Six matches felt more like six months for Arthur Masuaku.
West Ham United’s exciting wing-back actually spent eight weeks on the side-lines, watching on as the Hammers were eliminated from the Emirates FA Cup and dropped down the Premier League table.
Masuaku was therefore desperate to impress on his return to action in Saturday’s vital top-flight meeting with Southampton at London Stadium – and he did not disappoint.
The No26 flew up and down the left flank all afternoon, providing the cross for Marko Arnautovic’s sensational volley that completed a comprehensive 3-0 victory.
For the 24-year-old, playing his part in such an important result helped erase the memories of two months during which he was unable to help his teammates.
We have to go to Chelsea and play our football, play as a team and be hard to beat and why can’t we win?
Arthur Masuaku
“It was a good feeling to be back on the pitch and I felt good during the game, except for maybe the last 20 minutes when I started to have cramps,” he revealed. “It was a great feeling to be back and play at home in front of the fans. They were behind us from the first minute until the end and it felt good to be back in the team.
“From the very first minute we were on the front foot and got at them. I think we played better than them, especially in the first half, and we won in the end and got the three points, which was the most important thing of all.
“For any player, it is important to help the team and to get an assist Marko was good. Sometimes it works when I cross the ball and other times it doesn’t work, but this time it was a good one and hopefully I can do this kind of thing again in the next games.”
Masuaku was also happy to see another player return to action after a long absence, as Edimilson Fernandes made his comeback after four months out with an ankle injury.
“Edi was fantastic for us. He is such a good player and he is young, so he still has time to learn. As soon as he is given an opportunity, he will always be good, especially in this game when we needed him and he responded.”
Next up for West Ham is a trip across London to face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Masuaku produced a Man of the Match performance in the reverse fixture in December, embarking on eleven dribbles and touching the ball a team-high 86 times as the Hammers beat the Premier League champions 1-0.
This weekend, he is eyeing a repeat.
“It’s a very difficult game, but we have to go there and play our football, play as a team and be hard to beat and why can’t we win?
“Everybody expected them to win the first meeting, but we played a very good game and we won, so let’s try to do the same again on Sunday.”