Emerson and Paquetá might be inseparable, but there is one thing they can’t agree on.
“As a young child, growing up in Flamengo, I always loved to dance,” Paquetá explains, “the flips, the acrobatics too, I just grew up on that.”
Emerson is not so sure. “Lucas is always trying to get me to dance when he scores but, for me, it is not as easy as he makes it look.”
Newcastle United was a case in point then. Paquetá netted the equaliser and celebrated in typical fashion, with Emerson happy to see his mate take centre stage.
“The fans are waiting to see what celebration you are going to do,” the No11 continues. “I like to bring out these dances and moves. After I scored against Newcastle, I was so happy, I did not know what to do or how to celebrate.
“I was so caught up in the moment, I just did a flip!”
"Before the games, I just tell Lucas: 'I want to see your dance!" Emerson adds. "I want him to score a goal, and maybe me to assist him as well. I tell him: ‘I want to see your celebration today. I will support the dance, yes – but from afar.’"
And on the flip against Newcastle?
Emerson smiles. “Yeah, I’m not attempting that. No chance!”
Teammates at Olympique Lyonnais in 2021/22, Emerson and Paquetà both signed for West Ham last summer and have been helping each other adjust to life in east London ever since.
With West Ham's schedule so congested, it is important to take time away from the game.
“Lucas is like a brother to me,” Emerson explains, honestly. “We are always together, inside or outside the Club.
“Our wives are friends as well, so when we can, we go out together or host each other's families. We both love similar food – Italian and Asian cuisine. It’s helpful for our mental state to be able to talk about things other than football.”
Their friendship has, of course, been vital in helping Paquetá settle in. The No11 is taking English lessons three times a week but has often relied on Emerson to communicate with teammates since his arrival in east London.
"With French and Italian, I picked it up really quickly but English it has been different," Paquetá admits. “It’s a tough language to learn. I get on really well with Emerson and our friendship has been really helpful since moving to London.”
Emerson agrees. “It is special to play with Lucas at West Ham because he is my friend. It is helpful because we know each other already and we try to help the team. It is easier to do that when you have that understanding already.”
In recent weeks, that connection has been evident on the field too. Only one Hammer had more touches of the ball than Emerson against Newcastle United, while Paquetá has struck twice since returning from the 2022 World Cup finals with Brazil.
His goals in draws against Leeds United and Newcastle have helped the Irons fall to one defeat since the turn of the New Year. The duo are making their mark and are ready for their next test against a team Emerson knows well.
The wing-back made 71 appearances at Chelsea, the side West Ham face on Saturday.
"When you join a new club, you need to show your qualities," Emerson states. "And, now, with more opportunities, it is important for me to continue to show that. Chelsea is a tough game, they have brought a lot of players, but we simply need to keep this focus."
Should the Irons record what would be a fourth win in the last six matches at home to Chelsea, they will have to bounce back from defeat in the reverse fixture. Paquetá made his first Premier League start at Stamford Bridge in October, although the team would fall to a narrow – and unfortunate – 2-1 defeat.
There is a feeling of putting things right on Saturday, then?
“It did not settle down very well with the team, the way we lost that game,” Paquetá remarks, on the decision by VAR to disallow Maxwel Cornet’s late leveller, “but we are confident with the way we are playing we can get a positive result.
“I love scoring and I have a few dances prepared too. Hopefully, I get the chance to show them!”
Whether Emerson will get involved in the dancing remains to be seen, but the duo will hope to celebrate in the capital come Saturday afternoon.
