Sky Sports pundit Clinton Morrison was superlative in praise of Alphonse Areola after the West Ham United goalkeeper’s save to deny Manchester City star Josko Gvardiol.
The 30-year-old astounded Morrison with his reactions to deny the Citizens a 2-1 lead in the Premier League on Saturday. Jeremy Doku (46’) pulled Manchester City after James Ward-Prowse’s (36’) rare headed goal. But Bernardo Silva (76’) put Pep Guardiola’s squad in front.
Manchester City applied extra pressure on West Ham after Doku struck out Ward-Prowse’s diving header. Doku also pulled the strings to give Gvardiol a chance to bag his first goal for the Citizens. The 21-year-old left RB Leipzig to join Pep Guardiola’s side for £77m in August.
Areola excelled in West Ham’s defeat to Manchester City
Doku pinged the ball over to Gvardiol in space and the Croatian opted to try his luck. Areola was a match for the natural centre-back’s effort, however. The France goalkeeper stretched out to stop the ball from finding the far corner. Though Silva would soon hand City the lead.
Areola regularly lived up to his duties as West Ham’s last line of defence against the 2022/23 Premier League champions. David Moyes’ £8m permanent signing from Paris Saint-Germain in June 2022 had already collected a strong strike by Rodri but Doku left him with no chance.
Even Erling Haaland struggled to get the better of Areola as he smothered the Norway star’s attempt to lead 3-1. Kyle Walker found the 23-year-old sensation with a clever ball into West Ham’s box moments after Doku struck. Although Haaland would get a goal in the late stages.
Areola astounded Morrison denying Gvardiol a goal
Haaland, finally, settled the result in the 86th minute after brilliant play by Silva plucked out the forward. He had wasted some promising chances but kept cool to slot home his seventh goal of the Premier League term. Areola’s efforts, ultimately, proved insignificant on the day.
But what Areola produced to deny Gvardiol as West Ham strived to remain level at home to Manchester City impressed Morrison. The former Crystal Palace forward felt the Frenchman produced a top-draw save to thwart the defender. He is still to keep a clean sheet this term.
Morrison told Sky Sports News (16/09, 16:24): “It’s Gvardiol and he comes in on his, I’d say, his weaker right foot. He comes in on the edge [of the box] and tries to bend it into that far corner and Areola makes a superb one. Absolutely superb save.”
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