WHZ View: Aggressive Diop required to tackle threat of Lacazette in West Ham v Arsenal
Issa Diop needs to replicate his Old Trafford display against Arsenal on Sunday if West Ham are to pick up a positive result to continue their European charge.
The Irons lost 1-0 to Manchester United last weekend to dent their Champions League aspirations but the 24-year-old centre-back did emerge with some credit after helping to shackle Marcus Rashford and co.
With Alexandre Lacazette primed to start for Arsenal in a central striking role v West Ham after his North London derby heroics, Diop will need to on top form to handle his unique threat.
Lacazette is a rather diminutive forward but his terrific upper body strength and mobility allows him to hold off even the most physical defenders.
See the example below v Spurs when he outfought Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg on the edge of the box.
Lacazette peels off into an advanced midfield role and receives the ball in space, something that is a feature of his game.
Hojbjerg immediately comes across to close him down and restrict his ability to fashion a goalscoring opportunity but the French forward is far too clever for him and rolls him to the side.
This then gives Lacazette oceans of space to pick his spot and while it amounts to nothing it is something West Ham need to be fully aware of.
Thankfully in Diop, they have a defender who has the physique to handle all sorts of challenges.
He is a man-mountain of a player but he is also quick and has great anticipation.
The image below shows how quick he was to shut down Marcus Rashford last weekend.
He gets tight to him in the opposing half an easily emerges with the ball.
The next three images show his terrific reading of the game and his ability to bring the ball out of the back to initiate an Irons attack.
Here he is a few steps away from his man but knows where he is at all times.
When he spots Aaron Wan-Bissaka shape up to play a pass into the forward’s feet he makes his move and springs out of the defensive line to intercept and surge forward.
This then resulted in a West Ham free-kick as the only way Diop could be stopped was by an unlawful block.
Diop won 75% of his 12 duels against Manchester United and made 11 recoveries [Wyscout] and a similar monstrous display will be required to stop the threat of Arsenal.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang poses a big problem in behind the defence but if Lacazette starts centrally it could cause a problem with West Ham defenders unsure as to whether to track his deeper movement or to leave him to Declan Rice and co.
But with Diop in the side they have a man capable of following him all the way.
In other West Ham news, Irons duo start for U23s as they begin injury comeback trail.