Gunners Get Three Points And A Submission
Sep 30th, 2007 by 'holic
There was a time when the media would have made much of a contest between the pretty footballers from the West Ham academy and their dour and practical north London neighbours. How times change.
The capture of the likes of Neill, Bowyer, and Bellamy tells you all you need to know about the Hammers’ ambitions these days. Make no mistake about it, they have seen the evidence of the last couple of seasons when this Arsenal side could be bullied out of a contest. As Roberto Duran would have said, ‘no mas’.
The first move of the contest saw Adebayor go close and just twelve minutes later a cross from the impressive Hleb found Van Persie at the far post. An impressive leap and a header that just squirmed from Green’s grasp and the visitors had the lead.
The cynical would argue that for his part in the goal Hleb had made himself a target. On the half hour he was the victim of what can only be described as an assault by Noble. Referee Alan Wiley was happy that a yellow card was sufficient punishment as Hleb was stretchered off, sure to miss the midweek Champions League trip.
Bowyer too was sniping in the midfield but the Hammers found opponents, particularly Flamini, who were not prepared to be bullied out of the contest. Indeed having taken the equally combative Parker out of the game, Flamini too can consider himself fortunate to have escaped with just a yellow card.
The second half saw more of the same, and Arsenal survived an extremely close call when old-boy Freddie Ljungberg put the ball in the net only to be called back for an offside flag. The test for me is ‘would I have been upset if an Arsenal goal would have been disallowed in those circumstances?’ In all honesty I have to say, yes.
At the final whistle Arsene Wenger was diplomatic when prompted for his view of the Noble challenge by mischievous journalists. “Noble is usually a fair player. I don’t know if it was an accident or not, but he caught him very well”
To his credit the Hammers boss, Alan Curbishley, conceded that “Arsenal were the better team, even though there were times when we gave them too much respect, when they get that sort of start they are difficult for any team to play against.’
So on to Bucharest, and the continuation of the latest European tour. It will be interesting to see who will be brought in to replace Hleb in a tricky away tie. Eboue, I would guess, will be preferred to Walcott under such circumstances.
So that’s that. I hope you enjoy what is left of the weekend, grinning knowingly at all around you. Isn’t it wonderful to be top of the league!
8 Responses to “Gunners Get Three Points And A Submission”
people thought that without Henry arsenal would be down, but now we’re on the table. Arsenal will be the champions unbeaten.
It’s great to be top of the league: 19 points from a possible 21 is a good return, and a fair reflection of this excellent Arsenal side. Yesterday’s victory was not the Arsenal at their dominating best, but we’ll drink to the three points, enjoying knowing that the Arsenal can have a dip in form and still be the better side away to West Ham.
It was the kind of win we needed, a grinding win, with only some of the usual flair. At least when challenged physically, we stood up this time! Very impressive i must say!
Don’t be silly 433, that was not a dip in form. It was exactly the way to play against a West Ham side who will win a few games this season. Upton Park is a difficult place to play, the fans and players get right in your face from the outset. A solid performance by the whole team. Clean sheet at the back and not unusually RvP ran them ragged and popped up for the necessary goal. He is really beginning to show different aspects to his already impressive range
of skills. Headed goal, fantastic right-footed strike, goal line clearance, superbly weighted pass to put Ade through….great performance.
Fair enough. I often tend towards silliness, but what a great debate to be having – if table-topping Arsenal’s most recent victory was a great performance or just a good one.
Good points, I was saying to mates yesterday than despite RvP’s ‘apparently’ disappointing performances, he was doing a lot more team work than people give him credit for.
Well done for keeping the articles coming, ‘holic.
I was wondering if in your banner (Eat. Sleep. etc.), there was a subliminal message implying that you associate Bertie Mee with food, etc.
Heh. I don’t think George would be too pleased with that line of thinking Ollie! Or maybe he would.
Now you come to mention food, I think breakfast is in order….
i was happy with the result against the hammers if only because it proved a point that we can handle the rough stuff on the road.
oh and happy birthday spurs 😛 4-4 at home against villa and you celebrate as if you’ve won something……get real!