Michail Antonio is determined to return to his early season form for West Ham United over the Christmas period.
West Ham United’s No9 plundered six goals and four assists in his opening seven appearances of 2021/22 but has found the net just once in 12 games since.
With the team’s performances and results also taking a slight dip in recent weeks – coinciding with a number of injuries to important defenders – Antonio is big enough to admit he has not been at his best and has vowed to give everything he can to fire West Ham back to winning ways.
The Hammers’ next to fixtures are both against opponents the Jamaica international has fond memories of facing – Tottenham Hotspur away in the EFL Cup fifth round, then Southampton at home in the Premier League – and he is planning to draw on them and show the same ruthlessness in front of goal that saw him voted Premier League Player of the Month for August.
Michail, the manager has said that our standards have dropped in recent weeks and we need to get back to the level we were playing at in between August and October as soon as possible…
“You can see it in the last few games we’ve managed to grind out some results, but our performances have dipped and we’ve not kind of lived up to the standards we set at the beginning of the season.
“The positives we can take from it are that, even though our performances have dipped, we haven’t dropped a long way down the League table, so when our performances do become better, we’re in a good place to bounce back.”
You scored our Premier League winner against Tottenham at London Stadium in October – the third time you’ve scored a winning goal against them for West Ham – and then we face your old club Southampton, who you scored your first Hammers goal against back in December 2015…
“We’ve got Tottenham on Wednesday and of course I will always enjoy the prospect of playing at their new stadium after becoming the first visiting player to score a winner against Spurs there a couple of years ago.
“Then we’ve got Southampton on Boxing Day, who I have good, fond memories of both playing for and scoring my first goal for West Ham against, so hopefully we can go out there and get the wins and go on a run from there.”
As someone who uses social media to interact with the supporters, how do you respond to those who have been critical of your recent record in front of goal?
“I am confident in my ability, so I don’t need anybody to jump on me because I am jumping on myself already. I’m a person who demands the best from myself and I am getting frustrated in myself that I have not scored in so many games, so you don’t need to get on my back as I’m already on my own back!
“I am going to go out there, give my all and hopefully this week I can put the ball in the back of the net for me, for the team and for you guys.”
Let’s end on a real positive. You recently made your 200th appearance for West Ham in our Premier League game at Arsenal. That is some achievement, so you must be proud?
“I’m chuffed, to be fair. I was hoping it would be a better result to mark that, but I’m just moving onto the next game and I am hoping to celebrate belatedly with a nice goal and a nice win! Merry Christmas!”