WHZ View: Three West Ham players that have taken a step forward this season
West Ham have made an outstanding start to the season and sit eighth in the Premier League table with nine matches played so far.
At the time of writing, they have lost just once in their last seven league matches and are coming off a run of two consecutive wins.
Manager David Moyes has integrated a new 3-4-3 system well and it has been largely effective, with the defence improving and players better able to thrive.
In particular though, there are three players who have shown more this season than in the past and they are as follows:
Arthur Masuaku
The DR Congo international has been hit and miss since arriving at the club in 2016 from Greek side Olympiacos. Often used as a left-back he has looked far more comfortable as a wing-back this season, with Aaron Cresswell able to cover defensively.
Already this season he has made eight league starts, two less than he made throughout the entirety of last year, and he has earned the trust of David Moyes. With one assist, in addition to 0.9 key passes and 2.6 completed dribbles per game, it is easy to see why the Scot has changed his opinion of the 27-year-old (via WhoScored).
Pablo Fornals
The Spaniard was in and out of the team last season, starting 24 times in the league, but he has been an ever-present so far this term. With two goals and two assists already, he has become the creative heartbeat of the team and has formed a deadly partnership with Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio.
According to FBRef, he has generated 0.50 expected goals plus assists per 90 so far this season, in addition to 2.20 shot creating actions per 90.
Angelo Ogbonna
After making 31 Premier League starts last season, the Italian has been a mainstay in the league so far this term. Playing at the heart of a back three his distribution has improved, with Ogbonna completing 29.4 passes per 90 at 81.5% accuracy (via FBRef), while he has marshalled Cresswell and Fabian Balbuena either side of him.
He has actually made fewer tackles and interceptions per game than last season, but this is more the result of West Ham being a better organised unit. Only Tottenham Hotspur have conceded fewer goals so far this season, while they rank sixth best in terms of xG against (via FBRef), testament to the work of Ogbonna.
In other West Ham news, one Hammers player was much improved v Sheffield United