Monday, January 4, 2010

Arsenal 2 West Ham 1


I watched this one with Big T from the V and on a day when we both needed a real reason to be as excited about the new year as the world seemed to be, the lads came correct!

Thing about being a Gooner is that you know by scanning the starting line up already what kind of game you may be in for. With Sylvester in defence, Fabianski in goal and (big groan) Merida, Wilshire and Ramsey all in at the top of the game, it was clear Wenger wanted to flip a coin with this one. The inclusion of Dynamic Defence Duo, Still a Captain Gallas and Future Captain Vermaelen, hinted at Wenger’s desire to actually win this game but Diaby and Nasri on the bench sold the idea. We surely weren’t gonna go down to Weak Ass West Ham…

The first half was unnecessarily hard on us. Song was powerful as always, but unusually ineffective. His offish day had us struggling with ownership of the mid as we had no options for a ball retainer outside of Rigobert’s blood. Having said that, I still feel his absence from the squad might be quite telling; Song has been an unsung hero in many of our wins this season. Big T from the V says dude should be Cameroon’s Captian this year. I have to agree.

The mid was a shambles. Merida, Wilshire and Ramsey are all very capable and talented. I thought Meriddle Me This was a dope signing and augured well for the future, but as a true Gooner who’s been stuck on “The Future” for the last half a decade, I’m not interested in Meriddle Me This, Wilshire and Ramsey! At least not as a trio on the pitch at the same time…not now! Their lack of experience and team awareness or cohesion showed and made Jack look like he was a lame little boy on the pitch as a favour from Pops Wenger. Of course, we all know Jack’s the Truth and an incredible talent. He was costing us though, real talk.

True to fears, the ageing Sylvestre pulled a Man U on us and played Diamanti on side with spans of pitch for him to compose himself, pick his spot and slot home…that wackster almost had his shot saved by an on fire Fabianski. I found out later dude is a wackster cos 80% of his goals this season have been from the spot. That one was his first from open play. Truthfully though, West Ham aren’t wacksters, but they were made to look far better than they really are by an Arsenal Team struggling to gain control of the mid field, without which we just can’t Play The Arsenal Way.

With the team one down at the break, I was convinced Wenger would spew flames, but when the second half begun with pretty much more of the same I started mapping out the rest of the season without an FA Cup fixture list. Funny thing though, Big T and I actually started wishing for one Niklaas Bendter by the 50th minute as Arsene started contemplating a change. We’d have never been the Gooners to wish for a Bendtner…ever. Worse still the two to have celebrated the introduction of Diaby as a game turner! I mean really, Diaby? Truth is, dude has been steady getting stronger and more confident last few games and since that calamitous header in a Man U shirt, he’s been looking steadily steelier lately. Our excitement was immediately justified as subs Diaby and Nasri immediately turned the game. Those two felt like a brand new team was thrown on. Just goes to show, Merida, Wilshire and Ramsey can’t play together just yet and of course, Wenger is the Truth.

Not surprisingly, shortly after we regained control of the mid West Ham were shown for the wacksters they are by capitulating at home to a 1-2 loss. That Berhami and Green are nice though.

I really wasn’t in a shouty shout mood for this one, but once again these dudes had Big T and I slapping palms (cos real Gooners don’t Hi 5, seen?) and shouting atop lungs. You gotta love being a Gooner! The only thing we ask for as Asenal Fans is some heart…that and flowing footie…and some wins…ok, even more wins!!!

Some Chilli Bolton, anyone?
Player Ratings
Fabianski: 7.5
Syllvestre: 6.5
Gallas: 8
Vermaelen: 8.5
Sagna: 7
Wilshire: 5
Ramsey: 7
Song: 7
Merida: 6
Vela: 7
Eduardo: 7
Substitutes
Diaby: 7.5
Nasri: 7.5

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