West Ham snapped up Alvaro Arbeloa on a free transfer on deadline day.
Alvaro Arbeloa during a press conference
Pundit Phil Thompson has told Saturday’s edition of Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday that he thinks West Ham signed a ‘very good defender’ in Alvaro Arbeloa.
The Hammers were obliterated by Watford on Saturday, as having initially taken a 2-0 lead at the London Stadium, Slaven Bilic’s men collapsed and lost 4-2.
After a number of calamitous errors, questions are being asked of the West Ham defence, especially given how little attention Bilic gave his back line over the summer.
Wayne Rooney in action with Alvaro Arbeloa
Whilst a host of attacking players were added, only left back Arthur Masuaku and right back Alvaro Arbeloa arrived to boost the defence, with the latter being done just hours before the transfer deadline.
Arbeloa, 33, wasn’t in the West Ham squad to face Watford on Saturday, but should add great experience to the Hammers defence.
Picture Supplied by Action Images
Formerly of Liverpool under Rafael Benitez, Arbeloa had been with Real Madrid since the summer of 2009, racking up more than 200 appearances for the Spanish giants on his way to winning a La Liga title and two Champions League trophies.
On a free transfer having left the Santiago Bernabeu at the end of his contract, Arbeloa appears to be a smart signing for the Hammers, and he’s been praised by Liverpool legend Phil Thompson.
Liverpool legend Phil Thompson
Speaking on Saturday’s edition of Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday, the pundit raved about Arbeloa’s defensive abilities, and whilst he doesn’t offer much going forward, he feels Arbeloa is a good signing for West Ham.
“He wasn’t getting games, certainly in the last 12 months,” said Thompson. “He was very much out of the side and not getting a kick. He’s a very good defender – you don’t get a lot going forward to get that final ball, he didn’t at Liverpool, but he did a fantastic job for Liverpool being and out-and-out right back,” he added.
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