Gunners Grab A Pfeiffer
Dec 3rd, 2016 by 'holic
The lunchtime destruction of Manchester City by the bus stop in Fulham meant that Arsenal went into the evening match with a chance to move into second position in the Premier League, three points behind the West Londoners. Arsene Wenger opted to start with Gabriel at right-back, Granit Xhaka alongside Francis Coquelin, and Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain on the left hand side.
The already weakened West Ham defence was further hit by an early injury to James Collins who limped off angrily in the seventh minute to be replaced by Arbeloa. Almost immediately Nacho Monreal broke free and crossed into the box but none of the Gunners attackers had made the run in. Oxlade-Chamberlain was next to break but he overhit his pass to Mesut Ozil.
Monreal was freed again, first by a magnificent Xhaka through ball, then courtesy of Alexis, but again the crosses found only West Ham feet. The Ox was next to hit that touchline and cut the ball back, and again the Hammers somehow kept it out.
In the seventeenth minute Mustafi’s header from a corner flashed past the far post and just beyond the unmarked Laurent Koscielny and Alexis. The home side fired a warning shot across our bows when Payet sent Lanzini scampering clear but he was forced wide and Petr Cech saved from a tight angle.
In the 24th minute our domination was rewarded, thanks to a dreadful pass by Ogbonna which was picked off by the excellent Coquelin. Alexis sprinted clear, evaded a last-ditch challenge by Reid, and slid the ball into the path of Ozil who side footed home the simplest of finishes.
West Ham United 0-1 Arsenal
As the half hour approached the Ox got clear again but with support finally arriving he blazed a horrible slice some way wide of the far post. Alexis was next to try his luck but Randolph made a comfortable save. Arsenal’s total control warranted a second goal, particularly with last season’s West Ham comeback in the corresponding fixture in mind.
We missed a golden opportunity when the Ox put Alexis through one-on-one with Randolph but unusually the Chilean’s touch let him down. The same player tried to put Monreal in but underhit the final pass. Arbeloa’s dreadful challenge from behind on Coquelin surprisingly drew no caution from Mr Pawson. Alexis was the next to break down the left hand side and he too could only cut the ball back to a defender.
West Ham almost bounced back when Obiang got between defenders and headed Fletcher’s cross over the crossbar. Gabriel had to be treated for a knee problem following that incident and trod gingerly for the remaining minute or two of the half. A last-minute break by the Ox came to a disappointing end when Ozil played a return pass behind his teammate and the whistle came to West Ham’s rescue.
First to get forward in the second-half was the Ox down the right flank, but as in the first-half the ball into the box was dealt with by the hosts. Ozil’s tantalising free-kick from the same flank was headed over by Theo Walcott as Arsenal picked up where they left off. Alexis and the Ox combined to put Walcott through again but he miscued and the chance was gone.
We had Laurent Koscielny to be grateful to for denying Fletcher an equaliser, and the young striker drove another effort narrowly wide as West Ham inevitably came back into the game. All of a sudden that single goal advantage was looking decidedly slender. Fletcher then saw yellow for leaving his foot in on Koscielny, although it looked more clumsy than intentional.
West Ham sent on Ayew for Fernandes to give themselves an added option up front. A pacy counter-attack saw Alexis feed in Walcott but the England man’s effort was blocked. The combative Reid was booked for a late challenge in the build-up. Cue Arsenal sending Aaron Ramsey on for the subdued Walcott in the 66th minute, and Koscielny getting a card for a foul on the lively Fletcher.
A long slow build-up ended with Monreal cutting the ball back to Ramsey. His effort was blocked by Randolph, as was the acrobatic follow-up by Ozil. The second goal we yearned for arrived in the 72nd minute. It was made by and finished by Alexis, with an incredible turn and run in the inside-right channel before driving the ball just inside the far post.
West Ham United 0-2 Arsenal
That resulted in the inevitable introduction of Carroll for Noble. Gleeful Gooners roared out a taunting “We’ll never play here again”. Alexis grabbed his second with a shimmy and drive into his favourite corner from the edge of the box. With ten minutes to go we were surely home and hosed?
West Ham United 0-3 Arsenal
The ‘holic pound wasn’t on for long. Payet’s free-kick came back off the bar and Carroll headed home the rebound. There was an inevitability about that one. West Ham had their consolation, but they would live to regret prodding the sleeping lion with a stick.
