Lucas Paquetá’s performance against Aston Villa on 26 January highlighted the limitations of deploying the Brazilian as a false nine in Graham Potter’s makeshift attacking system. With West Ham United lacking a natural striker, Paquetá was tasked with leading the line alongside the out-of-form Mohammed Kudus. Despite his technical quality and creativity, the 1-1 draw at Villa Park exposed significant flaws in his ability to fulfill the demands of this role, with his errant finishing and overall inefficiency proving costly.
Paquetá had several clear-cut opportunities to punish Aston Villa but failed to make them count. All three of his shots came from inside the box, two of which were from prime positions. In the early stages, he half-volleyed wide from close range, missing a chance that could have given West Ham a vital early lead. Later in the game, he dragged another effort narrowly past the post. His inability to convert these chances amounted to a combined expected goals (xG) total of 0.44, a figure that underscored the wastefulness of his finishing. To compound the frustration, Paquetá also had a goal disallowed for offside, further emphasizing his lack of sharpness in front of goal.
Despite seeing plenty of the ball, with 59 touches in total, only seven of those touches came inside Villa’s box, despite Paquetá often being the furthest player forward for the Irons. His passing accuracy of 79% reflected a decent involvement in West Ham’s build-up play, but it was far from enough to make a decisive impact. His dribbling was another area of concern, as he completed just one of his four attempted take-ons, a success rate of only 25%. Additionally, he was dispossessed four times, illustrating his struggles to retain possession and navigate Villa’s defensive pressure.
Paquetá’s inability to impose himself physically also played a significant role in his disappointing performance. He contested an extraordinary 29 duels throughout the match but managed to win only 12 of them. On the ground, he fared slightly better, winning nine of 19 duels, but his aerial presence was notably lacking, with only three of his 10 aerial duels being successful. This lack of physical dominance in key areas further limited his ability to impact the game positively.
The match itself was characterized by a stop-start rhythm, with Paquetá both winning and conceding three free-kicks each. This contributed to a scrappy and forgettable contest, where moments of quality were few and far between. However, West Ham’s inability to capitalize on their limited opportunities in the final third highlighted a broader issue: the urgent need for a natural striker. While Paquetá offers plenty of creativity and technical skill, his role as a false nine against Villa clearly exposed his limitations in leading the line.
Graham Potter’s decision to experiment with Paquetá in this advanced role is understandable given the team’s lack of attacking options, but the Brazilian’s struggles in this match emphasized that it is not a sustainable solution. West Ham’s reliance on makeshift forward options like Paquetá and Kudus is proving insufficient in delivering consistent results, particularly in tight games like this one.
If Potter’s need for a recognized striker wasn’t evident before this match, it is now undeniable. Without a player who can provide a reliable focal point in attack, West Ham’s ambitions may continue to be undermined by performances like this, where opportunities are wasted, and the team struggles to convert possession and pressure into goals. For Paquetá, his skillset is better suited to a more creative and deeper role, where he can influence the game without being burdened with the responsibility of finishing chances. Until West Ham address this glaring issue in their squad, performances like the one against Aston Villa are likely to continue to frustrate fans and cost the team valuable points.