West Ham United 1-2 Arsenal
All the action as it happened from the FA Cup third round tie with Arsenal
at the Boleyn Ground
03.01.2010
FA Cup sponsored by E.ON third round
West Ham United v Arsenal
Boleyn Ground
Sunday 3 January
4.15pm
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Full-time
94 min - West Ham launch a final attack but after Sears' deep cross finds
Jimenez, his touch cannot quite set up a shooting chance for Diamanti and
Arsenal clear.
93 min - Green keeps the hopes alive with a save using his feet.
90 min - Into five minutes of added time. Surely there must be one more
chance for the Hammers left.
88 min - Edgar comes on for Stanislas.
87 min - Well the game was nearly out of reach before he came on as Eduardo
puts another header just over.
86 min - There may be one more change coming for the Hammers as Anthony
Edgar is in his kit.
85 min - Well unsurprisingly, that goal has sent the away fans wild but West
Ham must not lose hope. They have had plenty of chances in the game and need
just one more to fall their way now.
83 min - GOAL! Arsenal take the lead and that really is harsh on the
Hammers. Eduardo out-leaps Upson and sends a brilliant header into the top
corner past Green.
79 min - Zola responds by swapping Nouble for Sears.
79 min - GOAL! There is and sadly it is the visitors who get it. Song
manages to get the ball to Ramsey in a crowded area and the Wales
international fires low and hard into the far corner.
78 min - Well it really is end-to-end stuff and you really feel there is
another goal in this. Zola looks to be going for it as Freddie Sears is
being got ready.
72 min - Superb double save from Green to thwart first Diaby and then Song
with two diving stops. The West Ham No1 was down for a short while
afterwards but is back on his feet. West Ham may need him for the final 20
minutes.
71 min - Brief pause as Nouble is down with what loos like cramp. After a
bit attention, he is fine to carry on.
69 min - The changes seem to have had the desired effect as the visitors are
seeing more of the ball now. Daprela makes a vital tackle on Nasri as
Arsenal win another corner.
65 min - Wenger is worried enough to make two changes. Merida and Wilshere
make way for Samir Nasri and Abou Diaby.
63 min - I would say the Hammers are on top here as Nouble does well to keep
hold of the ball before Behrami is tripped after picking it up from him.
Diamanti takes the set-piece but Fabianski gets there before Tomkins.
57 min - It really is end-to-end stuff here now as first Faubert's cross is
just in front of the on-rushing Nouble before Ramsey's attempted curler is
about five yards too high. This is turning into quite a cup tie.
56 min - Diamanti picked up a bit of knock just now but he is back on his
feet and looks OK to continue for now.
55 min - Behrami is everywhere. He tracks back to break up another Arsenal
attack.
53 min - Eduardo's shot is deflected over by Upson and Arsenal have their
first corner of the half.
48 min - The hosts have come out of the blocks flying here and Nouble works
Fabianski before Stanislas forces him into the save of the match moments
later with a rasping 25-yard effort. Great start to the half here.
47 min - West Ham United go on the attack straight away and Nouble fires a
right-footed shot wide of the Arsenal goal.
46 min - We are underway in the second period.
Half-time
46 min - GOAL! What a way to end the half! Behrami's perfect through-ball
puts Diamanti in the clear and his shot goes in at the far post via
Fabianski and the post.
45 min - One minute of added time.
45 min - Referee Mark Clattenburg gets his cards out again and this time
it's a West Ham player that will go into his notebook. Daprela is the man to
have his name taken for a late tackle on Wilshere.
43 min - I think that must be about the fifth corner that Nouble has cleared
at the near post. I am sure Arsene Wenger will have something to say about
that at half time.
42 min - Upson has to be alert as Wilshere rampages into the box. The
England defender slides in to put the ball behind.
40 min - Arsenal are still a danger and Vela outpaces Tomkins to test Green
with a low shot.
37 min - More good harrying from Behrami then leads him to setting up
Jimenez for a shot but he drags it wide of the post.
35 min - Behrami is on fire. He almost stopped Arsenal's attack on his own
then as he tackled three players to win the ball back. The Bobby Moore Stand
sing his name in response. The Hammers are certainly coming into this a bit
more.
32 min - Daprela goes on another strong burst forward that almost puts him
in the penalty area, only to be tackled at the last minute. What a story
that would be if he could mark his debut with a goal.
29 min - Corner to the visitors at the other end as Behrami does well to
track back. Green, once again, is there to palm the ball to safety before
Vermaelen fires the follow up over the bar.
27 min - First flash of brilliance from Diamanti as he forces Fabianski into
a diving save to his right. The Hammers win a corner but the Arsenal stopper
once again diverts the danger by taking a catch.
26 min - First yellow card of the afternoon goes to Song after a late
challenge of Behrami.
24 min - Well West Ham have a free-kick of their own up the other end as
Daprela is felled by Alex Song. Stanislas takes it but it flashes just wide.
23 min - Eduardo took it but Green watched it all the way in to his hands.
Good goalkeeping that.
22 min - The Hammers have seen a bit more of the ball now but Arsenal have
got a free-kick in a really dangerous position right on the edge of the
Hammers' area.
17 min - Good tracking back from Faubert there to take the ball off Vela's
foot. Moments later, Eduardo forces Green into a diving save after Tomkins'
loose pass had given him a shooting chance 20 yards out.
15 min - A towering Upson head clears that one but Ramsey's follow up is
deflected over by Behrami for another corner.
15 min - Another corner to Arsenal as Behrami blocks Wilshere's cross.
12 min - First shot on target goes to Arsenal as Fran Merida works Green
with a 25-yard effort that England international gathers comfortably.
9 min - West Ham are looking dangerous on the break and one counter attack
left them with players left over at the back post then. Sadly Faubert's
cross was not quite strong enough and the chance went begging.
8 min - Another corner to Arsenal as Daprela heads behind a deep corner. The
ball eventually comes back to Jack Wilshere and his deep cross is collected
by Robert Green.
