Mark Noble is determined to lead West Ham United to another vital Premier League victory at London Stadium.
The Club captain was in inspirational form in Saturday’s 1-0 win over champions over Chelsea. Not only did the No16 run an astounding game-high 12.77km, but he also made more passes in the opposition half than any other Hammer, won three tackles, made two clearances, two interceptions and regained possession for his team six times.
A repeat performance when Arsenal visit Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park is top of Noble’s agenda for Wednesday evening.
“We go into the game with growing confidence after beating Chelsea here on Saturday, but we cannot allow our level to drop at all against another top team,” he wrote in his Official Programme column.
“I said after the game at the weekend that some people need to realise that we are not ‘parking the bus’, which is a lazy cliché, but that we don’t have the spending power or the overall quality of the very biggest teams like Chelsea and Arsenal, so we have to find a different way to even it up or, on a good day, beat them.”
Noble, who earned his Club-record 100th Premier League victory in Claret and Blue at the weekend, has seen it all during his 13-year career.
It is in circumstances like the present, with his boyhood team fighting for their top-flight future, that the man appointed skipper two-and-a-half seasons ago stands tallest.
“At times like this, I relish my role as captain of this football club, my football club,” he confirmed.
“I’ve been playing in the Premier League for more than a decade now and have given my life to this Club, as this Club has given me my life and career, so I’m going to do as I always have done and give absolutely everything.
“I’m not going to sulk or chuck my toys out of the pram if I’m not playing every minute of every game. My job is to look after the changing room and make sure the boys are happy, creating a positive environment in which we can thrive.
“Every player understands what the manager is trying to do here. We are all professionals and accept his decisions for the good of the team and the good of the Club, and that’s what every player has done.
“That is the approach we need to take to get out of the mess we find ourselves in, and Saturday showed what that approach can achieve.
“We need to start tonight’s game as we started against Chelsea, on the front foot, full of energy and purpose, not allowing our opponents to settle.
“We’ve got another battle ahead of us, but we’re at home and the crowd will be behind us for sure and, if we can get another three points, that would be massive.”
Tickets are still available for Wednesday’s London derby between West Ham United and Arsenal via the Ticket Exchange.
For those unable to get to Stratford, the game will be broadcast live in the UK by BT Sport 1.