Whenever West Ham have been forced to face a game without Marko Arnautovic over the last two seasons, things don’t tend to go very well. However, after the forward had to be hooked with a knock against Cardiff it was up to the rest of the squad to pull them through. Without their marquee man, it was Lukasz Fabianski who was the saviour, keeping out a Joe Ralls penalty in the 3-1 win.
Fabianski saves!!!!#WHUCAR 0-0 (35)
— West Ham United (@WestHam) December 4, 2018
The Polish shot-stopper was brought to the London Stadium from Swansea over the summer after the Swans faced the drop, but you wouldn’t know that Fabianski had faced relegation the season before after seeing his performances. The ex-Arsenal man has been sublime for the Hammers and his performance against Cardiff was one of his best yet, saving a penalty and pulling off a string of other saves to deny the likes of Victor Camarasa from getting the Bluebirds back in the game earlier.
As it was, whilst Fabianski did his job at one end, Arnie’s direct replacement Lucas Perez came off the bench to bag twice, with Michail Antonio getting their third. Eventually, the Polish man between the sticks was beaten as Josh Murphy headed home in stoppage time to frustrating deny the Irons their third clean sheet of the season, and their second-consecutive one after beating Newcastle United 3-0 on Saturday.
You can see what the Hammers made of Fabianski’s heroics here:
Massively underrated keeper
— jackedge: (@jackedge0) 4 December 2018
And that’s why he’s our best signing this season
— Ade May (@adejmay) 4 December 2018
https://twitter.com/Adrian____29/status/1070050655061114880
What an absolute hero this guy is
— San Pellegrini (@PellegriniFC) 4 December 2018
Justice is served
— Gary (@galboy147) December 4, 2018
Real hero!
— inoooxes (@iNoooxes) December 4, 2018
https://twitter.com/samhardie17/status/1070051159711334401
https://twitter.com/theggreen98/status/1070050454380388352
The Hammers loved Fabianski’s penalty heroics and will hope he can carry on impressing as Manuel Pellegrini’s side aim to make it three wins from three when they face Palace on Saturday.
