By Loyan Abdulle on Monday, October 1, 2007

They say titles are built on a winning mentality, strong determination, team spirit and the ability to pick up three points in the most obscure places despite playing badly. Judging by what we have seen in the past 6 Premier League game we seem to have the first three points checked off the list and confirmation of the last point was given today after an early Robin van Persie goal had given us a 1-0 win at a stadium we have failed to win in for over 6 years. In fact our last win there was in 2000 where Robért Píres got his first goal for the club in a 2-1 win. We could have scored more goals but crucially, had we not been so aware at the back, we could have also conceded a couple as well. In any case we held on to the win and extended our lead over title rivals Chelsea and retained our place at the summit of the table for a little while longer at least.

Last season it was games like these which prevented us from mounting any significant title bid. Too many times we travelled to teams in the bottom half of the table and more often than not we failed to pick up that many points despite dominating most of the time. Time and again we found ourselves behind early on and having to claw back a draw. Sometimes we did not even get that. Chance after chance used to go begging for us and we never had that resilliance to go all out in the last 10 or 15 minutes to claim victory. But this season we have already showed a new found determination. This sort of thinking has helped us come from behind to beat Fulham in the last minute on the opening day of the season, and at White Heart Lane where despite missing chance after chance at 1-0 down we still managed to score three times in the last half an hour.

Even the way beat the then table topping Man City on 80 minutes is heartening. We have also started to score a wider variety of goal with us having more long range efforts and headers going in. We seem to have formed a proper plan B and this will help us against those teams who "Park the Bus" so to speak. We are now genuine contenders for the title and by the way we've been playing recently who could deny us. Hell, even Fergie is expecting us to be their biggest threat in retaining the title.

Speaking prior to the game Wenger was admitting that he expect to at least win something this year and that this team, despite it's tender year has what it takes to challenge for the biggest trophies come May. Anything other than a trophy in his eyes would make it difficult going into next season on the back of 3 trophyless seasons which he deems as being a failure. But right about now things are looking rosy. Such is the confidence in his team that he was unwilling to do a trade swap with Inter Milan involving Nicklas Bendtner for Brazillian superstar Adriano.

He even admitted that even though the money is there to buy big, he is not in the slightest interested in Ronaldinho and would much rather hand his supposed GBP100 million pound transfer kitty back to the board. Therefore coming into this game most Gooners were quietly confident and it's not hard to see why, even despite us not winning at Upton park since 2000/2001. Some records were there to be broken.

After the midweek win over Newcastle United in the Carling Cup we have lost Alex Song and Eduardo which adds to injuries to William Gallas, Tomas Rosicky and Jens Lehmann. Emmanuel Eboue came out of that game unscathed and after a late fitness test it was confirmed Aleksander Hleb was fit enough to take his place in the starting lineup at the expense of Theo Walcott who was rested. Robin van Persie came on for Eduardo but otherwise this was the same team that thumped Derby County.

The game kicked off to wild applause from the Upton Park faithful but they were soon quite as within a minute Adebayor, who scored 6 goals in his last 3 games, had an early effort which was fired just wide of the post.

At the other end of the pitch Freddie Ljungberg, making his first appearance against the Gunners since joining West Ham over the summer, combined well with Dean Ashton but Manuel Almunia was alert to the danger and quick to make the challenge. By this point Arsenal and West Ham have both won their first corners but both failed to make anything of the chances as the defences won out in the early battles. Minutes later we were in danger as Ashton was allowed twist and turn his way towards goal but luckily for the gunners the England hopeful's shot from the edge of the area was fired over the bar. This was an early warning sign from the Hammers and we had to make sure to be on our toes for the rest of the game.

Slightly against the run of play though we had managed to break down the wing with Hleb and the Belarussian did extremely well to put in a swerving cross into the path of van Persie. The Dutchman rose highest despite the close attentions of two West Ham defenders and headed home past the outstretched fingers of Robert Green. 1-nil to the Arsenal and an early lead. Just the tonic needed to calm our nerves and settle us into the game.

The rest of the half was not the most entertaining and was more of a argie bargie contest than a football match. Clichy took Ljungberg down near the area and Noble took revenge out on Hleb with a studs up tackle which earned him a yellow card. The tackle left Hleb in agony and the winger was not able to continue. He was taken off on a stretcher and on his way off the pitch was given given a tap on the back by Ljungberg who was asking if his former team mate was alright. Eboue replaced Hleb on the right side of midfield.

The game restarted with Eboue having an early chance at goal provided by Fabregas, who was quite today in the middle, but the Ivorian could not take advantage. We were now having our best spell of the half. After some good buildup play the ball fell to Flamini outside the box but the Frenchman's long range effort was straight at Green.

