West Ham 0-1 Arsenal - Injury can’t dampen the Gunners’ momentum
Arsenal had done badly in previous years against West Ham United- last season they lost both games despite having dozens of chances to win them and in years before have generally not done well.
They will be ecstatic for the win today- although it was not the usual blitzing the Gunners have dished out this season, playing well and winning is as they say the mark of champions. Arsenal fans will continue to hope that the team can finally do it this season after three years without England’s ultimate domestic trophy; the side continues to benefit from the departure of Thierry Henry, with both first choice strikers in fine form.
The game started out with excitement in the very first minute- a ball over the top was controlled by Diaby; Adebayor could not put away the midfielder’s cut back. Dean Ashton then got the better of Phillipe Senderos in the air; his volleyed shot was over the bar. Adebayor made up for his earlier miss by being instrumental in Arsenal’s goal. The ball was played to the striker when he was alone up front- he showed good calmness to wait and stall with the ball until Hleb arrived. Hleb’s pinpoint cross was met by Dutch striker Robin Van Persie, who stole in front of Lucas Neill to put the ball into the net. Although Robert Green got a hand to it, he could not keep it out and that eventually turned out to be the winning goal.
This match saw Fredrik Ljungberg line up against his old team- the Swede winger was one of the best players on the pitch as West Ham increased the pressure after half time. The first half saw a horrific challenge on Aliaksandr Hleb by Marc Noble; one that few would have disputed had a red card been shown- the Englishman got away scot-free though. Hleb had to be substituted for Eboue, however reports suggest that he should be back soon.
After Van Persie’s excellent second half strike that thundered off the post, Ljungberg almost made a name for himself by scoring against his former club. The goal however was ruled out -television replays suggest perhaps wrongly- and although West Ham peppered the Arsenal goal afterwards they were unable to score- with Van Persie clearing an Ashton header off the line. A good result for Arsenal, whose title credentials increase every game they play; West Ham will hope to fight back in their next game away to Aston Villa.
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Discussion - 11 Responses
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Peppered the Arsenal goal? Almunia did not make a single save. And how do teams get away the kinds of tackles that we saw from Bowyer and Noble today?
West Ham tried to kick Arsenal offf the pitch and were found out.In games like these Arsenal shd not just be afraid of dishing out .Bowyer and Noble shd both have been sent off if it were a CL match. Muc as I admire the West Ham manager I believe he has a long way to go to achieve creditbel recognition.
Mark Noble should have been sent off. Anyway the game’s over and we got three points. The Hammers can do these tricks against Man u, Liverpool and Chelsea…………….
Ljunberg’s goal wasnt offside(thats what i thought), but sorry Hammers, them’s the breaks y’know?
Arsenal deserved to win it by one goal. Fair result - even though Ljunberg was offside.
Noble could have got a red but that’s the first bad tackle he’s made all season.
And as for,
“Muc as I admire the West Ham manager I believe he has a long way to go to achieve creditbel recognition.” What are you talking about? He did wonders with Charlton for a decade and has saved a team destined for the drop last season with an incredible run of victories and WHU largely matched the best team in the country for the majority of the game.
And whether he would have got a red in the champions league is irrelevant - it’s not the champions league is it?
I meant “even though Ljunberg was NOT offside”
Nice win Arsenal but i think west ham deserved more but as they say a teams have scrapped away with 1 nil wins when they didnt deserve them then went on to win the title
I think a more fair result would have been a draw. Arsenal had a bit of luck on their side but you cannot deny its a massive improvement from when we used to play against the Hammers, can you?
We’ll take the 3 points gladly & await your visit to OUR home turf. That’s another acid test for us & we need to avenge the last season loss there AS WELL.
Rob Green was phenomenal in the goal. We played better and so we won. We could have scored a few more, but I’m not complaining………….
liverpool fan and spiral architect…wat do u mean a more fair result wuld have been?? we won didnt we? the score line should have actually been 2 nil or 3 nil to us. westham deserved it more? dont talk rubbish you idiot.
Ljungberg’s goal was wrongly disallowed, but then Noble (and possibly Bowyer) should’ve seen red cards. West Ham battled hard but the result was quite fair.