Why Andriy Yarmolenko can fill the void left by Manuel Lanzini this season
West Ham United finally picked up their first win of the season after routing Everton 1-3 at Goodison Park. Manuel Pellegrini will be relieved to pick up his first win as West Ham manager given that the club made one of the worst starts to their season.
The three points took the Hammers out of the relegation zone and Manuel Pellegrini will now be hoping to collect some positive results. The Chilean brought in a number of big players over the summer but are yet to click into place.
One man who has steadily stepped up is new signing Andriy Yarmolenko. The midfielder was signed for £17.5million on a four-year deal, which should effectively keep him with them until 2022. (Skysports)
After making 4 substitute appearances, Yarmolenko was handed his first start, against the Toffees. The 28-year-old was deployed on the right-hand side of a 4-1-4-1 formation that worked cohesively for the Hammers. The former Dortmund midfielder looked energetic and intelligent on the ball.
His awareness on the field is exceptional and his positional play is one of his best qualities. Yarmolenko is technically gifted and he possesses a wide range of passing. He has so far averaged a pass success rate of 83.3% in the league. (Stats Courtesy – Whoscored)
With Manuel Lanzini out for a considerable amount of time, Yarmolenko can be the man to step up and fill his void. The Ukrainian is capable of seamlessly distributing the ball.
He possesses impressive control and can harry his way out of tight situations without giving away possession. Since he has played for Borussia Dortmund, Yarmolenko is very much experienced when it comes to playing high-octane attacking football.
He will provide the Hammers with a certain cutting edge in the final third. Striker Marko Arnautovic will definitely thrive off his support and supply.
Though he has taken his time to find his feet, Pellegrini should now hand the 28-year-old regular starts. He possesses similar traits to that of Manuel Lanzini and can be their new man pulling the strings.
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He is experienced and has played at the highest level for a while now. Yarmolenko will definitely play a key role for the Hammers this season. The Ukraine international along with fellow new signings Felipe Anderson and Marko Arnautovic can pose a massive threat going forward for West Ham.