6 min - Brilliant centre-forward play from Nouble as he holds off Thomas
Vermaelen to force a corner. Gunners goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski comes out
to punch the ball clear.
4 min - Early free-kick to the visitors as Daprela is punished for a strong
tackle. The set-piece is weak though and Nouble clears.
1 min -West Ham United get us going. It looks as though they will be playing
a 4-4-1-1 formation with Luis Jimenez playing behind Nouble in attack.
Behrami will be playing in central midfield alongside Radoslav Kovac.
4.13pm - 'Bubbles' is on and the players are on their way out. Mikael
Silvestre has taken the armband today with Cesc Fabregas missing.
4.10pm - West Ham will have to work to silence the large numbers of away
supporters that have taken over the whole of the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand.
I am told that there are around 5,000 people supporting the north Londoners
here today.
4.05pm - The players have finished their warm ups and the tension is
mounting. Leeds United have already pulled off a great result against a 'top
four' team today and let us all hope West Ham United can follow suit.
3.55pm - Jack Collison and Jonathan Spector are both being rested today as a
precautionary measure after the busy Christmas schedule.
3.50pm - There is a real youthful feel to the West Ham United squad today
and eight of the matchday 18 are products of Tony Carr's Academy, without
including summer recruits Nouble and Daprela who have played mainly for the
reserves this season.
Gianfranco Zola has handed full debuts to two teenagers as West Ham United
host Arsenal in the FA Cup third round.
England Under-19 forward Frank Nouble is handed his first start in a Hammers
shirt playing as a lone striker in a 4-4-1-1 formation, while Switzerland
U19 defender Fabio Daprela makes his first-team bow at left-back.
First-year professionals Olly Lee and Anthony Edgar are named among the
substitutes alongside Freddie Sears, who has returned from a loan spell at
Crystal Palace.
West Ham United: Green, Faubert, Tomkins, Upson, Daprela, Kovac, Behrami,
Stanislas (Edgar 88), Diamanti, Jimenez, Nouble (Sears 79)
Subs: Stech, N'Gala, Da Costa, Payne, Lee
Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Silvestre, Ramsey, Song,
Merida (Nasri 65), Wilshere (Diaby 65), Eduardo, Vela
Subs: Mannone, Gilbert, Traore, Eastmond, Emmanuel-Thomas
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Hammers frozen out
WHUFC.com
Arsenal have knocked West Ham United out of the FA Cup with a 2-1
third-round victory at the Boleyn Ground
03.01.2010
Two late goals saw Arsenal freeze West Ham United out of the FA Cup with a
2-1 victory on a bitter January afternoon at the Boleyn Ground. Alessandro
Diamanti looked to have set the Hammers on course for a sixth FA Cup win
over the Gunners in eight attempts, only for Aaron Ramsey and Eduardo to
steal the tie for Arsene Wenger's side.
The last two times West Ham lifted the world's most famous knockout trophy -
in 1975 and 1980 - they had beaten Arsenal en route, but it was not to be
this time around.
It had all looked so promising seconds before half-time, when Diamanti
latched on to Valon Behrami's pass, beat the Arsenal offside trap and found
the net via the fingertips of goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski and the inside of
the post. The goal looked like capping a memorable afternoon for Gianfranco
Zola on the day he handed full debuts to England Under-19 forward Frank
Nouble and Switzerland U19 left-back Fabio Daprela and a first-team bow to
young winger Anthony Edgar. Ultimately, though, it was Arsene Wenger's
Barclays Premier League title-chasers who proved too strong, gaining revenge
for the second-half comeback the Hammers launched in the league meeting
between the two sides in October. As a whole, the game had everything a
supporter could wish for from a London derby and an FA Cup tie put together.
Despite both managers not being able to choose from a number of regular
starters, the stand-ins put on a performance it was impossible to take your
eyes off. Arsenal began the better of the two sides, with Spanish midfielder
Fran Merida and Croatia striker Eduardo, twice, testing Robert Green with
well-struck shots. As the game wore on, however, the Hammers began to grow
in confidence, and deserved the half-time advantage fashioned for them by
Diamanti. The goal was the Italian's third in consecutive home games
following penalties against Chelsea and Portsmouth.
Earlier, Diamanti had also tested Fabianski with a curling effort, while
Luis Jimenez dragged his shot wide after good work from Radoslav Kovac. West
Ham started the second 45 minutes on the offensive, with Nouble twice going
close before Junior Stanislas brought out the best in Arsenal's Polish
goalkeeper with a swerving 25-yard effort. The Hammers were made to pay for
their profligacy in devastating circumstances as the game entered its
closing stages. First, Alex Song and Carlos Vela combined to release Ramsey,
who lashed a low left-foot shot inside Green's far post. The Mexico forward
was again the provider a little more than four minutes later, curling in a
cross from the left flank that Eduardo sent spinning into the top corner
with an inch-perfect header. Having taken the lead, Arsenal finished
strongly, with only a miraculous goal-line clearance from Daprela denying
Vela a third. Later still, Green produced a fine save to block Ramsey's low
shot. Zola and the home support among the 25,545 will no doubt have taken
heart from the performances of the young players - most notably Daprela and
Nouble - but they will be hoping for better fortune when Wolverhampton
Wanderers visit in the Barclays Premier League next Sunday lunchtime.
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Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Despite defeat, Gianfranco Zola had plenty of reason to be positive after
the FA Cup with Arsenal
04.01.2010
Gianfranco Zola was full of praise for his youngsters after a spirited FA
Cup tie with Arsenal that saw plenty of positives despite defeat. The
manager handed full debuts to 18-year-olds Fabio Daprela and Frank Nouble,
while Anthony Edgar made his senior bow as a late replacement. The Hammers
took the lead deservedly through Alessandro Diamanti's fourth goal in five
matches just before half-time but were undone by a late Arsenal fightback
through Aaron Ramsey and Eduardo. "I know it was very close but I'm pleased
at the performance from the team and I couldn't ask for anything more as
they gave everything," said Zola. "When we had the goal in hand we had so
many opportunities but we didn't manage to close the game down. "In the last
ten or 15 minutes when I knew we were going to go down physically, which I
knew they were going to do as they worked so hard, they bought on people
like [French internationals Abou] Diaby and [Samir] Nasri, it was more
difficult. "I take a lot of positives from this game. I must say that the
team is giving 100 per cent and if we maintain those conditions, when we
have everybody back, this team is going to be different and tough to beat."
