Florian Wirtz’s sidefooted shot toward the bottom corner six minutes before halftime, though saved excellently by Alphonse Areola, demonstrated the German international’s technical quality. The strike was well-placed and powerfully hit, representing exactly the type of effort that beats goalkeepers on most occasions. That it didn’t enter the net owed everything to Areola’s excellence and nothing to Wirtz’s execution.
The shot came after Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s attempted interception fell kindly for Wirtz in a dangerous position. Rather than rushing or snatching at the opportunity, the former Bayer Leverkusen star showed composure, taking an extra touch to set himself before striking through the ball cleanly. The technique and decision-making were excellent.
For Wirtz, the save represented another frustrating moment in a season where “nothing quite goes right.” He has performed many aspects well without producing the goals and assists expected from a £100 million-plus player. The shot against West Ham demonstrated his quality while highlighting his current luck—doing everything right yet still seeing efforts saved.
The targeting of the bottom corner showed tactical intelligence. Wirtz identified that as the most difficult area for the goalkeeper to reach and executed his shot accordingly. That Areola still managed to save it speaks to the goalkeeper’s quality rather than any deficiency in Wirtz’s attempt. Sometimes players can do everything correctly and still not score.
As Wirtz continues adapting to English football, these near-misses will hopefully transform into goals. His technical quality is evident in moments like this strike, even when they don’t produce the desired outcome. The goals and assists will come if he continues making correct decisions and executing techniques properly. For now, though, he remains in one of those frustrating spells where quality efforts somehow don’t yield results, leaving him searching for the breakthrough that will unlock his Premier League account.