Vladimír Coufal was delighted to mark his 100th West Ham United appearance with a valiant point from a 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.
The Czech full-back played his part as the Hammers fought back after Arsenal took a two-goal lead within ten minutes thanks to efforts from Gabriel Jesus and Martin Ødegaard.
A Saïd Benrahma penalty halved the deficit by half-time before Coufal’s long throw started the move that saw Thilo Kehrer set up Jarrod Bowen for a memorable equaliser in east London.
“I always believed [we could turn the game around],” Coufal stated. “It was very tough to keep believing though because Arsenal are a top team.
“They are a very tough opponent and to be 2-0 down it is a very tough situation. But I have to say I have a lot of praise for everyone on the pitch because 2-2 is a great result for us.”
Coufal capped the milestone of 100 appearances by making the most tackles of any Hammer with four.
Aggressive at both ends of the field, Coufal also won three aerial duels, while his long throws from the right provided a constant source of threat to the Gunners, including for the equaliser.
Having now been at the Club for two and half years following a move from Slavia Prague in October 2020, Coufal has established himself as a fan favourite. The amount of games is a landmark he is immensely proud to have achieved in east London.
Coufal explained: “For me it is unbelievable. When I played in the Czech Republic for Slavia Prague, I did not imagine I would play for a Club this many times.
“I dreamed about playing in the Premier League but to play 100 [Club] games is unbelievable and hopefully, I will add some more games too.”
After also featuring in a 1-0 win at Fulham last weekend, the Czech full-back has been a vital part of the Hammers’ improved start to 2023.
The Irons have lost just one of their last eight matches in all competitions and stretched an unbeaten run to three games with a draw against the Premier League leaders.
Coufal has more than played his part. And wants the run to continue with crucial fixtures against KAA Gent and AFC Bournemouth to come this week.
“It not just about me," the 30-year-old stated. “It is about the other players on the pitch. It is about everyone.
“When I am on the pitch, I have to play like this. I am enjoying my football again because I am no longer struggling with injuries. It is very important for me to be healthy and to be ready.
“It does not matter who is playing, we need to work as a team. And against Arsenal, we did exactly that. We showed passion on the pitch to grab a point and deliver a good performance.
“Every game is different, but we need to keep playing like this. Not just against Bournemouth but in the Conference League too. And that should get us into the position we want to be.”