He reserved special praise for Diamanti, who is proving a more than useful
acquisition to the squad after just four months in English football. "Not
only for the goal but his passing is very good," Zola said. "In the second
half he set up a couple of opportunities and he works very hard. He is one
of the players that is becoming fundamental for this team and is coming
better and better. He is a good positive note for us."
The tireless Valon Behrami also earned a mention with Zola commending him
and Diamanti for their selfless play. "You see them on the pitch, the way
they run and the way they chase. There was a couple of times Diamanti was
chasing back like a crazy man and that shows you how much the players care
about this team."
The manager is looking forward to potentially being able to recall the likes
of Jonathan Spector, Mark Noble, Scott Parker, Jack Collison and Guille
Franco next weekend when Wolverhampton Wanderers make the trip to the Boleyn
Ground. With the positives from Arsenal to build on, he is more than
optimistic that good times are ahead. "When we have everybody back it will
be a different story. The financial situation everyone knows. We have a
stability and we don't have big problems. I'm expecting not to have
everybody leaving."
Carlton Cole, meanwhile is "making good progress" from a knee injury, having
been around the squad on Sunday - most notably to offer words of
encouragement to 18-year-old forward Nouble before and during the game. "I
don't want to force things," said Zola of his top scorer. "I think [his
return] will be sooner rather than later." The manager was left to conclude
that his squad appear more than up for the challenge of the weeks and months
ahead. "If we play with this attitude that we have showed in the last few
games it will do us a favour. It depends on the players we can get back. "We
have important matches coming up, starting on Sunday, and if we play them
with the attributes and some of the players are back we will be all right."
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Millwall: an update
WHUFC.com
The club have renewed a police appeal for information regarding the Carling
Cup match last August
03.01.2010
West Ham United have renewed an appeal for help from supporters to track
down those responsible for disturbances at the Carling Cup match with
Millwall last August. Today, we are publishing a new selection of photos of
people that police would like to speak to in connection with the events on
Tuesday 25 August. Check out the matchday programme for the FA Cup
third-round tie with Arsenal as well for more coverage. Anyone with
information is asked to text 07969 042837, or if you wish to remain
anonymous you can phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. All information will
be treated in the strictest confidence. We are using all club platforms and
the wider media to identify anyone responsible and will not be afraid to
issue life bans wherever appropriate. So far, the club have issued dozens of
life banning orders.
* On Monday 19 October, the club filed a defence to all four charges laid
down by the Football Association in connection with the incidents on Tuesday
25 August. We are continuing to cooperate fully with the FA and all relevant
authorities in regard to this matter.
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West Ham 1 - 2 Arsenal
BBC.co.uk
By Paul Fletcher
Arsenal came from behind to score two late goals and stun brave West Ham in
their FA Cup third-round tie. Alessandro Diamanti beat the Arsenal offside
trap in first-half injury time before shooting in off the post. Robert
Green denied Abou Diaby and Alex Song but Aaron Ramsey equalised with 12
minutes remaining, defeating the keeper with an angled shot on the turn.
Eduardo headed into the top corner from Carlos Vela's cross to seal a tie
against Stoke in the fourth round. The Gunners had not lost in the third
round of the competition since 1996 but until manager Arsene Wenger
introduced Diaby and Samir Nasri after 64 minutes it looked as though they
might taste defeat at Upton Park.
West Ham are struggling in the Premier League but they were full value for
their advantage after a first-half performance of skill and energy. They
came close to a second but Lukasz Fabianski made a good save to deny Junior
Stanislas - and the game changed after Wenger shuffled his pack. The
victory continued Arsenal's excellent recent form, and while West Ham now
face a long, bitter struggle for Premier League survival, Arsenal continue
their quest for honours on several fronts. Arsenal can close the gap on
leaders Chelsea to one point in the league if they win their game in hand
against Bolton on Wednesday and have a Champions League tie against Porto to
look forward to in February.
Yet for the first hour the Gunners were below par - and certainly during the
opening 45 minutes they had little more than long-range efforts to show for
their endeavours.
Green saved from Fran Merida, Carlos Vela and Eduardo, who had been gifted
possession by James Tomkins, while Thomas Vermaelen shot over after a poor
one-handed clearance from the West Ham keeper. In contrast, the Hammers'
effort and industry led to several near misses - with Fabianski, one of five
changes for Arsenal, making a brilliant one-handed save to deny Diamanti and
Luis Jimenez dragging a shot wide after Jack Wilshere squandered possession.
The Hammers improved as the half wore on and scored after Diamanti superbly
held his run to just stay onside. The Italian collected the influential
Valon Behrami's through ball and closed in on goal before striking beyond
Fabianski.
Zola obviously instilled into his players the folly of trying to sit on
their lead and striker Frank Nouble, making his full debut, shot wide before
Fabianski denied Stanislas shortly after the restart. West Ham were
increasingly dominant but Wenger then made his double substitution. Arsenal
started to dominate possession and it took superb reactions from Green to
deny Diaby and then Song. But the Hammers keeper could not prevent Ramsey
from levelling after a swift passing move had unlocked the home team's
defence. Song slipped the ball to Vela, who in turn flicked the ball towards
Ramsey, with the Wales international striking the ball into the bottom
corner. Eduardo then headed beyond Green, who might be disappointed he did
save the effort, while it could have got even worse for West Ham but Daprela
cleared off the line from Vela.