We then get a corner and after playing it short Fabregas plays the ball onto Lee Bowyer's arm. Freekick a yard outside the box next to the byline. Robin van Persie steps up to take but rather than crossing he fires at goal from an acute angle and Green pushes the ball out for another corner. This time Upson, another former Arsenal player, clears the danger. The game is looking very one sided at this point but chances were few and far between and even then we were restricted to long range efforts. Flamini has another one from distance but yet again Green holds onto the ball.

With half time minutes away Lucas Neil and Emmanuel Adebayor both have chances but hit their efforts high and wide. And at this moment the referee blows his whistle for the break.

At the break West Ham have replaced Scott Parker for Hayden Mullins.

The second half started with us on the attack but despite Fabregas doing well to win the corner, the resulting kick was disappointing and was easily gathered by Green. At the other end Mullins has his first attempt on our goal with a powerful drive but Fabregas does well to block the shot. The game was opening up at this point and both teams were going for goal.

Robin van Persie was the latest player to go close. After showing some nice skills inside the box the forward cut onto his less favoured right foot but still managed to get his shot on target. It was powerful and beat Green but the upright came to the rescue for the Hammers as the ball cannoned back into the box but Eboue couldn't make the most of the rebound.

West Ham were not fazed though, and if anything were galvanized by the missed opportunity as they went straight up the other end and could have scored had Ashton managed to put a more telling contact onto his header. In the end it was weak and straight at Almunia.

The Hammers actually thought they had scored seconds later when an unmarked Ljungberg went through on goal and put the ball into the net through the legs of Almunia but the linesman had his flag raised for offside. The Hammers were now having their best spell of pressure in the game at this point. They could have even been given a penalty after Senderos apparently pushed Bowyer in the box but the referee waved away any protests from the former Leeds United player. Upton Park erupted in howls and boos.

In a counter attack by us at this point van Persie does well to shimmy a defender before putting Adebayor through on goal but the Togolese striker's shot could not find a way past Green. It was a good chance and going by his recent form he should have scored to kill the game off for us.

Ashton then went close with a long range effort but the shot went just wide. Right up the other end Adebayor shot tamely at the 'keeper after some good work by Diaby inside the box. Minutes later Diaby found himself in a similar position to where he scored from last week at Derby but this time his powerful shot was deflected over the bar for a corner kick. Time seems to be running out for the Hammers but they were still exchanging blows with the Gunners.

Despite this they could have fallen further behind after Clichy's fizzing shot was pushed around the post by Green for Arsenal's umpteenth corner of the game. The kick was cleared yet again and West Ham won their own corner from the breakaway. This time Ashton gets a good head onto the ball and with Almunia beaten, van Persie comes to the rescue with a goal line clearance.

West Ham pushed us for the final few minutes of the game but we held firm and came away with a hard fought 1-nil win at a place we hadn't won for over 6 years. I reckon it's a good result and coupled with Chelsea's draw with Fulham we are now 5 points ahead of the Blues with a game in hand. Liverpool won to keep up the pressure at the top and are two points behind us. Man United are currently playing Birmingham.

User Comments

4

Mapopa Banda

Posted on 1 Oct, 2007 at 04:21 PM - Reply

Phew!!!that was some game.But at last we bagged the 3 points.Keep it up guyz.

3

dino

Posted on 1 Oct, 2007 at 02:43 PM - Reply

go gunners catch us if you can man united losers

2

dino

Posted on 1 Oct, 2007 at 02:33 PM - Reply

go the gunners keep chasing man united losers

1

Femi

Posted on 1 Oct, 2007 at 12:15 PM - Reply

Beware. Emmanuel Adebayor is good but not as good as he's being presented. Let's not get carried away with the Derby Hat-trick or the two goals against Tottenham. He misses way TOO MANY easy chances, a strong experienced defence totally shuts him down, he cannot convert half-chances, he's not split-second creative, cannot run at defences (always has to turn back and pass even when he can have a go), and when the stakes are very high, he fails (against Sevilla and on Sat.) Not all teams will give this opportuninties for goals so he really needs to get his act together. Wenger should not put as much trust as he is. Don't get me wrong, Adebayor is a fighter, but so is Rooney but the latter gets the goals when it REALLY MATTERS.
Look very closely. You will see that though Thierry Henry was a high goal scorer, he always was a letdown when the stakes were highest. That's what caused Arsenal the Champion's League, and some more titles.
This is not season for sentiments. It's one for results and titles. Wenger should look for a skilled South American who can take on defences and complement the great efforts of the midfield and defence or sign on Eto'o or Obafemi or Even Christanius, the FIFA U-17 Competition Golden boot winner. Not only points will matter but it can come down to gaols difference at the end of the day.
You are going good BUT PLEASE don't ignore the weak spots. It will count in the last run.
REMEMBER IT WAS THE IGNORING OF THE WEAK SPOTS THAT CAUSED ARSENAL RETAINING THE TITLE BY LOSING A 12 POINT LEAD EVEN WHEN BOOK MAKERS HAD STARTED PAYING OFF BETS THAT ARSENAL HAD WON.
BEWARE!!!

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