West Ham started the winter transfer season on a high by signing former Arsenal and Manchester City midfielder, Samir Nasri. The Frenchman comes back to Premier League after years and it is here in England the 31-year old made his name. Nasri joined Arsenal back in 2011 from boyhood club Olympique Marseille. He developed a lot under the tutelage of Arsene Wenger and was one of the exciting midfield talents in Europe at that time. His impressive performances earned him a move to Manchester City where he won the Premier League twice alongside a League Cup. He fell out of favour when Pep Guardiola joined City and was loaned out to Sevilla.
His decline started from his departure from the Premier League and faced a tough period of ban due to doping. However West Ham United boss, Manuel Pellegrini feels that the Frenchman will return to form in his return back to London. Nasri reunites with Pellegrini who was Manchester City’s manager when he joined the club.
Nasri has signed a short-term contract with the Hammers until the end of the season with an option to extend it by another year. Pellegrini seemed pretty certain that Nasri will find the form for the Hammers and will help the side propel to greater heights.
So the West Ham supporters were feeling that they would see Nasri making his debut for the club against Brighton and Hove Albion. The Frenchman started on the bench and was looking forward to make a difference for his new side whenever brought on. But the Seagulls were head and shoulders over West Ham with a 2-0 lead over the hosts. Pellegrini was forced to make some tweaks to his starting lineup as he brought on Mark Noble and Michail Antonio keeping Nasri unused on the night.
The Irons did play out a 2-2 draw and it was largely due to Marko Arnautovic’s heroic performances that they came out of it with a point. Pellegrini after the match explained the situation as he felt helpless considering the situation of the match at that time. However, he still feels that Nasri can be an important figure at the club this season.
“My intention was to use him but in the way that the game was tonight it would have been a risk for him to come on but I absolutely think that he will be a decisive player for our team.”
Looking at the outcome of the match it was a fair move for Manuel Pellegrini as both Mark Noble and Michail Antonio bagged an assist as the Hammers clawed their way back in the game. West Ham United are currently in the 10th position with 28 points and with Arnautovic and others getting in form at the right time Pellegrini’s boys can end the season in a respectable position in the league table.
The Frenchman will have his chance pretty soon and it might come when the Hammers host his former side, Arsenal next weekend in the league. However there is a match in between against Birmingham City in the FA Cup third round, Nasri could get some minutes over there as well.