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West Ham Utd 1 Arsenal 2
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 3rd January 2010
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are out of the FA Cup after conceding two late goals at the Boleyn
Ground this afternoon. Despite having led the game for 75 minutes it was
Arsenal, not West Ham, who were in the draw for the fourth round of the
competition - thanks to little more than Arsene Wenger having more options
available than Gianfranco Zola. With the visitors a goal behind, Wenger was
able to call on Abou Diaby and Samir Nasri, both of whom had been rested for
the game - a tactical switch that turned a game, that had appeared to be
slipping away from them, in Arsenal's favour. Conversely Zola had just
Freddie Sears, without a senior goal in over 18 months, to call on in order
to replace the tiring 18-year-old Frank Nouble, himself was making his full
first team debut as a result of injury and suspension to the likes of
Carlton Cole and Guillermo Franco. Hopes of a famous Cup win had been raised
when an injury-time Alessandro Diamanti strike gave the Irons a narrow
advantage moments ahead of the half time break. Having beaten Arsenal's
offside trap, the Italian - who had earlier seen a good shout for a penalty
waved away by referee Mark Clattenburg - strode towards goal having been
sent through by man of the match Valon Behrami before placing his shot into
the bottom right corner to give the Irons a priceless lead.
It was a lead that Zola's men clung on to until the 78th minute - although
the signs had been ominous for several minutes prior to the goal as West Ham
began to retreat deeper and deeper. Young midfielder Aaron Ramsey, found by
a low cross from Alex Song squeezed his way into the penalty box and fired
across Rob Green's body to level the scores.
Shellshocked by the goal, the Irons then found themselves behind just four
minutes later. Croatian striker Eduardo beat Matthew Upson to a deep cross
and sent his pinpoint header across Green into the top corner. As
disappointing as the goal was from an Irons perspective, it was a strike
worthy of winning any game - although Upson will no doubt be disappointed at
being beaten by the shorter striker.
So with our interest in the FA Cup over for a nother year, attention now
turns to the rather more important Premier League clash against Wolves next
weekend, when Zola is hoping to be able to reintroduce at least one or two
of his numerous injured players. Should his side play with the same spirit
that we saw today, that one should have a far more favourable outcome that
today's match. And who knows, maybe we'll have a new owner/s to celebrate
before then.
West Ham Utd 1 Arsenal 2: match facts
West Ham United: Green, Faubert, Tomkins, Upson, Daprela, Kovac, Behrami,
Stanislas (Edgar 88), Diamanti, Jimenez, Nouble (Sears 79).
Subs not used: Stech, N'Gala, Da Costa, Payne, Lee.
Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Silvestre, Ramsey, Song,
Merida (Nasri 65), Wilshere (Diaby 65), Eduardo, Vela.
Subs not used: Mannone, Gilbert, Traore, Eastmond, Emmanuel-Thomas.
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Gunners rally sinks Hammers
Ramsey & Eduardo dump out West Ham
Last updated: 3rd January 2010
SSN
Two late goals from Aaron Ramsey and Eduardo helped Arsenal come from behind
to beat 2-1 West Ham in their FA Cup third round clash. West Ham threatened
an upset when Alessandro Diamanti gave the home side the lead right on the
stroke of half-time. Arsenal drew level 12 minutes from time when the
impressive Ramsey smashed his left-footed shot from inside the box past
Robert Green. Five minutes later Arsenal grabbed the winner when Eduardo
rose highest to loop Carlos Vela's cross high into the net past Green.
The Gunners have a crucial Barclays Premier League game against Bolton on
Wednesday which could see them narrow the gap to leaders Chelsea to a point.
But their quest for a first trophy in five years - since they won the FA Cup
in 2005 - remained alive on more than one front as they entered the fourth
round draw, where they were pitted against Stoke. Even though Wenger had
made five changes from the 4-1 win over Portsmouth in midweek, it was
certainly not an inexperienced Arsenal side, with the likes of Carlos Vela,
Fran Merida and Luke Wilshere included along with veteran defender Mikael
Silvestre, captain in the absence of injured Cesc Fabregas. The Hammers -
famous winners over the Gunners in the 1980 FA Cup final at Wembley - had
come back from 2-0 down here to draw their league encounter earlier in the
season, and started well, with Diamanti firing over after cutting in from
the right.
Merida had a low, 25-yard strike comfortably saved by West Ham goalkeeper
Robert Green after 12 minutes before Arsenal slowly built some pressure on
the home defence.
Wales teenager Ramsey and Merida both had shots charged down before James
Tomkins gave the ball away, Eduardo pounced and the Croatian forced Green to
make a full-stretch save as his 20-yard effort looked set to creep into the
bottom corner. West Ham responded after Alex Song - off to the African
Nations Cup with Cameroon on Monday - bundled over Daprela to concede a
dangerous free-kick, 25-yards out. Junior Stanislas was just off-target with
a dipping effort over the bar. There was action at both ends as first
Diamanti's curling shot from the left was palmed away by Fabianski before
Thomas Vermaelen lashed his first-time shot over after a corner. Stanislas
stole possession on the edge of the Arsenal box, but the ball just would not
drop for the England Under-21 forward. After 40 minutes, Mexican Carlos Vela
got on the end of a long ball up field, but his angled shot was blocked by
Green at the right-hand post. The Hammers took the lead in first-half
stoppage time when Diamanti beat the Arsenal offside trap to collect Valon
Behrami's pass and slot in off the post. The hosts resumed in positive
fashion after the interval, with England Under 19 forward Frank Nouble, who
was making his debut, firing wide from the edge of the area before
Stanislas' 25-yard shot was palmed away by Fabianski. Arsenal made a double
change after 65 minutes, replacing Merida with Diaby and Wilshere for Nasri.
The changes seemed to galvanise the visitors, who had lacked any real
penetration in the final third. Green made a fantastic double save to deny
first Diaby after he burst into the penalty area and then the follow-up
effort from Song.
There was, however, little the England goalkeeper could do about Arsenal's
equaliser with 12 minutes left, when Ramsey smashed a low shot into the far
corner after collecting Vela's pass through a crowded penalty area. Before
the Hammers could mount a recovery, Arsenal had turned the tie around. Vela
was again the provider, sending over a cross from the left, which Eduardo
met ahead of Tomkins to loop the ball over Green into the top corner.
