BBC Sport journalist blown away by ‘simply awesome’ Alphonse Areola in West Ham United loss v Manchester City
West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola was “simply awesome” in his club’s 3-1 defeat to Manchester City, according to BBC Match of the Day commentator Chris Latchem.
The Hammers went ahead in the clash at the London Stadium against Pep Guardiola’s side on Saturday (16 September) through James Ward-Prowse.
But second-half goals from Jeremy Doku, Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland secured all three points for the visiting team.
“‘Smash and grab’ was what the Hammers here were talking up pre-match, as they’d done against Brighton before the international break,” Latchem said, as quoted by BBC Sport.
“Haaland pretended to collapse as a goal celebration after finally getting the ball past Alphonse Areola. The West Ham keeper was simply awesome all afternoon and unlucky to be on the losing team.”
Stunning display
Areola was 100% unlucky to be on the losing side, with the goalkeeper producing a stunning display despite conceding three goals.
He would have predicted a busy afternoon pre-match, but perhaps he didn’t predict he would have such a superb 90 minutes.
The shot-stopper kept his team in the game as much as he possibly could, but Manchester City’s stars eventually came out on top.
As per SofaScore, Areola made 10 saves at the London Stadium encounter, and some of those really were world-class.
Haaland was the man denied on many occasions by the Hammers ace, with his exhausted celebration proving just how difficult it was to get the ball past the West Ham number one.
David Moyes will be proud of his team for their first half display, having led 1-0 at the break, but at the same time will be disappointed as his players lost their way in the second half.
In other West Ham news, a journalist believes the club are “stronger” without Declan Rice as “positive” early signs emerge.