West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola has the fourth-highest save percentage (80%) in the Premier League this season.
After four games, the France international has faced 20 shots and made 15 saves, putting him behind only Brighton’s Jason Steele (87.5%), Alisson Becker (85%) and Tottenham’s Guglielmo Vicario (84.2%).
Fans on X are delighted that Areola has started off the season so strongly for the Hammers:
It also says a lot about our tactics which will come unstuck at some point ! Fair play to him though he’s a top keeper 👍
— gary jones (@garyjones68) September 12, 2023
Let him cook
— Lyrix (@shixutinci) September 11, 2023
Was statistically third best keeper in Europe that season with Fulham too
— Adam (@adambrown93) September 11, 2023
Really stepped up? More like being given his first chance…long overdue!
— Anthos Ladomatos (@ALadomatos) September 12, 2023
Were very lucky to have two great goalkeepers
— harry clarkSBOUT (@uptonclark) September 12, 2023
Areola is performing better than some high-profile names
The 30-year-old is currently outperforming the likes of Manchester City’s Ederson (71.4%), Manchester United’s Andre Onana (66.7%) Arsenal’s Aaron Ramdale (55.6%)
Of course, we are still only at the beginning of the season but Areola is certainly showing why he has been made West Ham’s number one.
Moyes may a big call at the start of the campaign
Since Areola arrived at the London Stadium, he has been almost exclusively used as the Irons’ keeper in European competitions, with Lukasz Fabianski taking up the gloves in the Premier League.
However, manager David Moyes opted to switch the roles at the beginning of this season, which reportedly hasn’t gone too well with Fabianski, but the decision has started to pay off already.
Areola is a very experienced keeper, and he is clearly relishing the extra responsibility that he has been given. Supporters will be hoping that his good form continues for the rest of the campaign.
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