West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola has been selected in WhoScored.com‘s Premier League Team of the Season so far.
The Frenchman has had an excellent campaign, having taken over the gloves from Lukasz Fabianski in goal for league games.
Areola’s WhoScored rating (6.92) is the highest of any keeper in the league. He has made 110 saves; the second most behind Luton’s Thomas Kaminski.
His save ratio (75.2%) is only marginally behind the Premier League’s best Alisson Becker, while he continues to overperform compared to the xG he faces (+3.8).
Hammers supporters will be delighted with Areola’s performances and, at 31 years of age, he is likely to remain at the top of his game for many years to come.
Areola has been called up by France
The shot-stopper has featured regularly in Didier Deschamps’s squad over the past two and a half years but he has only been given 5 caps for his country since making his debut back in 2018.
With friendlies against Germany and Chile coming up over the next week, Areola will be hoping to get off the bench and start one of the two fixtures.
First choice Mike Maignan is struggling with a thigh problem so Areola should have a chance to impress during the international break. However, it should be noted that Lens’ no.1 Brice Samba was selected ahead of the Hammers’ keeper in the last game versus Greece back in November.
Who else made it into WhoScored’s Team of the Season so far?
The back four ahead of Areola is comprised of Newcastle’s Kieran Trippier, Tottenham centre-back Cristian Romero, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and Fulham’s Antonee Robinson.
In midfield, Arsenal pair Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka are joined by Manchester City duo Phil Foden and Rodri. Up front, Spurs’s Son Heung-min is partnered with City goal machine Erling Haaland.