AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola paid a significant tribute to West Ham United's goalkeeper, Alphonse Areola, following a hard-fought 2-2 draw at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The match saw West Ham take a commanding first-half lead through a Callum Wilson brace, seemingly putting the visitors on course for a vital victory. However, the Cherries mounted a spirited comeback in the second half. Marcus Tavernier converted a penalty in the 69th minute, before Enes Unal struck the equaliser in the 81st minute to ensure the points were shared.
Areola's Man-of-the-Match Performance
The undisputed star of the match was West Ham's shot-stopper, Alphonse Areola. His performance was so commanding that he was awarded a 9/10 rating by Claret & Hugh for his efforts between the posts.
Areola's heroics were crucial throughout the contest. He made a significant contribution to West Ham's attack, providing a long assist for Wilson's opening goal. As Bournemouth increased the pressure, the French goalkeeper produced a series of vital saves, including an incredible reaction stop in the 76th minute that kept his team in the lead at the time.
Rival Manager's High Praise
The quality of Areola's display did not go unnoticed by the opposition. Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola was quick to acknowledge the goalkeeper's pivotal role in denying his team all three points.
"Areola was incredible," Iraola stated post-match. "Now, it is not a good result. We deserved more but we have to look at what we did wrong at the beginning of the game. It is frustrating for us."
Areola's Rise and Expert Endorsement
This performance further solidifies Areola's position as West Ham's number one, having reclaimed the starting spot after briefly losing it to summer signing Mads Hermansen at the start of the campaign. He has now started the last eight consecutive Premier League matches.
His form has also attracted praise from pundits. Former West Ham goalkeeper David James recently tipped Areola for greatness, suggesting he has the potential to become "one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League." James highlighted Areola's attributes and noted that, at 32, the goalkeeper is approaching the typical peak years for a player in his position.
The single point from this match was enough to lift West Ham out of the relegation zone and into 17th place, extending their unbeaten run to three games under manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
