Barclays Premier league - West Ham United 0 Arsenal 3
Published: 15 January 2011
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE: WEST HAM UNITED 0 ARSENAL 3
by PAUL COWLING
From UPTON PARK
ARSENAL underlined their league title aspirations on Saturday night with three points and three goals against a West Ham side that look to be sliding towards the drop, if this abject performance is anything to go by.
Usually, this fixture is one of Arsenal's trickier ties, but the Hammers - shorn of their talisman, Scott Parker - were no match for Arsenal's quick and clever play, in what was one of the most one-sided Premier League matches that anyone will witness all season.
For Arsenal, Cesc Fabergas and Jack Wilshere had the freedom of a slippery Upton Park pitch - Wilshere in particular, turned in another impressive display, with his turns, swerves and darting passes to Samir Nasri and Theo Walcott on the wings. But in reality, this was nothing more than a training session for Arsenal, and it was only a matter of time before they opened the scoring.
On 13 minutes, the rampant Walcott lost Wayne Bridge on the right. Walcott's low cross was dummied by Nasri, and met first time by Robin Van Persie - the Dutch striker smashing an unstoppable volley past Robert Green in the Hammers' goal.
There was a let off for Arsenal on 22 minutes. A poor back pass from Swiss defender Johan Djourou, let in Carlton Cole, whose shot was parried by Wojciech Szcesny. From the rebound, the lively Zavon Hines should have done better with an angled shot, but the ball fizzled over the bar.
But, this was the closest West Ham were to get during the match, which was virtually ended as a contest four minutes from half time, when Walcott blasted in Van Persie's bye-line cross. Initially looking offside, the Arsenal man had been played onside by Wayne Bridge's suspect positioning.
The out-of-sorts Bridge - making his debut on loan from Manchester City - gave away Arsenal's third, when he clumsily brought down Walcott on 77 minutes.
Referee Andre Marinner had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Van Persie stepped up to smash home his second goal of the afternoon. The Dutch marksman was unlucky not to have wrapped up a hat trick here, as earlier in the match, his ferocious shot had rebounded off the far post, following good work from Samir Nasri.
Three nil up and their favourites coasting, Arsenal's 3,000 odd fans celebrated with 'Your getting sacked in a minute' - in reference to Avram Grant's tenuous tenure in the West Ham hot seat.
The third goal was the cue for a mass exodus of home fans who headed for the exits. All had suffered in getting to the game, with the closure of the nearby District Line underground station, and they had suffered even more with this meek surrender against an Arsenal side who were just too good for them.
Arsenal's fans will have also had that same nightmare journey to-and-from the match, but they were sent home happy with another ruthless display from their side.
Arsenal are now just two points off top spot, and with a home game to come next Saturday against Wigan, Gunners fans will be more and more optimistic that this year is going to see a shiny silver trophy haul, following a five year draught.