West Ham United 1-3 Arsenal
There were six minutes of the ninety remaining and it was good to see Arsenal’s spirited response. The immediate one was a thumping drive by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Hopefully that will do his confidence the world of good.
West Ham United 1-4 Arsenal
The Alexis show was complete when he sprinted onto a ball from the Ox, drew the ‘keeper, performed a step-over to sit him down, and chipped Randolph to complete his hat-trick. Was he offside? Possibly. Who would have denied the irresistible force his treble?
West Ham United 1-5 Arsenal
The Arsenal sent on Mohamed Elneny and Alex Iwobi for Coquelin and Ozil. The Ox had a chance to complete a brace but Randolph was equal to the effort. Alexis galloped clear again and all but teed up Rambo for number six, but West Ham scrambled it clear after Randolph had saved the first effort.
In hindsight we were fortunate to come up against an under-strength West Ham in front of their notoriously quiet support. They looked like a team in need of a lift, but as we have discovered when you are in new surroundings the team has to do the lifting. We have taken second place for at least twenty-four hours. Liverpool are at Bournemouth tomorrow and need a win to overtake us again.
Arsene Wenger must have been delighted to have the opportunity to express himself in his post-match interviews.
“The regret we had at half-time was that we had not made more of the chances we created. Sometimes you get away with it like today. For us it was important for them not to get the equaliser.”
71 Responses to “Gunners Grab A Pfeiffer”
First! ?
Second.
Speedy Holic!
Alexis hAT-tRICK!
😀
Cheers H!
Alexis Sanchez Baby!
A fine report, Guv’nor and a much-needed memory of summer in the title.
Having neither seen nor listened to the game, I find myself in the unfortunate position of having to rely on Match of the Day to provide me any coverage. Hey ho.
The downer for me today, is that the Tinies have reduced our goal-difference advantage to five. This is unacceptable. Wenger aaaaaht.
COYG
https://twitter.com/HectorBellerin/status/805129005724745729
😀 😀 😀
Alexis. What a player, what a performance. Pay the man Arsenal. Whatever it takes. He’s worth every penny.
I was only teasing about the lateness of the report but you have produced a very fair and detailed account of the game Holic. I thought the pound was definitely going to come in but the lummock Carroll did the only thing he achieved in his cameo.
I was very encouraged because I haven’t seen all our away games in their entirety and the two I have were Sunderland and tonight . In both we looked like we had let the opposition off lightly but got it right in the end. Maybe there is a psychological thing about November but we did look positive tonight although we didn’t close them down as tightly as I would wish. We had great transitions and Xhaka used the ball brilliantly at times. Ox played better than I have seen him for some time all through the game and I thought Gabriel made a very good fist of the right back role. But Alexis was magnificent and well worth the four points I had to pay to bring him into my Fantasy League side as captain!
Poor old Hammers. I have just acquired a great nephew whose dad decrees he will be a happy Hammer. I watched with him a fortnight ago as they almost overcame the Totts . I’ve invited his parents tonight to save him and make him a Gooner.
Evening H
Haven’t seen the Hammers play that bad against us for a while.
Injury problems don’t help of course.
We could in truth have scored double figures today if we had taken our chances.
Mightily impressed with the Chavs win at City,that was an Arse Invincibles like performance.
They are on a serious roll since we beat them at the Ems.
Both they and Pool have got a pretty kind run of fixtures up to the New year,so we will need to keep the winning habit to stay in touch.
Fine review Guvna. You crack them out like a teenager, mate.
I know we were playing a poor Spam team but we had some outstanding performances today. Sanchez of course (pay him what he wants FFS). As TTG said, Ox has improved his performance today -step up again, son. Kos was colossal, Mustafi a hero, Gabriel excelled at RB. Coquelin and Xhaka look a good MF partnership.
Hopefully this result will give them all a boost. Need to step up again though especially against the big boys.
COYG
Evening bath. That West Ham team and their diabolical support deserve each other.
Flat on my back with man flu / a stinking cold.
The man from Chile has cheered me up immensely after a truly miserable day of spluttering and shivering.
Glass of Blue Moon with a slice of lemon (Vitamin C innit) also aiding recovery now too.
Evening maestro. A bottle of ZA Shiraz is bringing some more sunshine to my evening. 😀
Thank’s Holic for another speedy report.
