The left-back’s attacking mind-set was noticeable in contrast to West Ham’s Álvaro Arbeloa and Havard Nordtveit, who were pinned back and made to suffer
The 3-0 scoreline did not do justice to the superiority Southampton enjoyed over West Ham, with the visitors creating a huge number of chances and only Hammers goalkeeper Adrian keeping the scoreline respectable. Claude Puel’s team were better in almost every department – but the greatest contrast was at full-back.
Both Aaron Cresswell and Arthur Masuaku were unavailable for West Ham because of injury, so Slaven Bilic handed Álvaro Arbeloa his league debut at left-back. On the opposite side Bilic curiously used Havard Nordtveit, a centre-back or holding midfielder, rather than the recognised right-back Sam Byram.
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