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West Ham need Felipe Anderson at his best in London Derby against Spurs

By Jay Korman

BURNLEY, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 09: Felipe Anderson of West Ham United is challenged by Ashley Westwood of Burnley during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and West Ham United at Turf Moor on November 09, 2019 in Burnley, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
BURNLEY, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 09: Felipe Anderson of West Ham United is challenged by Ashley Westwood of Burnley during the Premier League match between Burnley FC and West Ham United at Turf Moor on November 09, 2019 in Burnley, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /
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After a promising first season in the Premier League, Felipe Anderson is currently enduring a tough second season in East London. The Hammers will need him at his best on Saturday against Spurs.

Probably one of the biggest disappointments this season, if not the biggest disappointment, has been the play of Felipe Anderson. Last season, the Brazilian winger arrived from Lazio for a massive fee. After a great first season in the Premier League, most West Ham fans were expecting Anderson to take the next step and join the group of elite wingers that the Premier League has. However, that has not been the case.

Anderson has heavily regressed this season, with no goals and only three assists to his name. He has often been taken out of games, seemingly looking disinterested at times, and has not had the burst that he seemed to have last year. In order for West Ham to get a result against Spurs, the Hammers will need Felipe back at his best, taking on defenders and terrorizing opposing back-lines with his blistering pace.

I think one factor that could definitely help Anderson get back to his best form would be the insertion of Arthur Masuaku back into the starting XI. When Anderson and Arthur combine in attack down the left-hand side for the Hammers, good things usually happen in attack. Anderson has often had trouble linking up with various wing-backs and midfield players, so having Masuaku as a security blanket could help his performances and would allow for a more dynamic attacking options out wide.

The upcoming match against Spurs is absolutely huge for West Ham. A win could help kick-start a run to get the Hammers moving up the table, and a loss could keep things spiraling even further for Manuel Pellegrini and his squad. In order for the Hammers to win this match, they will need solid performances from their best players, and players who have not performed well up until this point.

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Anderson is one of those players and must get back to what we know he is capable of. There is no better opportunity to break out of a poor stretch of play than a match against your bitter rivals at home. Let’s hope Anderson takes advantage of the opportunity and shows all West Ham fans what we know he is capable of.