Nick Ware

Wed 24 March 2021 9:00, UK

Said Benrahma’s name wasn’t to be found among the scorers or providers as West Ham drew 3-3 with Arsenal but that was through no fault of his own.

Jesse Lingard and Michail Antonio took most of the plaudits on Sunday but at West Ham Zone we think Benrahma was the unheralded star of the match and deserved more for his efforts.

It was only his second start in the last seven appearances and on the basis of this display he should retain his spot in the starting XI.

Granted, Benrahma was not a great source of protection for Aaron Cresswell as Arsenal repeatedly raided the right-hand side of their attack and scored three goals via this route.

But when you play Benrahma you know what you’re going to get – dazzling skills but perhaps not the most industrious of efforts the other way.

Going forward, however, he was in sparkling form.

At West Ham Zone we took a look at his highlights v Arsenal and how his teammates actually let him down.

This first example shows the brilliant inventiveness of Benrahma.

Instead of pulling the ball back for Lingard on the edge of the area, he chooses to cross the ball into the ‘danger area’ between defenders and the goalkeeper.

With the imposing figure of Tomas Soucek hurtling into the area this was actually the best chancing of scoring an immediate goal.

But the Czech Republic international skewed his headed attempt and was unable to convert.

These next images are actually from the build-up of Lingard’s opener v the Gunners and while the outcome was successful, Antonio actually makes the wrong option and we were fortunate to score.

Benrahma picks the ball up by the touchline and instead of playing a straight ball to Lingard, which could actually be cut out by David Luiz, he has the foresight to play a more positive pass around the defender to the onrushing Antonio.

Antonio has space to gallop into but what was great to see was Benrahma’s willingness to drive on and support him. He didn’t just rest on his laurels and admire his pass.

That intensity is perhaps something not associated with his game but he deserves enormous credit for his hunger to get into dangerous areas for the Irons.

The move develops and the Algerian actually catches up with Antonio and presents him with a passing option.

The Arsenal defenders circled in the middle of the 18-yard box shift their body onto the left-hand side and thus the space opens up in front of Benrahma to latch onto.

This would give him a simple shot at goal or he could pull the ball back for a simple tap-in.

Instead, Antonio elects to pull the ball back for Lingard on the edge of the box who slams the ball home with a sumptuous finish.

While the end result was a success it was clearly the more difficult option and Benrahma’s bursting run went unnoticed.

The next images once again show Antonio letting down his winger.

Benrahma makes a surging run into the box with the ball at his feet and streaks past the Arsenal defenders.

When he gets into this position below is when Antonio should already be making his sprint into the six-yard box as he knows he cannot be offside with Benrahma and the ball ahead of him.

But he is slow to react and makes his run too late and thus does not convert with the goal at his mercy.

The three separate examples in this piece highlight just how different Benrahma’s game could have been.

He was deprived of two assists to add to his four [WhoScored] already this season and potentially a goal for himself to net his first in Claret & Blue colours.

Sometimes he operates on a different wavelength from those around him and that’s on the rest of the players, not him.

For all the question marks on him defensively we certainly have none on him for his attacking forays.

In other West Ham news, Frank McAvennie claims Irons should ship 29y/o ace out in the summer.