After starting for West Ham, Alphonse Areola has earned the top spot in WhoScored’s rankings for the Premier League’s top goalkeeper, a testament to his stellar start to the campaign.
The Frenchman has made the third-most saves in the Premier League, according to FBRef, stopping 78.6% of the shots he has faced, demonstrating his value to David Moyes’ team.
Chris Latchem, a BBC commentator, praised the shot-stopper for his “simply awesome” performance against Manchester City earlier this year. Areloa alone made 10 saves in the 3-1 loss for the Hammers, but City’s shots were all too accurate to be stopped.
The 30-year-old has undoubtedly demonstrated this season that Latchem’s assessment was accurate after a string of strong performances. The Hammers are off to a scorching start in the new season, and their goalie has played a major role in that success.
One’s own talent can go a long way toward earning three points. For the Hammers, individuals like James Ward-Prowse and Jarrod Bowen do this in a more overt manner.
Areloa might have gone unnoticed by fans of other teams besides the Hammers. Only one clean sheet has been recorded by the team so far this year, but the Irons’ outstanding new recruits have received most of the attention. Areola has not received enough praise, but his excellence has become apparent since he topped these rankings.
Areola has played a major role in keeping the score in West Ham’s favor in several pivotal victories this season. Areloa stopped Enzo Fernandez’s penalty kick with the score at 1-1 in the Hammers’ 3-1 victory over Chelsea. Chelsea could have easily won all three points if they had made it 2-1.
The goalkeeper made nine saves, five of which came in the penalty area, during their convincing trip to Brighton, helping to hold the Seagulls to just one goal despite having 78% of the possession [SofaScore]. The Hammers frequently face teams that control the ball well and produce lots of shots, but Areola’s consistency and dependability have helped the Hammers get through these phases of play.
West Ham is a team that is adept at handling a heavy press and launching a counterattack. To do this successfully, you need a goalkeeper who can stop shots well and perform well under pressure. Areola is frequently called upon, in contrast to people like Ederson and Alisson, and he generally fulfills the requirements.
The Frenchman is a gift to West Ham, and he must maintain his level of play if the Hammers are to maintain their winning start.
