Despite his own brilliant personal performance on Saturday, nothing made Alphonse Areola happier than seeing the ball being carried down to the other end of the pitch and fired into the Brighton & Hove Albion net!
While the hosts dominated possession and, in truth, had more chances than West Ham United, it was David Moyes’ side that ran out 3-1 winners at the Amex.
Superb counter-attacking goals, netted by James Ward-Prowse, Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio, put the Seagulls to the sword on the south coast, scoring West Ham's first-ever Premier League victory over the Sussex club.
Pascal Groß pulled one back late on, but that run of winless results against Brighton finally came to an end with at a lucky 13th attempt.
“It’s a good view when the lads are going away from me!” Areola told West Ham TV. “If I can a view like that, it’s absolutely fine. It means we are scoring a lot, so it is a good view. It was good that we showed we are not just a defensive team. We can score as well.
“The guys, all over the pitch, were brilliant. It’s just down to a lot of work from the team.”
It was, as the Frenchman pointed out, a team effort against Brighton. Everyone played their role, but Areola certainly made his contributions known.
The No23 had to make a string of, quite simply, phenomenal saves. It is hard to pick just one or two. Even Areola himself struggled, but was particularly pleased with one to deny Evan Ferguson in the second-half, and another to stop Joël Veltman late on.
“It’s hard to choose just one,” he continued. “There was one just after half-time. It was a header, that bounced in front of me, and then the volley that came at me. I couldn’t see the ball and it was just pure reaction. I’m happy to perform like that and help the team to be top of the league!
“My main focus is to not concede. Unfortunately we conceded one but, when we watch the game, the most important thing to talk about is the character of this team. That energy we have. We all leave everything out on the pitch, and this is the result of that.
“Not everything I did today was quite right but yeah, I’m happy to help the team and I’m happy with our performance tonight. We’re going back to London with the three points!”
The 30-year-old has started all three Premier League matches so far this season and has impressed in each, making notable stops to deny AFC Bournemouth in the season opener and Chelsea, where his penalty save from Enzo Fernández set the foundations for success at London Stadium last week.
Areola said: “As I’ve said before, I’ve always been ready. I’ve been ready to perform and I think, in this game and in the game against Chelsea, I’ve been doing that and it’s a result of the hard work I’ve been doing every week. I’ve kept my focus and I hope we can keep going like that.”
For the shot-stopper, all emphasis now is on keeping the fine form going.
A trip to face newly-promoted Luton Town comes next Friday for the Irons, before the first international break of the new season. After that, UEFA Europa League football returns to London Stadium.
“We finished last season very well and we’re starting here very well too,” Areola added . “We have to keep that focus.
“We want to be ready for every game and the big battles every weekend. Europe also starts again soon, so we have to be fit and ready to perform. That’s the main thing.”
Watch all nine of Alphonse's saves at Brighton below!
