Crysencio Summerville reveals what Nuno told the West Ham players after Arsenal loss

Crysencio Summerville did not sound like a man who had just spent much of the Emirates afternoon pining for the football, Nuno Espirito Santo’s first defeat as West Ham United manager coming at Arsenal.

Possession was always likely to be at a premium. So too chances.

But after West Ham United slumped to a 2-0 defeat while mustering only 31 per cent of the possession and failing to notch even a single shot on target, you would perhaps expect the reaction from the visiting players to have been pretty negative.

Not so.

While the Hammers offered next-to nothing going forward, Nuno Espirito Santo’s impact has been felt defensively already.

Konstantinos Mavropanos dominated Viktor Gyokeres. Max Kilman picked up where he left off at Everton. And Alphonse Areola’s impressive penalty-box presence ensured that Arsenal – even with Gabriel Magalhaes back available – would not be the team to score a ninth set-piece goal against their London rivals this season.

So although Crysencio Summerville was restricted to doing a lot of the donkey work defensively, alongside Jarrod Bowen on the other flank, he and Nuno were at least somewhat satisfied by a largely solid defensive performance.

Crysencio Summerville shares Nuno Espirito Santo message after Arsenal 2-0 West Ham United

Areola only had to make three saves in North London, despite Arsenal tallying over 20 shots on goal.

That, Summerville feels while opening up on Nuno’s post-match reflections, speaks volumes about West Ham’s discipline out of possession.

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“I think we did quite good in first half,” the winger tells BBC Sport. “We slowed them down sometimes but a team like this it’s always difficult.

“I think, in the second half, they went over us and it was difficult to slow them down sometimes. We have to take the positives and go again after the break.

“[Nuno] said, like, we have to take the positives. We knew it would be difficult and we have work to do after the international break.”

Nuno looking forward to the October international break as he prepares for Brentford

Nuno will take charge at the London Stadium for the first time against Brentford on October 20th. And while he still awaits his first win, it is difficult to imagine a Graham Potter-led West Ham side fighting back for a draw at Everton while restricting Arsenal to just two goals at the Emirates.

“Obviously we knew we wouldn’t have the ball a lot so, for me personally, when we had the ball I try to give the team some space and some magic,” adds Summerville. “I’m not so happy with myself today. I have to work on some things.

“I think we have a lot in us especially with this coach. He wants us to attack a lot so that’s good for me as an attacker.”

“We’ve had two tough games away from home against very good teams,” the former Wolves, Tottenham and Nottingham Forest boss adds. “Now is the moment to analyse but, with all the changes that have been happening, I feel the players are responding and trying. And that pleases me the most.

“The international break will be important for all of us especially for the players to be calm, there’s been many changes and many noises around us. This is our priority, that we know each other as a group because it is basically our unity and fight for each other [that we need].”

“Honestly, all the game we were under pressure. Arsenal were on top of us. We didn’t have the chance to control or go forward.

“We defend well, some things, but [made some] mistakes in position,” the 51-year-old insists. “We knew it would be tough. But the boys worked hard and kept fighting. We have to start somewhere and that was the priority, how we compete.”

“For the boys it’s been hard these couple of weeks. Discipline, organisation, resilience. It’s basics in football. The attitude was there.”

“We have a lot of things [to improve] but the break will be good for all of us, especially the players. To rest their heads. It’s a moment to settle down and then to start working.”

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