Tottenham Hotspur. Manchester United. And now Arsenal.
December has seen West Ham United claim some impressive results against some of the Premier League’s traditionally tough opposition, and Tomáš Souček is eager for even more.
Thursday’s 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium against the Gunners was a third straight Premier League win for the Hammers, a sixth league win in eight matches, and a result that means the east London side boast their best-ever points tally at the midway point of a Premier League campaign.
The Czech midfielder takes great pride in how the team are performing.
“We spoke about it in the dressing room,” Souček told West Ham TV. “If we want to be successful, like we were last season, then we need to be competing with the top teams. In that regard, December has been an almost perfect month when you look at some of the sides we’ve been able to beat. We want to carry on and keep doing that.
“[The result against Arsenal] was perfect. We really appreciate that we could win here, which helps us in the table and helps us with our confidence. It was a really nice gift for everyone at West Ham and it’s a result we can really enjoy at Christmas time.”
Against an Arsenal side chasing a return to the top of the Premier League table, West Ham had to dig in deep.
Resiliency, tenacity and heart were key to a resolute Irons showing, one which saw them not only keep the clean-sheet but grab the goals to inflict a first home loss of the season on the Gunners; and a first West Ham win at the Emirates Stadium since August 2015.
Souček continued: “Arsenal are one of the top teams in the league so it is always difficult to play against them, especially away from home. We were fighting and getting the first goal when we did helped us a lot.
“It gave us a lot of confidence and we knew we could take the points. I said to the guys that we could beat them, because we beat them in the Carabao Cup earlier this season. I think it was a similar performance to that game.”
That first goal came from Souček himself, as the 28-year-old’s positioning allowed him to power home from Jarrod Bowen’s cut-back early in the first-half.
While the midfielder grabbed the plaudits for the finish, his eighth of the season in all competitions, Souček’s own praise was reserved for Bowen’s work in providing the assist and for second goalscorer Konstantinos Mavropanos, who found the net with a fine header in the second half.
“I knew, or I hoped, that Jarrod would pull the ball back. If you can’t score then you want to bring the ball back for another player to score. He wanted to keep the ball alive, so he passed, and I tried to be in the right place at the right moment. It was great work from him.
“I told Dinos he should be celebrating, because it’s his first goal for West Ham, but I understand the respect he has for Arsenal. He put in a great performance. For the first couple of months, he’s had to fight and find his place here a bit, but he’s getting better and better and I’m so happy for him. This goal will help his confidence too, as well as another big performance for us in the league.”
As everyone at West Ham reflects on a very successful 2023, one which saw 32 wins in all competitions – including that special night in Prague – Souček is ready for the challenges that 2024 will offer.
Up next is Brighton & Hove Albion and the midfielder knows the importance of maintaining the levels the Irons are setting themselves.
“We have Brighton & Hove Albion up next and that’s another important game, another possible three points, so we’ll keep going,” he added. “We’re in a great position in the league but if we slip off for one or two games then you fall down the table, so we have to keep going."