To think 4 months ago I and other Holics were saying Alexis will never be a CF. Well I don’t mind admitting that I was wrong. His energy, movement and finishing was terrific. Somehow our fitness guys must keep him free from injury and we must hang on to him what ever it takes.
Nacho had a great first half and the Ox had his moments. Where was Feo, another anonymous performance? The second half was a great watch and made up for my dreadful night out at the Ems on Wednesday.
I can’t think Stoke will give us the room we enjoyed tonight, it’s likely to be a rather dour encounter. Basil on the other hand try and play football so it might be a decent game to watch.
COYRs
‘Twas only days ago that the master of the feathered nib scribed:
“If those who missed tonight go on refreshed to take the points at West Ham on Saturday then tonight will make a lot more sense to a few.”
And so it came to pass. Made sense to me then. Makes sense to me now.
Enjoyed the write-up as always, Holic.
Verily BtM, verily.
Thanks Maestro.
I thought you were on the money again at 0-3, but as you say, it really could have been a cricket score.
Great comments both from Countryman100 and BtM. Agree completely.
Clive,
I watched the Chelsea game, and I’ve watched it again on MOTD. My observations are somewhat different in that I really thought Citeh were by far the better team for the first hour and with a little bit of luck, and a proper referee (Taylor, as usual, was deplorable) they would have won that game.
I won’t comment on the “controversial” incidents in the game, except to refer everyone to Guadiola’s post match interview, which was simply a masterclass in how to handle the English media. He was humble, graceful and refused to be drawn into any of the controversy that ended up marring a very fine encounter.
The only other thing that comes to pass is how listening to Alan Shearer pass comment on Match of the Day is like watching Ronald McDonald judge Master-chef. Fine player he may have been, but he was a terrible manager and is even worse as a “pun-tit”.
Final word of the day, just to endorse what Countryman100 said earlier, an Alexis Sanchez step over like that, is worth any amount of money to see. I know people talk about the different leaders we have on the field. Well in my opinion, the real leader is the guy who bleeds and delivers for the cause. And no-one, absolutely no-one, comes close to Alexis Sanchez. Get the cheque book out and pay him whatever it takes. He is, by a factor of multiples, more important to this team than any other player we have.
Another curate’s egg of a performance. We could have been three up within 20 minutes, and then get gifted a goal with Alexis outsmarting Reid allowing Özil to tap in for his one moment of glory in the match.
Ox had a wonderfully industrious game – if you ignore his appalling final balls or goal attempts (one of which launched from left of goal going for a throw-in on the right!), but the one he did get on target was a zinger. On balance all that could really be said for Ox was that he was better than Theo who seems really out of sorts lately. Is he carrying an injury?
I admit to being a chicken late on with us still only one up and Carroll about to be introduced … and watched the last 20 minutes on fast forward holding ny breath. And, apart from the Carroll blip, goals came raining in from everywhere! I may try that again.
That Carroll goal emphasised the shortcomings of our defence. All of them watched the ball sail over their heads assuming it was Cech’s or would go over the top. When it came back off the bar there were 3 or 4 Hammers ready to dispatch it, and none of ours covering the possibility. A bit naive I suggest.
Ten shots on target today must be more than our last 5 games in toto, and 5 goals a definite improvement. More of the same against Stoke please.
Not sure about the Carroll goal but otherwise I liked the defensive solidity. Mustafi-Koscielny partnership gives me a more secure feeling than other any other pairing we have had in years. Xhaka and Coquelin bossed things today, and Xhaka gives the impression that we ain’t seen nuthin’ yet. At the other end, even Alexis looks like he might have convinced me. 🙂
Alexis will convince me when he signs the contract, bt8. I suspect Özil may return to Real M next year and we can’t afford to lose both.
Yesterday’s match showed what a week’s rest can do for the players. They all looked fresher then they have over the last month and created enough chances to put the match to bed within the first ten minutes.
For me the league should be priority and would be happy if our leading players, especially Sanchez, were rested against Basel. Sanchez gave us a scare before the start of the match by coming off the warm up. He has still not fully recovered from the injury he picked up during the last internationals break and needs to be rested.
Sanchez had a fantastic game assisting once and scoring three. His last goal was the best of the lot, he had enough skill to dummy and lift the ball over the goalie and had plenty of time to do it as class players always seem to have. We need to sign him up fast.
I thought City played the better football and should have won but for the de Bruyne’s miss from three yards. Like Arsene, Guardiola does not believe in defending a lead and Chelsea won on the counter.
