By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
Martin O’Neill’s admission that Celtic are missing Arne Engels has come immediately after probably the Belgian’s worst performance for West Ham United.
That should not disguise what has been a steadily improving start to life in East London. Engels’ first couple of appearances were unimpressive, but this has been a case of evolution rather than revolution as he has gradually established himself and built a promising midfield partnership with Divine Mukasa.
At £22 million, and as the Championship’s record signing, there was always going to be enormous pressure on Engels to perform. When you have that sort of price tag hanging around your neck, you simply have to be good.
Thankfully, he has been.
Engels and Mukasa might not have clicked against Millwall but their midfield partnership is developing well
O’Neill reveals what Celtic are missing
O’Neill has now openly acknowledged that Celtic have struggled to replace the qualities Engels provided before joining West Ham.
Speaking about Celtic’s failure to recruit a comparable midfielder, O’Neill told The Scottish Sun: “He’s been a loss in terms of that running power he can give you.”
That observation will surprise nobody who has watched Engels closely since his arrival. He is an absolute workaholic—not merely in central midfield, but everywhere across the pitch.
Engels appears to be a low-maintenance footballer who gives everything for the team. He covers ground, competes and takes responsibility without demanding that the entire side be built around him.
Those qualities are particularly valuable in a division where, as Millwall demonstrated against West Ham, technical superiority counts for little unless it is accompanied by intensity and fight.
| Arne Engels – Championship | Stat |
|---|---|
| Pass accuracy | 89.2% |
| Passes per 90 | 44.25 |
| Forward passes per 90 | 10.89 |
| Passes to final third per 90 | 5.85 |
| Progressive passes per 90 | 4.49 |
| Shot assists per 90 | 1.63 |
| Assists | 2 |
| Expected assists (xA) | 1.42 |
Engels endured his toughest afternoon
Admittedly, Engels was well below his best at The Den. He was hardly alone during a first half in which West Ham were bullied and completely overrun.
Even his usually sniper-like dead-ball deliveries deserted him. Engels is normally an excellent exponent of corners and free kicks, but his radar was malfunctioning against Millwall.
One poor performance should not obscure his wider progress, however. Engels and Mukasa have gradually developed an understanding which could become crucial to the Hammers promotion challenge.
The encouraging thing is that there still appears to be far more to come. As Matt recently observed, West Ham remain near the top despite operating below full capacity, and the same argument applies to their record signing.
Engels can dominate the Championship charts
I expect Engels to accumulate a high number of assists this season, particularly if his set-piece delivery returns to its usual standard.
I would also be very surprised if he does not finish close to the top of the Championship charts for chances created. He possesses the technique to supply West Ham’s forwards and the energy to keep arriving in areas from which he can hurt opponents.
The Millwall performance was a setback, but it does not alter my overall assessment. Engels has steadily grown into his role and already looks like the sort of player West Ham will increasingly rely upon.
I’m not remotely surprised O’Neill misses him.