Arsenal Go Top Again...

Arsenal hosted struggling West Ham late Saturday night. A win would take Gunners top of the league, and put pressure on Man Utd and Chelsea to win. Considering Man Utd would be hosting Liverpool, there was every chance that they could drop points. Thus, this game assumed additional significance in the present scheme of things.

Looking at the team sheets, it was obvious that West Ham were not expecting to get much from it. Their top scorer Cole, and main midfielder Parker were missing. The only potential threats were Diamanti, who often has scored against the Gunners, and the mercurial Egyptian Mido. For Arsenal, it was a much more positive situation, with both Fabregas and Song back. However, Diaby was missing (or rested for the CL match?), and Denilson started in his place.

Normally, Denilson’s name would cause some worry, but the man still remembers his nationality from last week. And to prove it further, within the first five minutes, he had swept Arsenal in front.  One-nil to the Arsenal sang the crowd, Denilson did his Samba, and the Gunners were on their way.

However, the rest of the first half was quite subdued. Arsenal did create opportunities, but not many clear cut chances, and the Hammers keeper was hardly troubled. Maybe Arsenal’s plan was to lull him into complacence before landing the sucker punch.

In defence, Campbell’s age showed, with wild lunges in both penalty areas, escaping a penalty call for the first, but not the yellow for the second. Campbell looks to be a sure-fire candidate for a red card against Messi.

However, in this match, someone else was to receive a red, as right at the end of the half, disaster struck. Vermalaen brought down the West Ham forward. He was deemed to be the last defender preventing the attacker to take a shot, and received his marching orders. Incidentally, this was Arsenal’s first red card this season. A penalty was the result, and Diamanti stepped up. However, this time Almunia made a superb save to keep the ball out, and keep Arsenal ahead.

Now, I am not too worried about Arsenal winning the game. They have been a man down and gone on to win earlier too - the most memorable one I can remember was away to Blackburn Rovers, after Gilberto had been dismissed.

As the second half commenced, sensing the man advantage, West Ham were more adventurous. In an attempt to make the difference in personnel count, Gianfranco Zola smartly brought on his number one striker Carlton Cole.

Song stepped back into the slot vacated by Vermaelen. This left a hole in mid-field, which, I am sorry to say, Denilson is incapable of filling. I would have much preferred Silvestre to come on and let Song marshall the midfield. Instead, Bendtner came off and was replaced by Diaby. This change puzzled me, unless Bendtner had taken a knock.

The pace of the game dropped off too, as Arsenal were conscious of the additional defensive burden that had to be undertaken. While West Ham gained significant possession, slowly but surely, the Gunners began to reassert their technical superiority. The game shifted to the edge of the West Ham box, and ten-man Arsenal laid siege, with West Ham reduced to sporadic attacks.  Seeing his initial tactic of bringing on Cole not working, Zola then went all out and introduced McCarthy to add some more firepower, and to force Arsenal back.

However, it was Arsenal whose pressure paid off. A series of attacks led to the West Ham captain handling the ball in the box. Cesc coolly put the penalty away, and Arsenal had the crucial second goal. This was exactly like the goal a few weeks ago, when Bendtner won a penalty off a smart flick on to a defender.

With the cushion then, Arsenal simply kept possession in the way only they can, and West Ham were reduced to chasing non-existent shadows.

So, Arsenal are on top. But there is a big problem in defence.

Vermaelen will miss the next few matches. A central defence of Silvestre and Campbell is not what Arsenal want. Instead, what they want is Gallas to miraculously recover from his “injury”, sign that new contract and step on to the pitch.

I never thought I would say this, but William Gallas, get well soon!