Arsenal could have further extended their lead, but former Gunner Matthew
Upson cleared Vela's shot off the line and Green saved from Ramsey.
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Vinny's Arsenal Report
Vinny - Sun Jan 3 2010
West Ham Online
FA Cup 3rd Round
West Ham United 1 Arsenal 2
The cloud of depression continues to settle above West Ham United Football
Club as two goals in five second half minutes dumped the Hammers out of the
FA Cup. It had seemed as though a memorable victory was on the cards as
Alessandro Diamanti had given the home side the lead just before half time
and for most of the second period it seemed as though a second would be
found instead of an Arsenal equaliser. But the gloomy outlook at West Ham
remains at its peak as we were stunned by two goals in such a short space of
time. It was so very disappointing to see the team who had fought so well
completely fall apart. The magic of the FA Cup is a phrase used quite a bit
but I still remain an old sentimentalist and feel it is extremely important
for clubs like ourselves to take seriously and compete in no matter how the
team is going in the league. With so many away games coming up and so soon
after the new year (Aston Villa, Portsmouth and Burnley) I have to say I
thought long and hard about missing this game but unlike many others (there
was just 25,549 in attendance) I did attend although lost my usual seat in
the West Stand lower corner and had to relocate to the Bobby Moore Lower.
This was my first time in the Bobby Moore Lower since Steve Potts
Testimonial against Queens Park Rangers many years ago and I can only hope
it will be my last as it was a terrible view (I did not think Row G would be
two rows from the front) with terrible people spouting nonsense throughout
the game. These were the same people who booed debutant Frank Nouble calling
him a donkey and blaming Zola for playing him.
So to the team news and as expected due to injury and suspensions there were
many changes to the team who were well beaten at White Hart Lane last
Monday. In defence, Herita Ilunga was out with a hamstring injury and
replaced by 18 year old Swiss left back Fabio Deprela. In midfield Scott
Parker was also out with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Luis Jimenez
who was the more advanced of the three centre midfielders which included
Behrami and Kovac. Jack Collison was another player missing with injury and
he was replaced by Junior Stanislas who went out to the left hand side of
midfield. Up front saw Franco suspended leaving Gianfranco Zola no other
alternative but to give 18 year old Frank Nouble his full West Ham debut. If
you thought giving two 18 year olds their debuts in the FA Cup against
Arsenal was bad then you just had to look at our bench which consisted of
only Da Costa who could be considered a 'senior' player.
When this draw was made many of us thought that was that so it was a delight
to see the team battle against an Arsenal side who were a mixture of senior
and younger players.
Arsenal looked decent in possession in the early stages of the game as you
would have expected them to be with Merida hitting a shot which Green saved
and Green also had to make stops from Vela and Eduardo.
All in all those strikes were pretty comfortable saves for Green as we
started to dig in and get on top. With Kovac and Behrami putting in
committed performances we were starting to win the battle in the midfield
and when Arsenal did try to get the ball down and play were always seemed to
be able to disrupted their rhythm. Arsenal though should have done better
when Robert Green as he now tends to do made a bit of hash of things this
time with a corner where he tried to catch the ball with one hand only to
drop the ball and in the end the Arsenal centre back Vermaelen shot way over
the bar. Our first real attempt was from the ever industrious Diamanti who
cutting in from the right hand side hit a left foot strike which was
excellently palmed away for a corner by the Arsenal keeper Fabianski.
We should have done a lot better with a chance soon after when a great run
across the area from Behrami saw the ball knocked back for Jimenez but the
Chilean dragged his shot well wide when you would have expected him to at
least hit the target. Nouble up front on his own was working hard but found
things very difficult up against top quality defenders in Gallas and
Vermaelen. In fairness to the youngster (and despite his physical appearance
that is all he is) he never let up and kept going. I was quite pleased at
how our first half performance was going and felt we deserved to be going in
at half time on level terms. The early excitement from the five or so
thousand Arsenal supporters was beginning to waver as their side had not got
into their stride at all so it would certainly shut them up when out of
nothing in first half stoppage time (there was only one minute) we took the
lead.
Some quick thinking from Behrami saw Diamanti put through clear on goal
beating the offside trap and beating Fabianski to put us a goal up. Some
will say Diamanti nearly messed it up with a casual finish but his task was
to simply score and that he did with the Italian picking up his sixth goal
of the season and his fourth in the last five games.
With the ITV camera's present they would have been hoping for another shock
result seeing as Leeds United had somehow defeated Manchester United on
their own patch earlier in the day and as the half time whistle went (the
longest minute I've ever seen Clattenburg you cunt) we were on course to
provide. Everyone in the Bobby Moore Lower seemed to pile downstairs for the
half time chaos. I didn't know if it was normally like that but there wasn't
room to fart. Also, I may add it was the coldest day of the season so far
even colder than the trip to Bolton a few weeks ago. So even though we could
not find an atmosphere we certainly had found a goal and the second half was
going to be one where we needed to keep working hard and hopefully even nick
the second on the counter attack. We came out for the second period and
played some really good football and I was sure the second goal was coming
as the four of Nouble, Diamanti, Jimenez and Stanislas seemed to have our
neighbours from North London on the back foot.
Some quite wonderful vision from Diamanti seemed to set up all our attacks
and Frank Nouble should have done a lot better with a shot from inside the
area which he put well wide. Diamanti put Junior Stanislas through with the
young winger running from the right hand side this time and with little
options he hit a stinging shot which was saved by Fabianski when most behind
the goal were sure it was about to hit the back of the net (me included). We
were well on top at this point and it was just frustrating to see so many
waves of attacks breaking down due to our reluctance to just have a shot on
goal. Too much of this walking the ball into the net syndrome had set in on
the players.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger made a couple of changes which seemed to
change the came for the visitors as he replaced Merida and the totally
anonymous Wilshere with Diaby and Nasri. Diaby, I have to say was excellent
when he came on and seemed to drive Arsenal forward and it was around this
point where they begun to create chances which is something they had
struggled to do for so long. Robert Green showed how good a shot stopper he
is when he denied Arsenal with a super double save first from Diaby and then
from the rebound effort from Song as Arsenal pressed for the equaliser.
