We entered the final four weeks of our 2021/22 Season Review with plenty to play for, as manager David Moyes’ West Ham United team continued to challenge in the upper echelons of the Premier League table – as well as in the illustrious occasion of a UEFA Europa League semi-final…
May
Falling in between the two legs of said semi-final against Eintracht Frankfurt, Arsenal visited London Stadium looking to secure a European berth of their own.
The Hammers enjoyed the majority of possession, territory and play against Mikel Arteta’s side, only for defensive lapses and a failure to make the most of promising positions in attack to cost them a positive result, as headers from Rob Holding and Gabriel meant Jarrod Bowen's smartly-taken reply on the stroke of half-time counted for little at the end of the day.
And so it was that the Irons travelled to Frankfurt to conclude their first European semi-final since 1975/76.
The odds were stacked against West Ham before kick-off; no away team had ever won a UEFA Europa League semi-final after losing the first leg at home, with Eintracht leading 2-1 from the match at London Stadium.
What’s more, Eintracht had won all nine previous UEFA ties in which they recorded an away victory in the first leg, and West Ham’s only previous home first-leg defeat, to Borussia Dortmund in the 1965/66 European Cup Winners’ Cup semi-finals, was followed by a 3-1 second-leg loss in Germany.
Sadly, our dreams - however fervent prior to kick-off - on this occasion were destined to fade and die.
Yet all throughout a challenging 90 minutes, Moyes’ Hammers showed their characteristic resilience – playing with ten men since the early stages of the first half, in which Rafael Borré swept home to seal a 3-1 aggregate win for the competition's eventual winners – in managing to create numerous chances, despite that disparity.
“I’m really proud of the way we played with ten men tonight, more than anything,” Moyes reflected afterwards.
“A lot of teams would have crumbled and maybe ended up getting beaten by more. We kept right in the game the whole time.”
And so the Irons’ focus returned to Premier League action, as they bid to secure back-to-back qualifications for Europe through their league position in the first time in Club history.
It began with a thumping 4-0 victory away to Norwich City, the Hammers establishing a much-deserved three-goal advantage by the half-time whistle through a Saïd Benrahma brace and a Michail Antonio finish, with Manuel Lanzini scoring a penalty in the second half.
On a glorious day in the Norfolk sunshine, there was even enough breathing room for Mark Noble to enjoy a rendition of ‘Happy Birthday’ from a travelling Claret & Blue faithful in fine form!
For it was to be the Club captain who would take centre stage next, with two Premier League games remaining in his illustrious 18-year career.
The farewells truly began at the 2021/22 Betway Hammer of the Year awards, where the skipper took to the stage and gave an emotional and stirring speech.
Under the lights at London's Grosvenor House Hotel, Noble reflected on two decades of service and two outstanding seasons, and thanked his family, friends, colleagues and supporters.
Vice-captain Declan Rice capped another phenomenal season by being named Hammer of the Year, after a season in which he played more minutes and made more tackles, interceptions and passes than any of the Irons.
The night was capped by the Young Hammer of the Year award, won by Ben Johnson, being named in the Noble's honour; Noble himself winning the Players' Project Award for his service to his local community; and a myriad of other Claret & Blue achievements being celebrated.
Then, it was truly time to say goodbye.
Noble was met with an incredible reception from supporters as he walked onto the London Stadium field prior to the penultimate match of the season, at home to eventual Premier League champions Manchester City.
But it was Jarrod Bowen who stole the show prior to half-time, giving the Hammers faithful even more to cheer about with two clinical strikes to give Moyes' men the advantage over Pep Guardiola’s side.
With Liverpool hot on their tails, City did eventually hit back in the second half; Jack Grealish halved the deficit before Vladimír Coufal's unfortunate headed own-goal levelled the tie.
And there was even more drama when the away side were awarded a penalty late on; Riyad Mahrez stepped up, but West Ham goalkeeper Łukasz Fabiański made a superb save from 12 yards, his third stop from five penalties on target in 2021/22.
A 2-2 thriller - and a match befitting of the excitement produced at London Stadium throughout the whole campaign.
What's more, Noble would be introduced on 77 minutes, receiving the biggest ovation of the afternoon as he took the captain's armband for a home game for the final time, before a series of emotional tributes followed the final whistle.
That 2-2 draw meant that the Hammers travelled to Brighton & Hove Albion on the last day of the season, still in the hunt to leapfrog Manchester United and take sixth place in the final Premier League table.
Sadly, whilst the Manchester side fell to defeat at Crystal Palace's Selhurst Park, so too did the Irons at Amex Stadium, despite leading at half-time due to Antonio’s rocket of an effort.
However, a second-half turnaround by the hosts, who ultimately ran out 3-1 winners, meant Moyes’ side would ultimately finish in seventh place - a fine achievement, given their efforts domestically and abroad over the season.
There was time for Noble to make a farewell appearance in Claret and Blue - his 550th - with his introduction met by a standing ovation from both sets of supporters, symbolic of the esteem in which the captain is held throughout football.
But as the skipper himself reflected at full-time, seventh in the Premier League means the east Londoners will get to once again embark on a European tour next season – this time in the UEFA Europa Conference League – full of positive momentum.
The last word on the 2021/22 season truly, then, belongs to Noble: “We can look back with a lot of pride on the last nine months.
“What a fantastic season. What a fantastic two seasons. To qualify for Europe twice in a row, with what we’ve done already this year in Europe, is a great achievement.
“Overall, it’s a fantastic ending for me, because these last 12 months have been incredible."