Ox had a mixed game and improved in the second hand. If only he was a little more consistent. He was still a lot better than Theo who had a day off.
All in all a great game and hope we have many more such displays in the remainder of the season.
I think the Ox had his best game for a very long time. Still the infuriating final balls which went astray, but he improved as the game went on, his goal was an absolute cracker which should give him loads of fresh confidence, and if he hits that level every time, and improves it as he most certainly can, gonna be a big player for the rest of this season.
West Ham were so woeful we should have had that game wrapped up in the first half hour.
Stoke won’t allow an open game like that or make the mistake of not kicking lumps out of our midfield to cut off the ball supply to Sanchez, who first and third goals yesterday were world-class finishes.
Keeping him and Ozil fit and on the books is critical.
Nice one H.
Should have been 5 in the first half a alone – they were cack.
Don’t see anything other than a second place finish, in the CL, and would really like to see major rotation in Basle, but I doubt it will happen.
I’d be putting Alexis in bubble-wrap. Or sent on an excursion to Battersea Dogs Home as a distraction…….
Wilshere has been non-existent for Bournemouth so far this afternoon
Come on Bournemouth!
Yeah ha ha ha ha
Bournemouth 4-3, survive Liverpool and Arthur Boruc!
Goal line tech.. whew that was really close, millimeters even!
Hahahaha Pool!
Just come in from a long cold walk with the dog, thinking the Dippers had won 3-1. Heh at the Dippers ‘high energy pressing game’. Lasts for about one hour before total exhaustion strikes?
Nothing like a very pleasant surprise result like that and a mug of hot chocolate with Grand Marnier to warm your cockles. 😀
bath I only watched the first half and then like you went for a long cold walk with the dog. I should replicate your Grand Marnier but only Calvados is available so must settle.
Anyhow, 2nd in the table has to beat 3rd, especially as unexpected as it is. 🙂
Manure held by Everton. The weekend just got better just for the look on Moaninho’s face at the end.
A fine result to seal a good weekend for the Arsenal.
I wonder if the Rojo and Zlatan assaults will be reviewed. Should both get reds.
Marouane Fellaini disappears down the Goodison tunnel to a standing ovation from the Everton crowd. He was arguably their best player.
———–
Hahaha… If ManU want to get back to the top of the table the next season, it’s clear what they have to do.. SACK Moaninho.. just look at Chelski now. 😀
Look forward to more tantrum throwing and moaning from the mournful one.
You know something good is happening in the world when Moaninho starts talking about ‘style of football’….
If I were Fellaini I wouldn’t be worried, knowing there’s always a job at Sunderland. Unless they sack Moyes. 😉
Bath, delighted by the stae of your cockles. Zico, sorry I’ll miss you at Stoke game (rumour has it that an event as infrequent as an appearance by Halley’s Comet will occur; an appearance by Steve T’s wallet at the bar). Enjoy.
Funny, how Pfeiffer sounds a bit like fiver. Took me about 24 hours to figure it out though.
Banishes thoughts of grabbing Michelle.
Or tries.
We went past Liverpool in both points and goal differential this weekend. If we had signed Mustafa in time for the season opener we might have three points more and be topping the table now.
Spell checker corrects Mustafi to Mustafa. Don’t know why.
Dumb computers.
Dimmer than a low-level functionary.
Bt8
It’s a cricket term Bt8. Five wickets taken by the bowler in an innings.
I revealed my Michelle Pfeiffer fantasy after last year’s Cup Final. She still looks to have aged considerably more elegantly than me and I’d certainly be prepared to give the lady a crack at me. Whether the feeling is mutual hasn’t been established.
Holic’s title certainly grabbed my attention.
Joe @ 17
Cannot argue with you on the City dominance re the first hour,but once the Chavs equalized,only one team was going to win.
City looked clueless near the end,and the upside to Aguerro being sent off,is with a 3 match ban for violent conduct, he misses our visit in 2 wks time.
As Delia has already pointed out,the Orcs next Saturday,will be nowhere near as accommodating as West hapless were yesterday,so enjoy the moment while it lasts.
Interesting that of the PL teams that played in the EFL midweek,and fielded much stronger line ups than we did,not one of them won on the w/end.
Pool/Southampton and Hammers lost,and Utd drew.
My generation had an alternative to the Michelle. A Harold Melvin (Harold Melvin and the Bluenotes).
