West Ham 0 – 2 Arsenal
Arsenal today travelled across London to Upton Park to take on Zola’s West Ham.
Wenger made some changes with regards to team selection, whilst Toure and Sagna were in the squad, Eboue and Silvestre retained their places for the start. Song was brought into the centre of midfield in place of Denilson, who has struggled to step up to the challenge so far this season. Finally Bendtner replaced Adebayor up front, partnered by Van Persie.
Here’s how Arsenal lined up:
Almunia,
Eboue, Gallas, Silvestre, Clichy
Walcott (Adebayor 67), Fabregas, Song, Nasri (Diaby 67)
Bendtner, Van Persie (Sagna 91)
The game started brightly, with good passing football from both teams, West Ham showing their willingness to play attractive football under Zola’s stewardship.
Almunia made a good save early on when a mis-control from Van Persie gave David Di Michele space to aim a fierce shot from 25 yards swerving at Almunia, who showed good reactions to palm it over the bar.
The first 15 minutes were very quiet for Arsenal in attack, but the game opened up when, after a period of Arsenal pressure, West Ham launched an attack which was very swiftly broken when Gallas was able to clear the ball to Walcott to break on the half-way line, who burst up the field and into the West Ham box, stiking a fierce shot which ricocheted behind off the bar.
West Ham keeper Robert Green had another scare moments later when he came out to a meet a ball before the on-rushing Bendtner and caught the ball within ‘the D’ of his penalty box, but was given the benefit of the doubt by the linesman.
Arsenal were soon back on the attack, Fabregas chipped the ball to Van Persie, who chested down to Walcott, who’s shot was turned round by Green for a corner. Shortly after, Fabregas picked up a yellow card for a body check on Craig Bellamy.
The game remained goalless into the second half and resumed at a similar pace to the first. The game
had a great open quality, with both teams having good build-up play, just without any real pressure on either goalkeeper. West Ham had a hopeful shout for a penalty when the ball struck Gallas, but there wasn’t much he knew or could do about it and West Ham’s protestations fell on deaf ears.
Arsenal continued to pressure the West Ham box but the Hammers were getting men behind the ball, not allowing Arsenal to bring the ball into the box, defending deep and blocking off shots on the edge of the box.
Adebayor came on for Walcott after 67 minutes and immediately had a chance, heading Van Persie’s corner just inches past the post.
It was all one-way but West Ham were somehow keeping Arsenal at bay. Van Persie broke through the defensive barricades on 70 minutes, producing an excellent save from Green with a forceful deflected shot from the edge of the box.
Van Persie came incredibly close to scoring a great goal but was denied by the post after curling in stunning free kick strike.
Arsenal finally broke through in the 75th minute, the pressure from Arsenal paying off when Faubert turned in after Adebayor picked his pass to Bendtner on the 6 yard line, the defender sliding across Bendter but turning the ball past his own keeper.
As the game came towards full time Arsenal weren’t neccessarily guarenteed the 3 points, as West Ham showed more good attacking football and created some chances. Arsenal however turned defence momentarily into attack when Bendtner played a great long ball to release Adebayor, who raced away, Green came out to meet him but was wrong-footed by the Togolese striker, who was able to round him and shoot into the empty net from the edge of the box.
The action wasn’t over yet, as Song brought the ball into midfield, he was brought down by a sliding tackle from behind by Carlton Cole, who recieved a straight red card. West Ham protested this but it did appear that Cole came in with his studs up and his foot off the ground.