Green could do nothing about what was to follow as Arsenal's Welsh
midfielder Aaron Ramsey took the wind out of the West Ham fans and players
as he dealt a crushing blow in scoring the equaliser. A fluid passing move
which Arsenal have become synonymous with under Wenger saw Song play the
ball to Vela who in turn flicked the ball through to Ramsey and he struck
the ball past Green into the corner. The Arsenal fans went wild behind the
goal with more disappointment falling at the feet of everyone connected to
West Ham.
But no matter, a draw against one of the best sides in the country and with
our injury problems could still be considered a decent result. It was a
shame then that just five minutes later Arsenal would complete a turnaround
which I genuinely did not see coming after 65 minutes. As we were about to
kick off after the equaliser Frank Nouble was taken off by Zola and replaced
by Freddie Sears who was making his return following a loan spell at Crystal
Palace where the striker scored a total of zero goals. The fans around me
were berating Zola for not making the change before Arsenal scored their
goal somehow attributing keeping Nouble on as the reason why Arsenal scored.
Regardless of the change nothing could prevent a cross from Vela finding the
head of Eduardo and the striker saw his header beat Robert Green who from
where I was sitting thought he should have done better as he was on his line
at the time. Of course better judgement will be made when I see it again. We
were totally finished at this point and it was damage limitation for the
remainder of the game with Deprela making a quite remarkable goal line
clearance which denied Vela from making it three. It was so disappointing to
see us totally capitulate and although I am fully aware we had a very under
strength team out there I was totally taken aback at the quick turnaround.
Maybe I should know better as after all this is West Ham we are talking
about but no matter how many times it does happen the disappointment doesn't
get any easier.
Player Reviews
Robert Green
There are many good shot stoppers in the Premiership and Green is most
definitely one of them. To reach the next level to be what you would
consider a top class keeper you need to be good at the other things like
commanding your area and once again for me Green failed to show this. Every
game there are one of two mistakes and as we have seen a few times this
season he has been punished.
Fabio Deprela
Just eighteen years of age and making his debut in a game like this cannot
be easy. It is not as though he has been in and around the first team and
this really did see him thrust in at the deep end. I think he can be
considered a positive to take away from this one and although he was yellow
carded in the first half he looked good in his tackling, kept his positional
sense and got forward well throughout both halves.
Matthew Upson
Playing against his former club I thought Upson was excellent winning just
about everything in the air. His anticipation and ability to cut things out
caught my eye and when he plays like this you do wonder how on earth we
would cope without him in the team.
James Tomkins
With Upson looking calm and assured, Tomkins was the complete opposite. He
looked very nervous and lacked confidence. Let the ball drop over his
shoulder in the first half which let Eduardo in and this was because he was
simply because he seems to have lost all self belief.
Julian Faubert
In the first half I thought he did the very best he could. There were
moments when he showed his complete lack of defensive know-how when he would
commit himself to a challenge when trying to get in front of his man. Going
forward he showed how bad his crossing is and why he now plays at right
back. All in all it was typical of Faubert this season.
Junior Stanislas
In and out of the game but when he did get the ball at his feet he looked
dangerous. Was very unlucky not to score in the second half with a smart
effort. Stanislas needs to work on his off the ball play as he drifts out to
the wing and hides for far too long but it does seem that he is improving at
running at defenders with pace.
Radoslav Kovac
Looks much fitter over the last few games and despite the inconsistent
results Kovac is starting to play quite well. He isn't much of a fans
favourite and you are not going to get some incomprehendable skills from him
but Kovacs game is his closing down, tackling and breaking play up which he
did today and did well.
Valon Behrami
Another player who is finding his fitness and with so many players injured
it is a positive that Behrami is starting to get his form back. Behrami
tired after around 70 minutes but for the majority of the game he was
arguably our best player.
Alessandro Diamanti
As I have pointed out before when you give him a bit of time on the ball he
can take teams apart. He still isn't quick enough for this level as of yet
but when he got his chance some of his passing was just sublime and
reminiscent of another Italian (not Di Michele). Scored another goal which
take his tally to six and the more games he plays I feel he is showing more
and more signs of a handy player.
Luis Jimenez
Just not involved enough for my liking. He did have moments where I thought
I saw what Zola had seen in him to be the player we would 'base our side
around this season" but then there were other moments where he looked just
as lightweight and clueless as he has done for just about all his time at
West Ham.
Frank Nouble
There is a very interesting interview with Nouble in OLAS from after the
Tottenham game which a quite pissed off Nouble gives his view on the fitness
of Franco, the return date for Carlton Cole and his opinion on playing just
one up front. With all he had to say there he needed to try and back it up
with a performance and although he did find it hard and ran himself into the
ground he did what he could in tough circumstances and deserves another
chance.
Subs Used
Freddie Sears (on for Nouble 79 mins)
With Nouble off we still continued to belt the ball forward but Sears of
course is too small to win any headers which made the distribution from the
back very puzzling. Sears ran about a bit but seeing as he is a striker who
doesn't score goals (his last coming on his debut for the club) I didn't get
my hopes up that he would turn the game around.
Anthony Edgar (on for Stanislas 87 mins)
Another who was making his debut. Edgar looked excellent in the games I saw
him play in pre season and he was on loan at Bournemouth only for the FA to
order he come back to West Ham due to Bournemouth's transfer embargo. He
only saw a bit of the ball but it would have been a good experience for the
boy.
