West Ham United: BBC Sport pundit shares ‘destroyed’ verdict as Michail Antonio singled out

West Ham are a “different side altogether” now compared to their 6-0 thrashing by Arsenal last month, with Michail Antonio playing a key role in their improvement.

That is according to BBC Sport pundit Nedum Onuoha, who shared the verdict after the Hammers beat SC Freiburg and drew with Aston Villa.

The East London club smashed the German side 5-0 on Thursday (14 March) before their 1-1 draw with Villa on Sunday (17 March).

“Antonio was really good midweek as well, his ability to hold the ball up and also stretch the game, there were quite a few dribbles he was doing,” Onuoha said on BBC Football Daily (17 March). “He really keeps the opposition centre-backs really busy.

“It’s funny how football works, because they got destroyed by Arsenal on that day, and now you look at them scoring multiple goals in midweek in a European game where they started a goal down, it’s almost like they’re a different side altogether.”

West Ham have a new lease of life with Michail Antonio

The Hammers had really been missing striker Antonio, who had been sidelined with a lengthy injury. But he has now returned to the squad and indeed to the starting lineup, with the Jamaican international making a real difference on the pitch.

His pace and power have helped the Hammers in the final third, with his hold-up play and indeed finishing also bringing about success.

The striker didn’t score as West Ham smashed Freiburg in their Europa League round of 16 second leg tie at the London Stadium, but he was still very impressive.

He did then find the back of the net in the Premier League meeting with Aston Villa with a very well-taken header from Vladimir Coufal’s cross.

There is certainly a different vibe now in East London, with David Moyes’s side having been on the receiving end of a 6-0 thumping by Arsenal on home soil not so long ago.

In other West Ham news, journalist Ben Jacobs has issued a transfer stance on one London Stadium-linked attacker.

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