To start the season it appeared that Sebastien Haller would cruise into Premier League life with Pablo Fornals struggling in the background. Not so anymore as Fornals looks to have found Premier League form.
Looks like Pablo Fornals has taken all the time he needed to get adjusted to life in the Premier League as the Spaniard has had back-to-back awesome performances in a left-attacking-midfield role for West Ham. First, he nabbed an assist against Chelsea, next he stood out amongst a toothless Hammers team in Wolverhampton.
When asked about his new attacking midfielder ahead of the pivotal Arsenal match manager Manuel Pellegrini had this detached and odd comment on him, seemingly missing his improvement,
"Pablo and other players who arrive need time to adapt. We trust in him, he is having more minutes and he will be the player that we believe.More from Green Street Hammers - West HamBrighton vs West Ham predictions: Can James Ward-Prowse help end the curse?West Ham and two Premier League rivals made huge transfer standLucas Paqueta bet allegations discussed in West Ham and Man City transfer talksBournemouth vs West Ham predictions: Premier League opener amid transfer chaosWest Ham near Denis Zakaria transfer after final James Ward-Prowse bid"
With an opportunity to praise his own signing and boost the player’s confidence, Pellegrini, who constantly says he doesn’t comment on individual player performances, seemingly lumps him in with Haller and gave a cookie-cutter boring answer.
Other than bringing Fornals to East London, Pellegrini and he won’t likely have much time left together. In the time between now and when the Chilean manager is sacked Fornals can embrace the absence of Manuel Lanzini and try to sop up all the minutes he can across the front three.
What is most interesting about this turn of form is that it’s coming from the left side of the pitch, where he started his last to matches. Felipe Anderson wasn’t doing it out wide so he took the #10 and Fornals now flanks him, patrolling the wing but usually staying left-central as much as he can.
It’s clear that Fornals’ success here has been due to his connection to Anderson and Aaron Cresswell down the flank. He assisted Cress’ goal at Chelsea and has shown off some solid link-up play with his other attacking midfielders, including a beautiful longball pick out of Robert Snodgrass who flubbed the should-have-been goal.
There’s no need to overanalyze the situation. West Ham supporters just need to enjoy the ride Fornals is taking them on right now because he is starting to look like the player who tore up the U21 World Cup and pulled strings at Valencia in years past. If he keeps his form there is no doubt West Ham’s form will rise with him.