Subs Not Used: Stech, Lee, Da Costa, N'Gala, Payne
Yellow Cards: Deprela
Man Of The Match: Matthew Upson
Attendance: 25,549
Overall
It is all very depressing at the moment with any momentum quickly destroyed
by a couple of bad results. It is not even that we lost to Arsenal as it was
always going to be tough but it is the manner of our defeat that leaves us
coming away from the game demoralised. You can't fault the effort from the
depleted side we put out but it is hard not too feel frustrated or even
angry with the amount of injuries we have at the moment. I mean one or two
fair enough but this injury issue is really starting to take the piss. They
are not even injuries to squad players but players who would no doubt in the
starting line up. Carlton Cole, Jack Collison, Kieron Dyer, Mark Noble,
Scott Parker and Herita Ilunga. That is a shocking number of first team
players not to mention the first choice replacements in Spector, Boa Morte
and Zavon Hines also out. Zola's record in the cup competitions since he
took over is pretty shocking and something that should also not be over
looked. So now we can bring out that comment that we can now 'concentrate
on the league'. I don't know about anyone else but that does little for me
as I want to go far in the FA Cup.
Next Game - Wolverhampton Wanderers (h)
Just like the Portsmouth game on Boxing Day this is simply a must win game
and anything other than a win will be deemed a failure.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Aaron Ramsey takes Arsenal past resilient West Ham United
Guardian report
West Ham United 1 Diamanti 45
Arsenal 2 Ramsey 78, Eduardo 83
Kevin McCarra at Upton Park guardian.co.uk, Sunday 3 January 2010 19.26 GMT
A team of real ambition must be impervious to romance. Arsenal hardened
their hearts and made their superiority tell just when it seemed they might
somehow fail to respond to the opener from West Ham. The home side, striving
to stay in the Premier League, have greater priorities, yet the effort to
take a fillip from this FA Cup tie was great.
While both line-ups were under strength, West Ham's resources are more
slender and the challenge they posed was therefore impressive. It took
Arsène Wenger's team much of the afternoon to rediscover their incisiveness.
By the end, though, Carlos Vela had become the embodiment of such menace. As
West Ham betrayed some fatigue at last, the Mexican fed Aaron Ramsey in the
78th minute and the composed Welshman put a finish past Robert Green.
Victory for the visitors verged on the inevitable.
"In the last 10 or 15 minutes I knew we were going to go down physically
because we had worked so hard," said the Hammers manager, Gianfranco Zola.
It did not take inside knowledge to anticipate Arsenal's winner.
With seven minutes left, Eduardo da Silva got free of Matthew Upson to meet
Vela's cross from the left and head the winner. "In every game, he is
better," said Wenger of an attacker whose career is still couched in terms
of recovery as he slowly rediscovers himself from the dreadful leg injuries
in early 2008 that kept him out of action until a protracted comeback got
underway a year later.
Nothing can make Wenger fret for the time being and he smiled at the
prospect of the challenge Arsenal will meet when they go to Stoke City in
the fourth round of the FA Cup. "I hope it will not be windy," he said
wryly, while anticipating the opposition's direct style.
The manager sees a gathering prowess at his disposal. "I set him [Ramsey] a
target at the start of the season to play between 15 and 20 games and it
looks like he will get that very quickly," said Wenger. In fact, Ramsey, who
turned 19 on Boxing Day, has made 24 appearances for Arsenal in this
campaign, including outings in the League Cup.
With figures emerging who can save a manager from pining over, for example,
an injured Cesc Fábregas, confidence is on the rise at Arsenal. Wenger was
also wry over the lightening of the load at Manchester United now that they
have been eliminated from the FA Cup by Leeds United. As he pointed out, Sir
Alex Ferguson's team have a free weekend before the last 16 of the Champions
League gets underway on 16 February.
By that midweek, when Arsenal take on Porto, February will already have seen
Wenger's side face Chelsea and Liverpool in the League as well as fulfilling
a likely FA Cup engagement. These must seem like enviably exotic
considerations to Zola, but he does not look all that apprehensive about his
circumstances.
The Italian claims to have been reassured that he will not need to off-load
players this month, despite the much-reported financial predicament of West
Ham. "I think we have stability," he said. "I am not expecting to have
anybody leaving." The personnel at his disposal yesterday had an endeavour
that will encourage Zola. West Ham, after all, have already drawn with
Arsenal and Chelsea on this ground in the League.
Despite the diminished nature of his line-up, they seldom looked discouraged
until that closing phase. Arsenal's opportunities were restricted and when
Green palmed out a Jack Wilshere cross after 30 minutes, Thomas Vermaelen
lashed the ball high. This was not one of those days when Wilshere's
precocity shines and Wenger intends to send him out on loan, but that move
will not be authorised until later this month when injuries have cleared.
The visitors were unsure of themselves when West Ham bristled with
competitiveness. Other chances had arisen from mistakes, too, and a loose
pass from the defender James Tomkins, for instance, set up Eduardo, only for
the Croatia forward to fire straight at the goalkeeper.
The cobbled together West Ham line-up in which the teenage striker Frank
Nouble was making his first start, were heartened. They took the lead in
first-half stoppage time. A Wilshere mistake left the influential Valon
Behrami to put Alessandro Diamanti through for a composed finish. Arsenal's
claim for off-side was without foundation.
West Ham then tried to avoid the defensiveness that would have invited
Arsenal to swamp them. The attitude was epitomised by the neat way in which
Nouble got himself into position after 48 minutes, although the subsequent
finish was weak. Arsenal had a the greater incentive to be adventurous, but
the impression lingered that the lack of a suitable central attacker, with
Robin van Persie a long-term injury absentee, continues to be a potentially
grave flaw.
Arsenal struggled to show incisiveness in the goalmouth. Pressure mounted,
but when the visitors did go clear in the 72nd minute, Green made a double
save from the substitute Abou Diaby and Alex Song. Later still, Samir Nasri,
another substitute, would shank the ball badly when it fell to him.
Ultimately, all the same, the command of Arsenal was to prove irresistible.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United 1 Arsenal 2: match report
Read a full match report of the FA Cup third round game between West Ham
United and Arsenal at Upton Park on Sunday January 3 2009.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jason Burt at Upton Park
Published: 6:55AM GMT 04 Jan 2010
There was a hot frisson of excitement on an afternoon of bitter coldness
that Arsène Wenger may have had to contemplate something he has not had to
contend before. An exit from the third round of the FA Cup. Not since
January 1996, an away defeat to Sheffield United have Arsenal failed to
progress from this stage of the competition.
