Gary Neville right to be impressed as Aaron Wan-Bissaka tops surprising West Ham stat vs Man United
Aaron Wan-Bissaka was exceptional in both boxes during West Ham’s 1-1 draw with Man United on Thursday night.
Soungoutou Magassa’s late equaliser means that the Hammers stayed in 18th place, although they closed the gap to Leeds to just two points.
Wan-Bissaka was excellent against Man United, and typified the fighting spirit that has been cultivated under Nuno Espirito Santo.
Despite being potentially lucky to escape a second yellow card in the final minutes of the match, it was in attack where Wan-Bissaka showed his quality, with his dribbling causing havoc for the Man United defence.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka showcases attacking threat vs Man United
Wan-Bissaka was no doubt keen to put in an assured performance against his old side, and he delivered in every way possible.
Not only did he clear Joshua Zirkzee’s shot off the line, but he also provided a brilliant threat on the counter-attack as West Ham looked to catch the hosts off guard.
According to FotMob, Wan-Bissaka completed five successful dribbles in the match, more than any other player.
| Stat | Wan-Bissaka |
| Minutes played | 90 |
| Successful dribbles | 100% (5/5) |
| Pass accuracy | 73% (27/37) |
| Ground duels won | 69% (9/13) |
| Touches | 79 |
Wan-Bissaka isn’t exactly known for his attacking prowess, although there was a determination to make things happen in the offensive third that hadn’t been seen under Graham Potter.
Nuno is certainly getting the best out of the 28-year-old, and it is certainly a change to see him flourish going forward.
Wan-Bissaka has been an important presence in defence, and his 47.1 per cent rate of successful crosses is among the best for a right-back in the top flight.
He hasn’t lost his defensive prowess, making 17 interceptions and only being dribbled past twice in his 10 Premier League appearances.
With Wan-Bissaka heading off to AFCON with the DR Congo on 15 December, Kyle Walker-Peters has a huge task when replacing him in the starting lineup.
What Gary Neville said about Aaron Wan-Bissaka is spot on
Wan-Bissaka has been rightfully criticised for some lapses in concentration this season, although it’s clear that Nuno is helping him to erase that from his game.
Speaking during the match, Gary Neville was impressed by the 28-year-old’s development over the years.
He said: “It is a brilliant defensive header [to deny Zirkzee]. And he has definitely improved on the ball from a few years ago. He’s more confident now.”
Wan-Bissaka will be a big miss over the festive period, and the Hammers will need to adapt accordingly ahead of their tough run of games.
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