EYEWITNESS: Tom Foot's view on Arsenal 2 West Ham United 0
PREMIERSHIP: ARSENAL 2 WEST HAM UNITED 0
EYEWITNESS report by TOM FOOT
at THE EMIRATES STADIUM
BARCA. BARCA. BARCA.
That’s all I could hear on the bus, the train and walking down Holloway Road.
We will see the highest quality football in a decade, Wenger said in the papers this morning.
The return of Thierry Henry. The Cesc Fabregas-leaving-rumour-mill cranking up once again. A magical night in the Nou Camp in store.
Even the Arsenal captain was talking about them in his programme notes. On and on he wrote about how he “loves” watching their matches, adding – an enforced edit by the subs perhaps: “but we can’t think about that now, first we must focus on the Premier League.”.
This was a chance to go top of the league with just seven games to go. They started like a runaway train, but were derailed by a dubious refereeing decision. Thomas Vermaelen was sent off for clambering on the back of West Ham’s anonymous striker Guillermo Franco. He will miss one match – next week’s away trip to inform Birmingham. Wenger incensed. He waited for the ref at half time and marched down the tunnel shouting at him.
Manuel Almunia saved the penalty though – a massive moment on the stroke of half time.
Anyone who had watched the Barca’s tie with Stuttgart will know that Barcelona are no West Ham. Arsenal showed flashes of brilliance tonight. But they will need to keep that pace and intensity going throughout the two legs to stand a chance of progressing.
Alex Song will be the key man. Again, he reliably won back lost balls, moving the play into attack with consummate ease.
He has been our most consistent player this season – and crucial to winning tense and crucial matches like this.
Nicklas Bendtner, or “super Nic”, seems to have rediscovered his touch. He skilfully eased the ball into Denilson’s path for the first goal. The Brazilian shot low and straight into bottom corner.
Andrey Arshavin was again disappointing. Listless, frustrated – he looked like there was something else on his mind. Left the iron on, Andrey? The little Russian came out in the second half having changed his yellow boots to blue ones. It didn’t make much difference.
Arsenal coped well with ten men, despite the torrential rain. Song dropped back into defence and Abu Diaby was introduced to sure up the midfield. It was an effective move.
There were some nervy moments. Substitute Carlton Cole ran like a battering ram through the defence, his shot skidded off the post with Almunia well beaten.
But the points were sealed with just a few minutes remaining.
Former Gunner Matthew Upson was penalised for a hand ball in the box. It was, again, harsh - but the right decision.
Fabregas chipped it in, and the Emirates detonated. We are top the league, we are top the league.
There’s a big match at Birmingham before Barcelona.