Many clamoured for the defensive pairing of Diop and Zouma v Everton
West Ham United left Goodison Park with all three points on Sunday thanks to Angelo Ogbonna’s header in the 1-0 Premier League win over Everton.
It was the Hammers’ first set-piece goal in the top-flight this season, but it might not have happened had some had their way.
According to The Athletic journalist Roshane Thomas, many were clamouring for the defensive pairing of Issa Diop and Kurt Zouma heading into the Toffees clash, but Ogbonna, 33, offered everyone a timely reminder of why he merits a place in David Moyes’ starting XI with a man-of-the-match performance.
Huge
Diop has been very solid in the few games he has played this term, but his Italian teammate remains crucial to the West Ham defence.
He has been on top of his game as usual, putting in some top defensive shifts alongside Zouma.
Ogbonna completed 50 of the 53 passes he attempted, while he also made a goal-saving block to deny Alex Iwobi after the restart.
Despite his age, he has not shown signs of slowing down, and a lot were disappointed that he was left out of Italy’s European Championship squad in the summer after an impressive 2020-21.
He is edging close to the twilight of his career, though, and while there are concerns over his diminishing pace, he often makes up for it with his positioning and experience.
Diop will get chances to stakes a claim for a starting place, but he has to bid his time and learn from one of the best at the moment.
At 24, the Frenchman still has time ahead of him, and he could re-establish himself as a West Ham regular sooner rather than later.
In other West Ham news, Jack Wilshere has predicted major Hammers exit, but reckons one goal would stop it.
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