West Ham United duo Edson Álvarez and Mohamed Kudus are a clear demonstration of what has gone wrong at Ajax, with their performances for the Hammers exactly what the Dutch side need.
That’s according to journalist Henk Spaan, who praises the pair today after their performances in the win over Arsenal this week.
The duo joined West Ham from Ajax in the summer, arriving as part of the Hammers’ big rebuild using the money secured from the sale of Declan Rice.
They’re yet to fully establish themselves as key players under David Moyes as yet but have been impressing in fits and bursts when given the opportunity.
Their latest good performances came this week as the pair starred in the 3-1 win over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup, with Kudus bagging arguably the goal of the game with a superbly taken solo effort.
It seems that game did not go unnoticed in the Netherlands, where their display earned rave reviews from Spaan.
He focused his praise on Kudus in particular, handing him a 9/10 rating for his display, while likening Álvarez to two Dutch legends.
“Anyone who wanted to see what was wrong with Ajax should have watched West Ham-Arsenal on Wednesday,” he said.
“A championship candidate was destroyed by Bowen, Paquetà, Álvarez and Kudus. The latter scored a goal that we know he can do, but which the supporters in East London probably don’t believe yet.
“I don’t forget them. Kudus plucked the ball out of the air with his left hand, he is able to silently control a hand grenade, and pushed it into the far corner with the same foot.
“In the meantime, Álvarez was gesticulating like Cruyff; he intercepted balls and set up attacks like a Rijkaard. Nobody in this new Ajax is at their level.”
