West Ham United’s Manuel Lanzini has won the Premier League’s Budweiser Goal of the Month award for October.
The Argentina midfielder’s last-gasp equaliser at Tottenham Hotspur on 18 October has been selected as the best goal in England’s top-flight last month.
Having emerged from the substitutes’ bench in the second half, Lanzini’s wonder-strike arrived with just seconds remaining, the playmaker thundering in an unstoppable 25-yard, first-time shot in off the bar to spark wild celebrations.
The goal completed West Ham’s sensational late comeback from 3-0 down with ten minutes to play at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium; the latest occasion such a feat has been achieved in Premier League history.
Michail Antonio’s stunning overhead kick against Manchester City was also nominated, but Lanzini’s goal – on his first Premier League appearance of the 2020/21 season – takes the award, to go with its place in Claret and Blue folklore.
“I’m very happy to win the Goal of the Month award," Lanzini said. "It was hugely satisfying to score this goal, which had so much significance.
“When I came onto the pitch, I was just thinking about what I could do to help the team. I never anticipated what was going to happen, but these things do happen in football!
“I think it is one of the best goals I’ve scored in the Premier League so far, if not the best. It was very emotional for everyone. The team celebration was the best!
“It’s been a strange year for me, with a lot of ups and downs. I haven’t been able to consolidate my position in the team, but this goal has boosted my confidence, I’m back in form and it shows what I can do."
Lanzini’s goal was selected as the winner by a combination of supporters’ votes and the choices of a panel of experts.
The West Ham No10 topped an eight-man shortlist for the award which also included goals by Antonio, Yves Bissouma, Timo Werner, Bruno Fernandes, Ross Barkley, Patrick Bamford and Tom Cairney.
Lanzini becomes the third Hammer to claim the Budweiser Goal of the Month award since its inception at the beginning of the 2016/17 Premier League season.
West Ham’s previous two award-winning strikes both came in that inaugural season, with Dimitri Payet’s individual effort against Middlesbrough and Andy Carroll’s acrobatic bicycle kick against Crystal Palace winning in October 2016 and January 2017 respectively.
