitch.
So, Adam, the match preview is just you pumping the tires of West Ham’s front three for a few hundred words? You bet it is. Brighton can counter-attack with Knockhart and look for Murray in the box but West Ham should dominate possession and have the lion’s share of solid attacking minutes. Here’s the summary – If the West Ham who played against Everton, Chelsea, and Manchester United show up to Brighton, all the Gulls can do is try to keep it respectable. And it feels damn good to finally say that.