There are no words to elucidate how thrilled i feel about such a vital win in a difficult atmosphere.
Amid the outcome of the other games that concern our quest for Champions League spot, this was an opportunity to rely on their misdemeanor.
After seeing off QPR, an arduous task was imminent- A resilient West ham that were a point above us prior to the game, you don’t hear that often do you?
The team sheet news saw Tomas Rosicky absent from the starting lineup due to cramps; he was replaced by the returning Alex Oxlade Chamberlain. The big news though was in defense where Laurent Koscielny returned back to the side.
But upfront, despite Olivier Giroud’s absence, Lukas Podolski was left on the bench. Frustrating times indeed for the German, and if he fancies more playing time over Instagram, I would suggest a loan deal in January.
The early exchanges were frankly all about the home team. They were a tad close to an opening goal very early on when Alex Song sent in a venomous volley straight into the back of the net; however it was ruled out for an offside which it was. Yet credit to Alex Song. He didn’t celebrate. It’s always the tradition most times when you face your former club. Well, unless you’re a Dutch Skunk.
Few minutes later, a poor giveaway by Per Mertesacker presented a big chance to Kouyate, but his effort was easily handled by Szczesny.
They were made to rue the missed chances. Cazorla was through on goal in the box when Reid interfered resulting to a penalty. The diminutive Spaniard calmly slotted home.
We were in the mood after the goal and soon doubled the advantage. Some intricate interplay by Cazorla and Chamberlain led to a fine cross by the England international for Welbeck to tap in.
Having been second best for a huge chunk of the first half, we saw ourselves in a comfortable lead coming into halftime.
But if its not the Arsenal way, its not the Arsenal way. Kouyate was at the end of a Tomkins cross to bring one back for the Hammers and make the remainder of the game a pulsating one. Just how we like it.
Subsequently, we had many chances to finish off the game, but my word, we can be dreadful in front of goal.
Alexis Sanchez puts himself in these decent positions to shoot at goal, but he is always seeking to orchestrate that final pass, and the end product are goal-scoring opportunities gone down the drain. In reality, had West Ham been more clinical on goal, we probably could have lost this game.
Luckily we held on to secure all points.
Afterwards Wenger said:
“I felt we played in a very convincing way,”
Wenger told Sky Sports:
“Always dangerous going forward, we defended very well from keeper to up front and everybody did their job very well.
“We still have a lot to do but I feel the last six or seven results we have been more consistent. We are going in the right direction, we have a difficult game against Southampton next so let’s recover and prepare well, we gave a lot in the last three days.”
We are mostly certainly heading in the right direction. Up next is a difficult trip to St Mary’s to battle Southampton.
