Is West Ham’s Said Benrahma Starting To Show His Magic

After a slow start to life at West Ham, Said Benrahma is slowly turning into one of the team’s brightest stars. The Algerian played a major role as the Hammers beat Crystal Palace last night and move into the Champions League places.

After eventually joined West Ham on loan with an obligation to buy on the domestic deadline day, fans were excited to see Benrahma in action. David Moyes, however, was not sure about the Algerian’s ability to step up to the Premier League. This uncertainty meant the mercurial attacker was only given limited game time as he was bedded into the side.

Benrahma did have a somewhat immediate impact and assisted the winning goals against Fulham and Aston Villa. Moyes, however, was still unimpressed with Benrahma’s general play and decision making. The manager wanted to see the 25-year-old work hard for the team and not just an attacking player.

The playmaker has started to do exactly this in the last month or so and has started the last six games in all competitions. In each game, Benrahma is looking more and more dangerous. Against Palace last night the attacker arguably had his best game for the Hammers despite not directly contributing to a goal.

West Ham fans are starting to see the best of Said Benrahma who could become one of the team’s key players.

Benrahma was on brilliant form and was a constant thorn in the Eagles side. The Algerian displayed plenty of tricks and wizardry; something fans have not witnessed since the days of Dimitri Payet. Benrahma was unlucky not to have walked away from the game with at least an assist.

The winger dribbled past two Palace defenders to the byline and perfectly layed-off the ball to Michail Antonio. Unfortunately for Benrahma, Antonio was having a very off-night and hit his shot straight at Vicente Guaita.

Moyes however for one of the first times was full of praise for Benrahma after the match. The manager was quick to comment on his great pressing and commitment, the traits that Moyes wanted to instil in Benrahma from the start.

"“He played really well tonight and he played really well for the team tonight. His pressing and commitment to the team. If we have Said doing it then we are happy”Moyes on Benrahma"

With Benrahma showing he is perfectly capable of cutting it in the Premier League; the club are now considering bringing forward the obligation to buy him from Brentford. The decision to do this will allow the club to sign another domestic player on loan, likely to be Jesse Lingard at this point.

Even though Benrahma is yet to find the back of the net for West Ham, he is proving himself in other ways compared to some of the other players in the club. Considering Manuel Lanzini and Andriy Yarmolenko on the decline, Benrahma will be crucial to the Hammers in the future.