WHZ Tactics: Hammers must take advantage of weakened Chelsea right side
West Ham can inflict yet more pain on Chelsea on Monday and exploiting their right-hand side could be the key for David Moyes’ side.
The hamstring injury that has kept Hakim Ziyech out of Chelsea’s last two league games has come as a hammer blow to Frank Lampard’s side.
It is telling that without the Morrocan star on the right, the Blues have looked far less dangerous going forward and Reece James’ impact on the team has been dampened.
The way the two link-up has been a key part of Chelsea’s early-season form and it that was on show against Leeds United recently during their 3-1 home victory.
As we see below, James – currently out of shot – comes alive with Ziyech in front of him as a result of his tendency to drift inside.
Just moments after this piece of movement from Ziyech, he plays an overlapping ball to the onrushing James, who crosses for Olivier Giroud to score at the near post.
Ziyech’s ability to open up space for James has been a signature move for Chelsea this season, giving the Blues the option of crossing with either a left or right-footer at any given time.
When you compare that trademark style of run that has been seen so many times from James this season, to his heatmap against Wolves (courtesy of Wyscout), we see how his approach changes without Ziyech.
While he still continues to offer a threat going forward, there are less of the overlapping runs deep into the opposition half towards the byline.
The numbers add up too. Against Wolves, James did not complete a single dribble and was forced to play 10 long passes, double the amount he has averaged per 90 minutes this season, according to Wyscout.
As per WhoScored, James only managed one key pass during the games against both Everton and Wolves, with the England star looking a drastically different player without Ziyech in front of him.
Lampard remained coy about Ziyech’s availability for the Monday night game during his press conference but after suffering a hamstring injury against Leeds, you would have to think it is unlikely that he will start the game.
After back-to-back defeats in the Premier League, confidence will not exactly be booming at Stamford Bridge so this represents a great opportunity for the Hammers.
In other West Ham news, Declan Rice set for huge game in West Ham clash v Chelsea