David Moyes’ West Ham United side have won just twice since the Scottish manager took charge of the East London outfit. They failed to record back to back wins when losing to Arsenal 1-0 at the weekend, for what would have been just the second time this season.
The result left the Hammers in 16th spot, above the relegation on goal difference alone, level on points, 27, with fellow strugglers Watford and A.F.C Bournemouth. One glaring omission from the Hammers’ lineup for the Gunners clash was Robert Snodgrass, and Moyes must find a way to get the fellow Scot back into the side.
No West Ham United player has been involved in more goals this season than Snodgrass, ten, having provided five assists, the joint-most of any Hammers player, along with five goals, as per WhoScored. However, in the 32-year-old’s place at the weekend, the former Manchester United and Everton manager elected to start Pablo Fornals and Jarrod Bowen on either wing in a 4-4-2 formation. The decision did not produce the required results even though the visitors dominated their opposition in attacking areas, finding the target with six shots as opposed to Arsenal’s two.
Clearly, West Ham were carving out openings, but they lacked the required finishing abilities to escape the Emirates Stadium with at least a point. Snodgrass has proven time and again this campaign that he can exert a deciding influence on games, helping the Hammers to six Premier League points with his scoring and assisting contributions. They were sorely missed from the start against Arsenal, and that must change in Moyes’ next fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
For the encounter with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side Moyes should finally break up the Mark Noble and Declan Rice partnership, slotting Fornals into the centre of midfield to free up room for the 32-year-old Scottish winger on the left channel. Fornals has also had a strong creative presence creating five goals and should not be forced to make way to accommodate Snodgrass.
Based on performances the 4-4-2 formation has worked well for Moyes, as it provides Sebastien Haller with support from Michail Antonio and gets the best out of Bowen. But the missing piece of the formula could be the inclusion of Snodgrass, and his end product this term means Moyes must find a formula to fit the talisman into his starting XI.
