West Ham currently sit fifth in the Premier League so far this season, exceeding all expectations. There has been many stand out performers this campaign, including Aaron Cresswell who is now one of the first names on the team sheet.
He is yet to miss a minute of Premier League action for the Hammers playing in all 24 games and is crucial to the way manager, David Moyes, sets ups his side. When playing a back four, Cresswell plays in his normal left-back role, however, when playing a back three, Moyes uses the 31-year-old as a left-sided centre back.
Cresswell has excelled in both positions and is surely a Hammer of the Year contender.
He is defensively solid, helping the side to nine clean sheets but some of his most notable work has been in attack. Cresswell has provided six assists this season, the 5th most in the league and joint-most by a defender along with Everton’s Lucas Digne.
Aaron Cresswell has re-found his form and is now one of West Ham’s most important players.
West Ham have been a massive threat from set-pieces all season scoring 8 goals from corners alone. Cresswell’s delivery has been one of the reasons for that success. West Ham have the likes of Craig Dawson, Angelo Ogbonna and Tomas Soucek all in the box but the superb delivery from the left-back is why those aerial threats have benefitted so much.
He can be even more of a threat with his crossing when playing as a left centre back. When Cresswell joins the attack from the back three, it is very difficult for the opposition to close him down as he is deeper and he has more time to cross from an arguably more effective area of the pitch as opposed to the by-line as West Ham can get the ball in the box sooner.
It’s surely a possibility that Cresswell could find himself in the England squad for the delayed Euro 2020 this summer. He has to be considered by manager, Gareth Southgate, with his ability to cover two positions.
With Leicester’s James Justin out injured for the rest of the season and Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell falling down the pecking order since the arrival of Thomas Tuchel, he is a viable option for England who have struggled to find left-sided defenders with right-back Kieran Trippier being used there previously.