Theo Walcott and Robin Van Persie combined to secure a sweet win at Upton Park over beleaguered West Ham and further push the embattled Avram Grant towards the exit door. Both players added the finishing gloss to all our good work and slick play by scoring the goals that ensured victory in Saturday’s late kick-off.
After the debacle at Portman Road over the midweek, there would be no room for complacency this time and it showed as we took the game to the West Londoners right from the kickoff. We scored in the 13th minute after newly-acquired Wayne Bridge allowed the marauding Walcott lots of space to cross from the right and find Van Persie who hit a first time shot with his supposedly-weaker right foot past the diving body of Rob Green in the West Ham goal. It was a fine, opportunistic strike and if nothing else, it signalled the return of our injury-plagued Dutch star to his sharpest best.
Van Persie almost doubled his tally with another snap shot in the 35th minute after a good interchange between the mercurial Jack Wilshire and Fabregas found him. His left-footed rocket left Green for dead but hit the base of the post and rebounded agonisingly back into play. He however returned the favour done him in the 13th minute by finding Walcott with a cut back ball from the byline, which the English winger buried into the roof of the net in the 41st minute.
Second half saw us ease off a bit as the defence earned their spurs, curtailing a fightback from West Ham. Djourou and ‘The Kos’ did brilliantly though, dealing professionally with the Hammers attack until the 78th minute when Walcott’s speed invited a desperate tackle from Bridge inside the 18 yard area. Van Persie stepped up to sidefoot the ball past Green for his brace.
All in all, it was a job well done for the team as we hung onto the coattails of Manchester City who earlier in the day had surged to the top of the table with their goal-drenched 4-3 win over Wolves.
Below are the ratings on a night when everyone put their foot right.
*Szczesny (7/10) – Starting his third straight game after Fabianski failed a fitness test, the gangling Pole took his chance with both hands by denying a certain West Ham goal in the 20th minute after Carlton Cole pounced on Djourou’s weak back pass. Szczesny came out to make a very crucial block and save us from all round embarassment. He is clearly growing in confidence after making the step up into the first team this season. He executed a couple of saves as well in the second half when West Ham poured forward in search of something and must share in the accolades for our third straight clean sheet in the league.
* Clichy (7/10) – One of his better games for us this season. Full of tackling and running all night long. Gave no quarter to Savon Hines and later Luis Boa Morte who attempted to initiate attacks for the hosts from the wings. Did well and never allowed his concentration to drop. Also linked well with Samir Nasri in front of him.
* Koscielny (7/10) – ‘The Kos’ was his usual tough-tackling, no-nonsense self. Seems to be at his best when paired alongside Johann Djourou and last night was no exception. He frustrated the dangerous Carlton Cole and kept him quiet and ineffective.
* Djourou (7/10) – He continued his development as a defender of repute here and passed once more with flying colours – almost. The one blemish in his game was in the 24th minute when he launched a weak backpass to Szczesny under pressure, but the goalkeeper saved his blushes by blocking the eventual shot from Cole. That apart, the Swiss youngster did well and used his huge frame well. I just pray so fervently that he doesn’t pick up one of those injuries that sidelines him for months and months. He’s become integral to us now and without mincing words, we simply cannot afford to do without him.
* Eboue (7/10) – Played his best game so far in the three-game spell that Bacary Sagna is suspended. He seemed determined to prove that he deserves a place even when Sagna returns. Everything that came his way on the wings, he handled with confidence. Stayed on his feet for the 90 minutes and cut out all the annoying diving and play-acting that often blights his game. Methinks though that he will always play second fiddle to the hard-tackling Sagna.
* Song (8/10) – One particular moment in the second half encapsulated his entire performance last night. He was surrounded by three maroon-shirts and after collecting a pass from someone who I think was Wilshire, he feinted, body-checked and barged his way out from amongst the West Ham trio and though he found himself on the floor, he still stuck out a leg to offload the ball to Fabregas. He is determination personified. He gives us a crucial balance in the middle and is full of stamina and positive energy. A vital cog in our wheel as we chase glory.
* Wilshire (7/10) – Mercurial is the only word I can find appropriate enough to describe his performance on the night. He was almost everywhere on the pitch. Despite his lack of inches, he makes up for it in fighting spirit and hunger for the ball. Starved the West Ham midfield of the ball with his ever-changing positioning and eye for the pass. Almost scored late in the game with a fine shot from the edge of the box, which Green had to scramble across the post to push away for a corner. Jack is your quintessential box-to-box midfielder.
* Fabregas (7/10) – When he is on song as like last night, we always, always dominate and win. El Capitan was happy doing what he does best – pulling the strings in the middle like a trapeze artist. It emerged after the game that he alone made more passes than the entire West Ham midfield of Mark Noble, Jonathan Spector and Freddie Sears. Was influential in the middle for us and seems to be finding the understanding he once enjoyed with Van Persie. Was scythed down by Julien Faubert in the first half, which almost earned the fullback a redcard but Fabregas rose to dominate proceedings and put the Hammers to the sword.
* Nasri (6/10) – His first game after picking up the Barclays Player of the Month award for December, though he didn’t hit the lofty heights we know he can. Could be because he was marooned out on the left wing, where it is difficult to make your presence felt. Still worked well with the frontmen and almost scored after waltzing through West Ham’s defence late in the game just before he was substituted.
* Walcott (7/10) – Despite his deficiencies and often-trumpetted poor decision-making, you still have to give him top marks for endeavour. His work rate never drops and he was a handful for Wayne Bridge, who was skinned repeatedly by the speedy Walcott. He laid on the pass for Van Persie to score the opener in the 13th minute and scored himself in the 41st to record his tenth goal of the scored and his highest ever in an Arsenal shirt in one season. He is certainly growing into a player of repute and hasn’t even peaked yet from what we see week-in, week-out. With his frightening pace, expect much more from him sooner than later as he fulfils the full limits of his potential.
* Van Persie (7/10) – The sharpest I’ve seen him since he returned from injury in November. He completed his third 90 minutes of action last night and it was obvious that he is picking up his World Cup form. His goals brought his season tally to five and if he stays fit and avoids injury, his presence will be vital in the run-in. In the absence of Marouane Chamakh, Van Persie is a good outlet for goals and between the both of them, we always carry a potent goal threat. Better to look up to them for goals, rather than the erratic and unreliable duo of Bendtner and Vela.
Substitutes
* Denilson (4/10) – Did nothing after coming on in the 80th minute for Fabregas. With the points in the bag, he was plunged into the shut up shop and so was it.
* Arshavin (4/10) – Also came on to shut up shop as we had already sealed the points. He replaced Walcott on the right wing and was promptly not seen or heard for the rest of the ten minutes left in the game.
* Gibbs (4/10) – He came on in the 87th minute for Nasri and occupied the left wing in front of Clichy. Nothing required of him. Nothing delivered.
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