West Ham United vs. Arsenal, Saturday, 15th January 2011, k.o 5:30pm

West Ham.                           Arsenal.                                

GK – Green                           GK – Szczesny
RB – Faubert                        RB – Eboue
CB – Tomkins                       CB – Djourou
CB – Upson                           CB - Koscielny 
LB – Bridge                           LB – Clichy
RM – Sears                           RM – Song
CM – Spector                       CM – Fabregas
CM – Kovac                          CM – Wilshere
CM – Noble                           LM – Nasri
LM – Hines                            ST – Walcott
ST – Cole                              ST – Van Persie

Although Arsenal were coming off the back of a shock 1st leg defeat away to Ipswich in the Carling Cup, it was no comparison to the modern day pressure that Avram Grant was facing going into this London showdown. We are so used to managers having less and less time these days, and just over six months into the Hammers job, there was heavy speculation that this was Grant’s last game in the West Ham hot seat. Reports linking Martin O’Neill to the likely vacancy were being spoken about days before this derby game, but despite all the controversy, both teams wanted a win and it was Grant’s position that heated things up even more.

Arsenal came out of the blocks sharply, hoping to wipe the Ipswich game from memory. This showed after just 3 minutes when the Gunners won a free kick just outside the area, only for Van Persie to strike the wall. West Ham were relying on young guns Mark Noble and Freddy Sears to run the midfield as captain and key man Scott Parker was out through injury; a massive loss with the likes of Fabregas and Wilshere needing to be contained. Sears showed early energy chasing down a back pass and sending Szczesny tumbling after he had cleared his lines. After 8 minutes Arsenal threatened again from a free kick, this time Nasri laying off to Van Persie; his deflected shot fortunately for West Ham falling into the arms of Robert Green. After the first ten minutes it was obvious of Arsenal’s intentions. West Ham were struggling to win the ball back with captain Fabregas running the show, time and again finding Walcott on the right in acres of space. This was to prove costly. On 13 minutes, Arsenal sinked West Ham into further despair; Jack Wilshere won the ball at halfway and played a one two with Clichy out on the wing. Wilshere looked up and found Walcott again in acres of space, Wayne Bridge’s lack of match fitness showing here. Walcott had time to pass into the area, where Nasri dumbied, allowing the ball to find Van Persie who shot a swivelled right footed shot into the bottom corner. It was Van Persie’s 50th league goal and he wasn’t finished yet, neither were Arsenal.

West Ham’s performance dropped even more after the goal, the fans getting evermore tiresome of their lack of fighting spirit. Fabregas continued to run the midfield, winning the ball off Sears and shooting just wide for another half chance. The chances were to keep coming on 19 minutes, where Song showed great fight in winning the ball off Noble. He layed the ball to Fabregas who sprayed a 40 yard pass to Walcott in the area, who scuffed his shot straight at Green, but a second goal was surely coming and this was even more promising after Noble had to be taken off on 20 minutes after suffering a knock just minutes earlier, replaced by Luis Boa Morte; no Parker or Noble, would West Ham’s luck ever improve?

Although Arsenal were well on top, West Ham created the next big chance, squandering what would of been a massive equaliser. Carlton Cole latched onto Djourou’s tame back pass, his shot parried by Szczesny. Boa Morte recovered the ball and it fell to Hines just yards out, but he showed less composure than Cole and fired well over. The game became more open which was a bad thing for West Ham. On 32 minutes youngster Wilshere lost a shoe during a clash with Hines but was skilful enough to regain possession and find Fabregas on the half way line. Cesc played a through ball to Van Persie, who found himself through on goal, only for his shot to come back off the post. It was simply too easy for Arsenal through the middle.

After 40 minutes, Arsenal had completed 199 passes compared to West Ham’s dissappointing 81. And on 41 minutes, Arsenal were to strike again. French left back Clichy chipped a skillful ball over two Hammers defenders where Van Persie just managed to keep it in and cross a low ball towards Walcott, who side stepped behind Wayne Bridge and slotted the ball into the roof of the net with his weaker foot. It was Walcott’s tenth goal of the season, putting him into double figures in the league for the first time in his Arsenal career. It looked like the second half would be a great escape in itself for West Ham, but they should of made the uphill battle half as easy when Sears whipped in a great cross, finding Cole for an open header, but some how his effort managed to hit Djourou on the head, resulting in only a corner and a two goal deficit as the half time whistle blew.

Grant’s team talk was made harder to prepare when the Arsenal fans started chanting ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’. In Grant’s mind, he pondered whether he even had that amount of time. Half time revealed some worrying facts for West Ham; they had only 30% possession in the half and Arsenal’s supremo Fabregas had more touches than the WHOLE of West Ham’s midfield. Wayne Bridge’s poor first half performance magnified the questioning of the signing. No doubt Bridge is a fantastic player when fit, but should a team struggling for goals be spending £90,000 a week on a left back. Arsenal were winning every 50/50 ball, Nasri and Walcott were too pacey and if Carlton Cole continued to be left up front alone West Ham would not threaten the away goal at all in the second 45.

The second half started the same as the first ended, with walcott and Van Persie creating their own shots, not threatening Green’s goal. Arsenal’s passing was a masterclass, but there was no pressure being applied by West Ham and after 56 minutes Arsenal had enjoyed 80% of the possession, an incredible statistic and slightly worrying for the Hammers. To the bewilderment of the home fans, Grant stayed with his 4-5-1 formation and it wasn’t until 63 minutes when he took off Sears and brought on Pablo Barrera for some much needed fire power. It was a conspicuous decision as minutes earlier Sears’ cross shot was just tipped over by Szczesny.

The second half saw a lot fewer chances, the crowd was increasingly quiet and Arsenal were passing the ball around as if it were a simple kick about in the local park. West Ham’s seemingly lackluster attitude proved yet again how they aren’t determined to play for their manager and keep him in a job.

The night got worse for West Ham when Wayne Bridge took out Walcott in the area, the linesman signalling straight away to the penalty spot. Van Persie calmly placed it into the bototom corner, doubling his tally and sealing the victory for Arsene Wenger’s superstars. The goal opened the floodgates for the home supporters, leaving time for Wenger to pull off his captain, Samir Nasri and scorer Walcott to save their legs for next weeks FA Cup replay at Elland Road. Arsenal saw the final ten minutes out comfortably, passing it around between them, playing as they so please. The full time whistle went to a quick droan of boos, but the home supporters soon stopped as they knew their manager would inevitably be sacked and instead they showed him some final respect and appreciation. After all, Grant’s own signings including Thomas Hitzlesperger and Frederique Piquionne are injured and he hasn’t had the chance to put out his own starting 11 all season.

Grant’s inherited squad was very poor in this match but lets not take anything away from an exceptional performance from the Gunners. At this level they are genuine contenders for the title. After the game Grant showed no outward signs of defiance, just his ears repeating the tune of ‘you’re getting sacked in a minute’ from the delighted away end. Grant shook the hand of every one of his players, but they were more goodbyes than congratulations. His final act was a salute to the crowd and a throw of his scarf; suggesting the luck he claimed it had may finally have escaped it.