1. Magnificent Mavropanos
There was a feeling of fate when Konstantinos Mavropanos scored his first West Ham United goal against former club Arsenal.
The Greek international, making a second consecutive start and his 15th Hammers appearance in all competitions since joining from VfB Stuttgart, leapt highest to meet James Ward-Prowse’s corner in the second half, finding the far corner with a powerful finish via the underside of the cross-bar.
It was a just deserved second for the Irons, after Tomáš Souček’s 13th-minute opener, and a more than merited goal for Mavropanos, who was a steady figure throughout the evening at the Emirates Stadium.
The 26-year-old made three interceptions, five clearances and won two aerial duels in an impressive defensive showing, helping West Ham keep a deserved clean-sheet.
Of course, Mavropanos could not have done it without…
2. Outstanding Ogbonna
The whole Hammers side deserves plaudits for a passionate, dogged and resolute showing in north London, but those qualities were embodied by Thursday evening’s captain, Angelo Ogbonna.
The experienced Italian, quite honestly, looked to be a man possessed; such was his determination to not concede against Arsenal.
Playing just his second full 90 minutes of the Premier League season, Ogbonna made a game-high six clearances and blocked four shots.
Ogbonna’s West Ham Premier League debut came in another 2-0 win away at Arsenal, back in August 2015. The defender endeared himself to the Claret and Blue Army that afternoon at the Emirates Stadium and, over eight years on, continues to put his body on the line for the shirt.
3. Festive Fixture Fun
The December schedule is always one of the busiest times in the English football calendar and this season has been no different for West Ham.
The Irons have faced eight matches and eight different opponents throughout the last month, including six Premier League tests, a final UEFA Europa League Group B clash, and a Carabao Cup quarter-final.
While there is understandably disappointment around the defeats to Fulham and Liverpool, there is plenty of cheer to find in the festive fixture list.
The Hammers have won five of those matches in all competitions, including four in the Premier League, while the other secured a place in the 2023/24 Europa League round of 16.
Within that run of games has been away victories over Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as a win at home against Manchester United, while the Irons also put three goals past Wolverhampton Wanderers in mid-month.
Finally, David Moyes’ side have kept clean-sheets in four of the last five matches, including in the last three Premier League games. It is a run of excellent form that has put the side back in sixth in the table.
4. Half-way record
And so, with the win over Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, West Ham hit the midpoint of the 2023/24 Premier League season.
It makes for incredible reading for the Club, as David Moyes’ men have amassed 33 points from the first 19 games; the most the Hammers have ever collected in the Premier League era at the halfway point.
It is a fantastic start to the Premier League campaign, as well as a continuation of a strong run of form throughout 2023; a year which saw West Ham United win 32 matches in all competitions.
For the record, our previous best Premier League points haul at the halfway stage came in the 2020/21 season, when we collected 32 points from 19 matches and went on to finish the campaign sixth in the division.
