Four things we appreciated about our win over Brighton!
1. The curse is broken!
The curse of Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League has finally been broken, according to Jarrod Bowen in his post-match interview.
West Ham United have finally beaten Brighton in the Premier League after six and a half seasons and 13 games.
Brighton had won six of the previous twelve matches, with six draws, but those dozen games were (nearly) forgotten as the Hammers surged to a historic triumph on the Sussex coast.
We can now focus our efforts on stopping our losing streak against Brentford, who have won all four Premier League meetings between the two since achieving promotion in 2021!
2. Areola at it again!
Alphonse Areola played an influential role again as West Ham United overcame Brighton & Hove Albion by the same scoreline a week after his penalty save from Enzo Fernández built the foundations for a 3-1 home triumph against Chelsea.
The France international has been given the chance to establish his claim as the Hammers’ first-team starter this season, and he has grabbed it with both huge, gloved hands.
Areola was simply superb at the Amex Stadium, with his positioning, reflexes, concentration, and – with the exception of one dropped catch – handling all at a high level.
The 30-year-old made NINE saves to keep the Seagulls at bay, including at least three ‘world-class’ ones.
Irish forward Evan Ferguson was denied five times, Pascal Groß was denied three times, and Lewis Dunk and Jol Veltman will wonder how they didn’t score.
Areola has now made 16 saves in three outings, and while he would love to be less busy in the future, the goalie has obviously proved his ability to be West Ham’s Premier League number one.
3. Bowen’s still on fire!
Jarrod Bowen is in a good situation.
West Ham United’s UEFA Europa Conference League matchwinner has been in fantastic shape after returning to pre-season training after becoming a father for the first time in the summer, to twins with partner Dani Dyer.
Bowen’s pleasure on and off the field is transferring into exceptional performance after exceptional performance. The No20 was catastrophic in Brighton.
He first collected Sad Benrahma’s inch-perfect cross and finished past Bart Verbruggen in one movement to double West Ham’s lead, then he fed Michail Antonio to turn away from Lewis Dunk and power in the Irons’ third and cap up a magnificent triumph minutes later.
Isn’t it possible that England will be called up for the September internationals?
4. Moyesball
For the second week in a row, David Moyes’ West Ham United demonstrated that possession does not equal points.
A week after overcoming Chelsea with 24% possession at London Stadium, the Hammers subdued and astonished Brighton to win at the Amex Stadium with only 22% possession.
As Moyes stated in his post-match West Ham TV interview, he would have preferred to see his team hold greater possession and surrender less chances to their opponents – Brighton had 25 goal attempts to West Ham’s 12 – but his team ultimately won the game.
The Hammers sat in a compact defensive formation, with banks of four and five on the edge of their penalty area and a few yards beyond, refusing to engage with their opponents, whose centre-backs pressed further into the visitors’ half in an attempt to lure them out.
Offensively, the Irons played on the counter, exploiting the large open gaps created behind Brighton’s back four with Michail Antonio’s desire to run the channels, Sad Benrahma’s ability to carry the ball upfield, and Jarrod Bowen’s pace.
Moyes’ tactics worked off nearly flawlessly for the second Premier League gameweek in a row, with James Ward-Prowse and Lucas Paquetá choosing passes through the lines as well.
