Defender Eva Nyström wants West Ham United women’s team to follow up their positive display against Arsenal by showing Manchester City what they can do at Chigwell Construction Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The Hammers were dominant for large spells of their clash at Meadow Park on Sunday, gaining a 3-1 advantage in the second half, but three goals in six minutes from the home side turned the tide in what was an end-to-end encounter against the Gunners.
Finland international Nyström, who joined West Ham in January after leaving Swedish Damallsvenskan side Hammarby IF, has played every minute in the Barclays Women’s Super League since her arrival in east London.
Although she has only made four appearances in all competitions, the centre-back has already displayed her qualities to the Claret and Blue faithful - playing a cool, assured figure at the back of Rehanne Skinner’s side and making defending look effortless with her reading of the game.
She almost capped a successful first four games in English football with a goal in Sunday’s narrow defeat, as the defender towered above a crowded penalty area, but unfortunately her header was tipped onto the bar by Gunners goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar in second-half stoppage time.
While the defeat was obviously disappointing, Nyström was pleased her side showed their capabilities against one of the WSL’s toughest opponents and hopes they can replicate the intensity levels in Dagenham on Wednesday.
“We were really frustrated with the result, letting in three goals in less than ten minutes,” she admitted. “But I think we have to take all the positive things with us, and we showed everyone we can score against one of the best teams.
“We need to try and secure the results, having been 3-1 up, but it gives us confidence going into future games that we can play this kind of football.
“We can’t think about that game too much and we need to focus on the next game against Manchester City, which will be a new test for us. It’s about going out there again and showing what we can do.”
Despite having only been at Chadwell Heath for just over a month, Nyström feels right at home at West Ham, and has adapted well to the speed of the WSL.
“I’m really happy here,” she smiled. “The whole team is so nice and is one big family. We have a lot of foreign players, so everyone has been in the same situation. Everyone welcomed me into the group and helped me settle in, which was really nice.
“It’s also helped and been really nice having Oona [Siren, a fellow Finland international] here as well. It’s nice to have someone to ask all the silly questions!
“The intensity [of the WSL] is much higher [than in Sweden]. There are a lot of good teams and good players to play against.
“I think all of the games are really tight and anything can happen in them, compared to Sweden, where there are maybe two or three top teams and then the level between everyone else is quite big.
“The WSL is quite direct and physical, but I like that kind of football, so it has been okay for me.”
