West Ham United were held to a 3-3 draw at Bournemouth last time out.
West Ham looked set for a crucial three points on the road when they took a 3-2 lead over Bournemouth with just a minute on the clock.
But Callum Wilson’s controversial last gasp equaliser pegged David Moyes’ side back and they had to settle for a point.
So what did we learn from the Hammers’ performance?
Desperately missing Mark
A couple of months ago a large section of West Ham fans were calling for homegrown Hammer Mark Noble to be dropped. Like the team, the skipper has been struggling for form for the best part of 18 months. But Noble had been instrumental in West Ham’s recent mini-revival under Moyes until limping off during the 3-0 victory up at Stoke City recently. Noble has since missed the Carabao Cup defeat at Arsenal, the 3-2 home defeat to fellow strugglers Newcastle and the 3-3 draw at Bournemouth. Pedro Obiang looks badly exposed in midfield when Noble doesn’t play while Cheikhou Kouyate is a shadow of the player he once was for the East Londoners. The quicker Moyes can get Noble back the better.
Adrian starting to get a touch of the Joe Hart’s
Adrian is rightly West Ham’s number one right now. But his last two performances have not been his best, costing his side a goal against Newcastle and failing to take command of his penalty area at the Vitality last time out. It would be harsh to blame Adrian for Wilson’s equaliser given the controversy around it but the huge punt into the box was in the air for a long time and the goalkeeper could have come and claimed it.
Chicharito: Miffed or misunderstood?
A lot of the talk after the game surrounded Javier Hernandez and his reaction to West Ham’s third goal at the death. His shot was saved by Asmir Begovic and Marko Arnautovic pounced on the loose ball to tap home from close range. There has been heated debate among West Ham fans since about Hernandez’s lack of celebration with his teammates. Many felt it was a sign of ego and petulance at being consigned to the substitute’s bench under Moyes but others claim it was just because he was unhappy with himself for failing to tuck away the chance himself. Miffed or misunderstood? Only time will tell but we could well get an answer when the January transfer window opens.
Something isn’t right with Andy Carroll
Andy Carroll is still yet to score this season and like several others has found himself on the bench of late. Usually his fully committed no-nonsense style proves to be a vital asset for the Hammers over the course of a season but Carroll just doesn’t look at it this season mentally or physically. He also looks completely disinterested since Moyes’ arrival and once again offered little as a second half sub against the Cherries.
Arnautovic starting to look a bargain
When West Ham splashed out a club record £25 million on signing Marko Arnautovic from Stoke City there were a few raised eyebrows. Those who questioned the move – and the Austrian’s attitude, application and consistency – looked to be proven right after a torrid start to his Hammers career. But since Moyes’ arrival Arnautovic has been forced to work hard to keep his place and it is paying off big time with five goals in his last five games. The Bournemouth game provided the perfect example of how that hard work is paying off with his desire and determination to chase down Begovic forcing an error which he punished ruthlessly. Arnautovic is starting to look every bit a £25 million player and they will need to keep him fit to have any chance of staying up.
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