1. Big Tom strikes again!
Tomáš Souček became the first Premier League player to score on two different birthdays when he hit the net in Thursday’s win over Leicester City.
The Czech celebrated turning 30 by converting from close-range after Mohammed Kudus’s initial shot had been saved by Foxes goalkeeper Mads Hermansen. As he has been so often in his five years in Claret and Blue, Souček was in the right place at the right time in the opposition penalty area.
Just as was the case three years ago, when he netted against Wolverhampton Wanderers on his 27th birthday, Souček’s goal was all-important. It was the 16th time the midfielder’s strike turned out to be a decisive match-winner.
After scoring, he also showed his class by not using his trademark spinning celebration out of respect to Leicester City, whose owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others were killed in a helicopter crash after facing the Hammers at King Power Stadium in 2018.
Incredibly, of Souček’s 38 goals for the Club, 28 have come in wins, eight in draws and just two have been scored in defeats,
The now 30-year-old boasts 33 goals in the English top-flight, moving up to joint-seventh in the all-time Irons ranks, alongside Andy Carroll.
2. Areola keeps it clean
Alphonse Areola also celebrated his birthday on Thursday, keeping a clean sheet on the day he turned 32.
The France international had precious little to do on his big day, making routine saves from Wilfred Ndidi and Jannik Vestergaard, but otherwise he was superbly protected by the players in front of him.
The bigger story is that Areola’s shutout was the first time West Ham had kept clean sheets in consecutive Premier League matches since November last year.
The Parisian now has 26 clean sheets in 90 career appearances for the Hammers, and will go for three in a row when Newcastle United visit London Stadium on Monday 10 March.
3. Cresswell's new lease of life
Head Coach Graham Potter’s switch to a back five has given a new lease of life to Aaron Cresswell.
The 35-year-old’s combination of defensive solidity and progressive passing with his wand-like left foot make him the perfect player to fill the left side of Potter’s favoured back three.
On Thursday, Cresswell was at his brilliant best, leading all players in touches (136) and passes attempted (115). Of those 115, 12 were long passes of 20 metres or more. As proof of the No3’s outstanding accuracy, 104 of his 115 pass attempts found a teammate, for a 90.4 per cent completion rate.
It was also his powerful left-foot shot that was on target and led to West Ham's opening goal, too.
4. Happy JWP back to his best
Another player who has found new life under Graham Potter is James Ward-Prowse, who was influential again in Thursday’s win, just as he was in the 1-0 victory at Arsenal five days earlier.
The England midfielder’s passing was even more impressive than Cresswell’s, with 67 of his 70 attempts successfully reaching their target, including four out of four long passes of 20 metres or more.
Ward-Prowse, who has spoken of his happiness at playing again following his return from a loan spell at Nottingham Forest, clearly revelled in his role at the heart of the Hammers midfield.
With his work-rate, accurate distribution and set-piece prowess, the 30-year-old is a positive presence who Potter clearly values greatly.
