West Ham U23s hosted Arsenal U23s at the London Stadium on Friday evening in Premier League 2, Division 1. Read on for Layth Yousif’s PLAYER RATINGS
West Ham U23:
Nathan Trott: 7 – Showed good awareness to keep out a powerful Nketiah shot early on. No real chance with any of the goals, although will be disappointed at conceding Plueguezuelo’s looping header. Showed good handling in the wet
Ben Johnson: 6.5 – Happy to supplement his side’s attacks with pin-point crosses into the box. Booked for a crude challenge on Nketiah seconds before half-time
Joe Powell: 7 – Provider of the cross that Silva headed past Iliev for West Ham’s opening goal moments after half-time
Conor Coventry: 6.5 – Worked hard but sometimes needed to be stronger in the tackle
Josh Pask: 7 – Solid in the heart of defence against a talented Arsenal attacking unit
Reece Oxford: 7 – Grabbed West Ham’s second of the evening with a header in a crowded box on the hour. A giant at this level following his first team experience in the Premier League and from playing in Germany
Grady Diangana: 6.5 – Off for Afolayan on the hour. Worked hard
Josh Cullen: 6.5: Put in a shift and deserved his ovation from the smattering of die hards at the London Stadium on a sodden evening
Xande Silva: 7.5 – Grabbed West Ham’s first of the night just after the break to make if five for the U23s already this term. The Porto-born 21-year-old signed by the club from Vitoria Guimaeres this summer looked lively throughout. Had a late shot blocked on the line. One to watch
Alfie Lewis: 6.5 – Lacked possession to be consistently threatening
Nathan Holland: 7 – Sent the corner over for skipper Oxford’s header on the hour mark
Substitutes:
Oladapo Afolayan: 7 – On for Diangana. Unlucky when his powerful shot late on smashed against the bar
Jahmal Hector-Ingram: 7 – Showed deft touches in the short time he was on for Cullen
Arsenal U23:
Deyan Iliev: 7 – A commanding vocal presence and confident handling
Joe Olowu: 6.5 – In for Jordi Osei-Tutu and worked hard in difficult conditions as the rain sheeted down
Tolaji Bola: 6.5 – Quiet but gave his all
Charlie Gilmour: 7 – Another consistent performance
Danny Ballard: 7 – Solid and uncompromising as ever. Great to watch a pragmatic Arsenal centre-half happy to clear his lines once in a while as well as being confident enough on the ball to play out from the back when no danger is apparent
Julio Pleguezuelo: 7.5 – The young guns captain floated a free-kick deep into the final third for Nketiah to fire home, before the influential leader saw his loopipng header find the net. A strong display from the highly-rated midfielder
Xavier Amaechi: 7 – Assist for Pleguezuelo’s headed goal from his deep corner. Replaced by Saka
Joe Willock: 6.5 – A willing runner all match and always works hard
Eddie Nketiah: 8 – Lively throughout. Unlucky not to score early on with a rasping shot at Trott’s near post. Made amends shortly after with a clinical finish before grabbing a second after the break. A real prospect with many hoping for a breakthrough season for the 19-year-old hotshot in the first team. Either that or a loan spell as he is simply too good at this level
Emile Smith-Rowe: 6.5 – Another who struggled to get into the game, but will be better for the experience
Reiss Nelson: 7 – Not as influential as he would have liked on a difficult evening in the pouring rain
Substitutes:
Bukayo Saka: 6.5 – On for Amaechi midway through the second half
Follow Arsenal reporter Layth on Twitter @laythy29
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