The last time West Ham scored against Arsenal was from the spot kick from controversial Italian maestro Alessandro Diamanti.
A London derby is always one to savour, Arsenal vs West Ham two clubs with contrasting football styles makes it even more sumptuous. Arsene Wenger with strong belief in attacking football with quick play from left to right, while Sam Allardyce with the proper long ball tactics with one giant centre forward winning the knock downs for the midfielders.
Arsenal were quickest out of the box, with their usual tip tap football, stretching the home with short swift an accurate passes. The home team just contented with soaking up the pressure, with Andy Carroll causing all sorts of havoc to the defensive pair of Mertesacker and Vermaelen .
The game took a twist when former Wigan midfield enforcer DIAME brought something out of his bags of tricks with a moment of genius to put the Hammers in front. The Senegalese ghosted past Aaron Ramsey before unleashing an unstoppable shot past Mannone sending the home fans to 7th heaven.
This sent Arsenal back to the front foot with Oliver Giroud coming close on a couple of occasions. Arsenal three man midfield of CAZORLA-ARTETA-RAMSEY were finding it hard to break up the Hammers defence ,but when DIAME miscontrolled the ball in the part of Arteta, it was 1-1. Arteta and Giroud robbed Diame off the ball, the Frenchman sent a long pass to Podolski who simply returned the favour and with a striker instinct the misfiring striker toe-poked before Jussi could get his hands on it, a good time to get an equaliser.
The second half was much of the same, Arsenal did the tip tap, West Ham did all the defending . Santi Cazorla was trying to impose himself into the game while Arteta was at his usual self. West Ham kept hoofing the ball to Andy Carroll. Arsene Wenger looking for his 350th win in the Premier League threw in contract rebel Theo Walcott for the ineffective Gervinho.
Arsenal had a big penalty appeal turned down by Phil Dowd,when Ramsey was chopped from behind, all appeals turned to Dowd’s deaf ear. Nolan broke through so clearly offside the linesman must need a new contact lens to see that was off. He tried to cut back Mertesacker but the German stood his ground and saved Arsenal from falling behind.
Another goal-mouth scramble by West Ham paved way for an Arsenal counter. The impressive Giroud sent Walcott clear with a surgical pass, the English clamouring to be played in the centre forward sent another message to the Arsenal bench with a delicious finish.
West Ham had the opportunity to level matters immediately but the Arsenal defence were on-guard, Mertesacker and Jerkinson doing more than enough to hold the Hammers. Still trying to clear the smoke from Theo Walcott’s goal celebration, Arsenal broke again.
Walcott to Cazorla , the Spanish blessed with a cannon of shot in both feet sent Jussi Jasskelainen stranded with another peach of a goal, from then on it was game over. Arsenal kept monopolising possession with no real urgency to find the fourth goal. They had to thank Mannone for putting up a fine save from Matt Taylor’s swerving shot. Not even the arrival of Carlton Cole gave the attack any bite.
The yellow jersey we wore has always been bad luck, the only victory it produced was away to Twente in the Champions League qualifier.
When Diame scored for West Ham I feared it was Dejavu. It’s three points from Upton Park, a ground that hardly share points.
On a final note, it was good to see Le Boss switching formation during the match, brought on Koscielny for Poldolski , Jenkinson and Santos as wing back, Vermaelen and Koscielny as centre backs and Mertesacker as a sweeper just in front of Mannone.
Written by @Gingerstiff
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