West Ham v. Arsenal 1-2 3/Jan/10

Eduardo scores the lead.
[Photo: Paul Childs/Action Images via Guardian]


The first match of the decade for the Gunners - in the FA Cup context - resulted in another late show to ensure their travelling fans, and supporters at home, a solid display of two goals against one. Zola's men provided a strange blend of tough direct attacking with some fearful defending. It only rests for the Gunners to wait until the next match away against Stoke, in what promises to be another strenuous and difficult match.
Previous matches have reported a deficit to Wenger's men. With the return of Senderos to first team and Ramsey's momentum, the north Londoners secured a troublesome tie. Palmer at Soccernet was adamant on the way the visiting second string of players assured another win.



[Photo: PA via Daily Mail]


The match entertained very few as the deadlock was imposed through nearly all the first period. Attacks by Diamanti, Eduardo and Vela were held by both keepers. Whether the first forty-five minutes offered little in terms of football, the possession was not as equal as the attempts. The Gunners enjoyed a fair amount of it, whilst many of the West Ham opportunities were made in that wretched left hand side deputised by Sylvestre this time.
Wilshere's attempts were poor and the overwhelming attention by the Hammers on the teenager showed his lack of rhythm. Despite the effort from the visitors to square things, West Ham grabbed a late lead already in injury time: the fault was in the sloppy, slow ex-Manchester defender, who this time, allowed Alessandro Diamanti slip away into the offside trap and scored neatly.



Francisco Merida, a fairly mediocre participation.
[Photo: PA via Daily Mail]


As if it were not enough for Wenger's suffering, Stanislas opened the second part with a strong right footed shot palmed away by Fabianski. Again the power of West Ham's midfield rose above Arsenal's and some evident weakness were shown. Merida, the obvious candidate for an early exit showed no more that a couple of passes but the entrance of the Frenchmen Nasri and Diaby provided the Gunners what they have been missing throughout the match: power and creativity.
The lack of a central striker was felt; Green denied three times attempts by Arsenal midfielders. Meanwhile the match was turning primarily entertaining for neutrals as both sides struggled to get a good grip defensively speaking; by the 78th minute the Hammers' grasp did not last long and the equaliser came in the hands of a brilliant Ramsey shot at left. Six minutes later, the insistence of the young guns paid dividends; Vela, after one assistance, set Eduardo who neatly lobed the ball into Greene's post--the finish, superb. The final minutes were as stressing as the first. In the end, perseverance gave five the Gunners the victory just as they passed through the next round.