Aaron Wan-Bissaka excels for West Ham United v Arsenal as Salah comparison made
West Ham may have been humbled badly by Arsenal but there was still plenty to enjoy from Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s performance on the day.
Despite what the 5-2 scoreline suggests, the 27-year-old could leave the London Stadium [30 November] with a modicum of pride after Gabriel, Leandro Trossard, Martin Odegaard, and Kai Havertz established a 4-0 lead for the visitors in the first half before a Bukayo Saka penalty finished the rout.
Wan-Bissaka has now scored in consecutive matches for the Hammers and has been dubbed “Wan-Bi Salah” as comparisons have been drawn to Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah for his contributions of late.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka is finding his feet at West Ham United
The right-back arrived at West Ham during the summer in a £15 million move from Manchester United [The Athletic] in money well spent.
Tim Steidten has joined Julen Lopetegui in the firing line at the Hammers as his summer acquisitions have been scrutinised following the side’s abysmal Premier League form.
However, no Irons supporter will doubt the signing of Wan-Bissaka, and while teammates crumbled under Arsenal’s constant pressure on Saturday, he thrived against the Premier League elite.
He took two shots against the Gunners, wherein one found the back of the net in the 42nd minute for what proved to be a consolation goal, but his efficiency on the day would be a good day’s work for any striker as he recorded a 50 per cent shot conversion rate [Sofascore].
Although he failed to find a Hammers shirt with his sole crossing attempt, his offensive efforts did not go unnoticed, as he completed 75 per cent of his passes and 100 per cent of his dribbles.
Furthermore, his defensive work rate was levels above his teammates – he won 100 per cent of his aerial duels and 85 per cent of his ground duels and made four tackles, two clearances and one interception as he thwarted the Arsenal onslaught on the right flank.
To put up impressive numbers in such a one-sided affair is a testament to his ability and how the rest of the West Ham defenders let Wan-Bissaka down and failed to execute the fundamentals at the London Stadium.
Comparisons to Salah are, of course, exaggerated, but it sums up how the Hammers faithful feel about their right-back as the rest of the summer signings continue to look like money well wasted.
In other West Ham news, Chris Sutton makes a Hammers admission on Julen Lopetegui and David Moyes.
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