Midfielder James Ward-Prowse is confident West Ham United can build on Saturday’s incredible 1-0 win away at Arsenal and finish 2024/25 with a bang.
The 30-year-old made his first Premier League start of the campaign for the Hammers at Emirates Stadium - following his recent return from a short-term loan at Nottingham Forest - and completed the full 90 minutes as Jarrod Bowen’s 44th-minute header ultimately proved the difference between the teams.
The result saw West Ham become the first team to defeat the title-chasing Gunners on their own turf in the top flight this season, while also ending a four-match winless run in emphatic fashion.
With the team having shown flashes of quality since the appointment of Head Coach Graham Potter little under seven weeks ago, Ward-Prowse believes the north-London showing was a true representation of the squad’s potential, and he is already eyeing similar success when Leicester City visit London Stadium on Thursday night.
“I think everything came together today,” the England international said. “It’s not been the greatest period recently, but in those moments you’re sort of waiting for a turning point or a result to spark things into life, and I think we’ve had that today.
“We had a good period of training together before the game, and some honest reflection, and thankfully everything’s come to fruition when it counts. It was a top performance.
“When you come here, to the Emirates, you know you’re going to be up against a top side, pushing for the title, but we had a good gameplan and we showed we were willing to put in the work.
“You need everybody - from the starters to the substitutes - to make an impact, as well as a bit of luck, and I think overall we fully deserved the win. Hopefully we can use this now and finish the season as strongly as possible.”
While delighted with the three points, and being able to celebrate with the 3,000 travelling supporters at Arsenal, Ward-Prowse is also pleased to be back in amongst it at West Ham, for whom he made 51 appearances in all competitions last term in the wake of his summer 2023 signing.
Our No8 is loving working under boss Potter, who he had heard great things about in the days ahead of his move back down to east London, and he is now hoping to play a key role in helping the Irons work their way up the Premier League table.
He added: “When he (Potter) was appointed manager I think everyone could see that he looked like a good fit, and that it felt right, and I spoke to a few of the lads when he first came in and they all gave him a lot of praise.
“I think a new manager always brings a freshness and a calmness to the group. He’s very clear in terms of what he demands, and training’s been a really enjoyable place to be, so it’s great to be back.
“I had a great time at Nottingham Forest, and I wish them all the best for the rest of the season, but my focus now is on being back here and trying to have the biggest impact possible. I still feel as though I’ve got a lot to do and a lot to prove, but that’s an exciting challenge.
“It’s been a difficult few months for me personally, but I feel that I’ve got what I need to push on. As a team we just want to push on. We know it’s not been an amazing season so far, but there’s a hunger in the squad to put things right.”
