West Ham need to reconsider striker stance after what Antonio did v Arsenal
West Ham United should reconsider their stance on Michail Antonio and keep faith with the veteran striker into next season.
As it stands, it looks as though this campaign will be the last for Antonio with the Hammers, whom he joined in 2015 back in the Boleyn Ground days.
His performance in a dismal 5-2 defeat by Arsenal [30 November] was a rare bright spark on yet another day when Julen Lopetegui’s side were defensively all at sea and completely outclassed.
Antonio reverted to his strengths against the Gunners’ wall of Gabriel and William Saliba, aiming to hold the ball up, bring teammates into play and did come close to pulling a goal back early in the second half.
He was also superb away at Newcastle United in last Monday’s away victory [25 November]. It demonstrates that amid a difficult time for the Hammers hierarchy on the striker front, the 34-year-old still has plenty to offer.
Michail Antonio deserves one more year at West Ham
Antonio has scarcely been prolific during his career and was somewhat of a utility man in the earlier days.
However, he has down the years become vital for West Ham and when many of us saw him as a player winding down to be phased out in the final year of his contract, he has been one of Lopetegui’s key men.
Niclas Fullkrug’s injury has been a severe blow, and Danny Ings has still been bit-part, so Antonio has been heavily relied upon as a focal point of the Hammers attack as January transfer plans are finalised.
Antonio has revitalised his career in the short term, playing regularly for Jamaica on the international scene, and has worked hard on his fitness to prevent fatigue issues during the busy schedule.
Entrusted by Lopetegui, it will be interesting to see which way his career at the club will tilt should the Spaniard lose his job in the near future, which at least for now has not happened despite the heavy defeat by Mikel Arteta’s team.
In other West Ham news, Jamie Redknapp lauds Aaron Wan-Bissaka in a surprising Mohamed Salah comparison.
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