Pundit can’t believe how much of a ‘beast’ Arsenal player is after watching him closely vs West Ham

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Robbie Mustoe took the time to study one Arsenal player during the Gunners’ Premier League win against West Ham United.

The victory sent the Gunners to the top of the Premier League table, with goals from Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka settling the direction of the points.

While the goal scorers impressed, Martin Zubimendi ran the show against West Ham, but he wasn’t the only Arsenal player to impress on matchday seven.

Speaking on The 2 Robbies podcast, pundit Robbie Mustoe revealed what it was about Riccardo Calafiori’s display that left him so spellbound.

Robbie Mustoe has high praise for Riccardo Calafiori after watching him against West Ham

Mustoe has spoken highly of Calafiori this season, noticing the quality the Italian brings to Mikel Arteta’s back four.

Calafiori’s rise has come at the expense of Myles Lewis-Skelly, whose game time has been reduced due to the form of his competitor at left-back.

After the win over West Ham, Mustoe named Calafiori as his ‘underappreciated performer’, giving an insight into what he really loves about the defender.

“Not only is he a physical beast of a defender to get past, he’s a threat from set pieces, he drifts forward at left back and has scored goals and will continue to be a threat going forward,” Mustoe said.

The former Premier League midfielder went on to share what he loved most about Calafiori’s performance. 

“But most of all, his ability to roll inside into the midfield, the centre of midfield, this big guy who’s a centre back or left-back, and be very neat and tidy on the ball.”

Mustoe was then eager to compare Calafiori to Lewis-Skelly, noticing similarities and differences between the two players.

“You don’t see him giving the ball away much. Myles Lewis-Skelly has done it, and we love him doing it.

“Calafiori can do it equally as well, Rob, and he’s got the physicality and the threat from set pieces and the strength defensively that Lewis-Skelly hasn’t got.”

Calafiori’s statistics against West Ham

Calafiori is making the difference for his Arsenal teammates, which is what the Gunners were missing last season due to his injury-tainted campaign.

Back in North London, Arteta will be holding his breath while Calafiori is on international duty, even more so after his incredibly complete display against West Ham.

The numbers speak for themselves, as Calafiori was a force to be reckoned with in terms of duel-winning and in attack, but the real revelation comes from his heat map.

Take a glance at Calafiori’s Sofascore heatmap from the contest, and you will see how much the Italian travelled, covering positions both on the left and centrally. 

There are few players who can do what the defender can in the Arsenal squad, being a wildcard in virtually every role.