I’ll get my coat. Damned fine weekend’s football.
Such a poor vintage of performances by our Lancastrian foes today demands the opening of a very fine vintage to celebrate. Off to the cellars. 😀
Clive,
Aguero is banned for four games I believe.
I imagine Ned can confirm this
The Orcs lay down and die every time they play us at our ground. They are nothing like the team we run into at the Britannia. Last season we beat them 2-0 but if they hadn’t had Butland in goal it might have been 10. That said we aren’t the team at home that we are away and struggle to break teams down.
Just checked we’ve won the last 8 against Stoke at the Grove. So let’s not build the bastards up into something they’re not.
If we can’t beat Stoke anywhere we can’t pretend we’re contenders for anything.
Thoroughly enjoyable day’s football. Delightful to see the petulant Portuguese prick so near meltdown again in his interviews.
TTG @44. I never have understood how you can justify the use of the singular article (“an”) say in the phrase “an innings” when innings is quite clearly a plural noun. At least it is in baseball. As for Michelle Pfeiffer I do believe she has become an icon of popular music lyrics in the last five years, which shows that you and I are clearly ahead of the curve(s).
‘Inning’ is used as the singular in baseball, bt8. ‘Innings’ is both the singular and the plural in cricket. Just another eccentricity of English English.
Inning. When you head off to a few country inns on an extended affair?
That would be an outing, bt8.
Cricket explained, for Americans…
You have two sides, one out in the field and one in. Each man that’s in the side that’s in goes out, and when he’s out he comes in and the next man goes in until he’s out. When they are all out, the side that’s out comes in and the side thats been in goes out and tries to get those coming in, out. Sometimes you get men still in and not out.
When a man goes out to go in, the men who are out try to get him out, and when he is out he goes in and the next man in goes out and goes in. There are two men called umpires who stay all out all the time and they decide when the men who are in are out.
When both sides have been in and all the men have out, and both sides have been out twice after all the men have been in, including those who are not out, that is the end of the game!
Simple, aye.
An excellent explanation, Chris. 🙂
You use “an” before a vowel or vowel sound in real English, which is why it is correct usage to say “An hotel” and not “A hotel”, because the H is supposed to be silent.
Simples.
Or not.
Another example of the eccentricities of the English language is that its possible to have feet that smell and noses that run.
Cent. Maybe all the West Ham defenders had noses that run so they couldn’t smell the location of Alexis’ feet?
Chris @55 and 56. Excellent. You clearly (should have) passed your A levels in English English. 🙂
To set the record straight where it clearly does not need to be set straight, the most common plural article used prior to “innings” in American baseball is probably “a few” as in “the middle relief pitcher was able to complete a few innings although his arm was shot.”
Mourinho to the press after Fellaini concedes a late penalty to gift Everton draw, as quoted by the BBC:
“I thought you would know more about football than you do.”
“When you have on the bench a player with two metres [in height] you play the player in front of the defensive line to help the team to win the match.”
Clearly he cowed the BBC into interpreting his comments for him by adding [in height].
Westham away is one of those games which you will say will be tough. This game though was cannon fodder. How can they be so poor is beyond me. They did not play like a premier league team. Does it matter? of course not, 3 points and a 5-star performance was what I take of it.
Alexis was brilliant, he likes being the main man and he makes sure he plays like that, he was everywhere.
Xhaka seems to have got his bearings though his defensive positioning still needs to be better. Coquelin was excellent.
Kos top class. Theo and Ox were poor. Yes, ox scores a terrific goal but his passing and critical thinking leave a lot to be desired. Theo was not there on the pitch at all and it feels he is falling back to his old habits of disappearing at times. Hope not!!!!!!!!!
Basel should be our EFL team but I suspect it will be close to the premier league lineup. Onto Tuesday and till then let us all laugh at pool and moaninho.
I like drink 56.
Pity it’s shamelessly plagiarised. 👿
Evening chums. I’ll cobble something together after the FA Cup draw. Good to see a strong Caledonian contingent in today.
Preston.
Preston NE vs Arsenal
Ox can play as poor as that anytime as far as I’m concerned.
The next herb punfest has started. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Apologies, zico, I didn’t mean to claim it as original. I assumed most of our (English) members would have heard it before. It was copied from a source which didn’t provide the original source either! Perhaps you know where it originated?
Here’s another, similar, funny that I’m also not claiming … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw2jirl8Yuw