Lucas Paqueta has lifted West Ham United to a different level with help from an inspiring squad.
He and Jarrod Bowen are pure quality along with James Ward-Prowse, Edson Alvarez and the squad at large.
And last night as he played his 50th game for for Hammers he scored a goal which despite an error by the keeper was of the highest quality – PERFECT result on reaching his Irons half century.
He rose with quite astonishing timing to leave two defenders gaping as he thumped home a header from Bowen’s cross and quieten a crowd in which not a single Hammer was allowed because of the ban.
It’s no surprise he is attracting interest from elsewhere but right now he is ours…all ours and long may that remain the case.
He was a serious thorn in the opposition’s side and afterwards told West Ham TV how pleased he was to score such an appropriate goal.
He declared: “I’m very happy to reach 50 games. In fact I didn’t know about it, Emerson told me in the dressing room so it’s very important to complete 50 games in this shirt winning the match and scoring a goal.
“We knew that this is a difficult game and a good opponent, but we started the game very well and managed to score straight away.
“Afterwards it was normal to feel pressure because they play at home and have their fans. Then we managed to get our heads in a good place so that in the second half we could get the goal for 2-1 and get the win.
He arrived in the box late for his header and said: It’s a move I used to make a few times. I’ve had a few similar goals at Flamengo and at Lyon too, and I know Jarrod Bowen a bit more. When he crossed the ball I was able to position myself well and score.”
And of the new 17 unbeaten run of game which has created a new record he added: “It’s something that is the result of the work that everybody has been doing for years, and as long as we can extend the record it’ll be perfect.
“But one game at a time. And now to rest and think about the Premier League.”

And so on to the Newcastle game of which he said: “It’s going to be a great game. The Newcastle team is a very strong team, no doubt about it.”