FA Cup fifth round draw: Big guns kept apartYet they were labouring against
a determined West Ham United who should have added to their first-half
advantage, gained through Alessandro Diamanti's goal, and who appeared, in
Valon Behrami, to have the contest's outstanding player.
And then Aaron Ramsey intervened. For the second successive match the 19
year-old Welsh midfielder scored with aplomb with his left foot and, once
again, walked off deservedly with the accolade of being man of the match.
How, in the absence of Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie, Arsenal needed
his game-breaking quality and it was interesting that, although he is barely
a year older, Ramsey is far more ready for Arsenal's first-team than another
teenage protégé, Jack Wilshere. "He needs to play because when he plays at
present he feels under pressure to deliver something special," Wenger said
in defence of Wilshere, who tried that bit too hard against the team he grew
up supporting and who, the manager has admitted, he would like to go out on
loan. Wenger won't allow that, however, until he knows how many of his nine
injured players are able to return before the transfer window slams shut.
It was a weakened Arsenal team but that was because of those absentees,
rather than a deliberate ploy, while it was also a below-strength West Ham
who could be forgiven in regarding Sunday's league match against
Wolverhampton Wanderers as a more significant game than this one. And there
was certainly a coyness to proceedings until, finally, the blood rose and a
committed FA Cup contest was laid bare.
Diamanti's goal helped kick-start that. The Italian is something of a
conundrum at Upton Park having arrived in a £6 million roll of the dice,
financed by the sale of defender James Collins, from Livorno to add some
attacking sparkle. He now has six goals but is not quite the diamond that
Gianfranco Zola had hoped to unearth.
However, his goal fired the game with Behrami latching onto Fabio Daprela's
pass — deflected off Wilshere — and threading the ball through to Diamanti.
William Gallas squealed for offside but was playing the midfielder on and
Diamanti ran through. His shot lacked conviction but squeezed past Lukasz
Fabianski and rolled into the net.
West Ham were now buoyant. Frank Nouble, the 18 year-old striker on his
debut, twice had opportunities to add to the advantage while Junior
Stanislas was only denied by a sharp save from Fabianski. Could West Ham
really pull off an improbable victory?
Certainly the belief was growing though there was, post-match, a telling
comment from Zola. "It was very close, but," he said and that "but" was
significant. "But in the first 15 minutes of the second-half we had so many
opportunities and needed to close the game down."
They didn't and Wenger had a couple of aces up his sleeve. From the bench
came Abou Diaby and Samir Nasri and suddenly Arsenal had impetus and energy.
West Ham were pressed back and it was again a curiosity of their season that
the two goals they conceded were partly down to errors from their two most
experienced players — Matthew Upson and Robert Green.
Upson played Ramsey onside as the midfielder latched onto Carlos Vela's
clever pass to drive a powerful low shot back across goal to easily beat
Green.
Earlier the goalkeeper had denied Diaby and Song, but it was deflating for
Zola that when Vela swung in a deep cross, Eduardo rose above Upson to power
his header beyond Green. Both England internationals had been slow to react
and that will not have gone unnoticed by Zola, potential suitors or Fabio
Capello. They need to raise their games.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Eduardo da Silva and Aaron Ramsey lead Arsenal fightback
West Ham 1 Arsenal 2
The Times
Matt Hughes, Upton Park
Aaron Ramsey was one of only three players on the pitch at Upton Park to
have played in an FA Cup Final and such experience proved telling. The
19-year-old showed a maturity beyond his tender years to keep his side in a
Cup-tie that was slipping away before scoring an equaliser of considerable
quality, which facilitated Eduardo da Silva's late winner.
Much more of this and Cesc Fàbregas may no longer be seen as so fundamental
to Arsenal's fortunes. Ramsey has proved a more than capable midfield
stand-in as the captain recovers from a hamstring injury, demonstrating a
vision and eye for goal that is rare even at this level, and such has been
the speed of his development that Arsène Wenger may be ready to play the
pair together.
Ramsey was one of many promising teenagers on the brink of the big time
when, aged 17 years and 143 days, he became the second youngest player after
Curtis Weston, of Millwall, to appear in an FA Cup Final courtesy of a
29-minute cameo in Cardiff City's defeat by Portsmouth in 2008. Now he is on
the way to establishing himself as a key performer in one of the best teams
in the country. By comparison Theo Walcott, the England forward, took
significantly longer to make a similar impact at Arsenal, where Ramsey has
made 24 appearances this season alone.
Ramsey's biggest asset is his versatility, with Wenger recently describing
the Wales player as a better all-rounder than Fàbregas, although the manager
would prefer to use him in central midfield because of his eye for goal.
"Ramsey has a chance to play as he can play on the flanks as well," Wenger
said. "He's physically very strong, has good stamina, can shoot and is a
good dribbler. But his best position is a central midfield player as he can
score goals as well. He was one of the few in the first half that played at
a high pace. He improves from game to game."
Ramsey's brilliance contrasted markedly with a disappointing performance on
a rare start from that other teenage sensation, Jack Wilshere, who is 11
months younger but light years behind the Welshman in terms of development
on this evidence. In his first in-depth newspaper interview last week,
Wilshere came across as — and happily admitted to being — a typically cocky
teenager, but such selfassurance can bring its own problems.
Wilshere's poor passing was the most notable aspect of a disappointing first
half in which Arsenal deservedly fell behind to a West Ham United side
playing some enterprising football, if lacking a cutting edge. Twice in the
space of a single minute the 18-year-old's overconfidence almost proved
Arsenal's undoing as he gave the ball away to Frank Nouble and Valon Behrami
on the edge of his own penalty area. The visiting team survived courtesy of
some dubious finishing, but the glare William Gallas gave Wilshere once the
danger was averted was more telling than any words could have been. Wenger's
notion of him emulating Walcott's selection in 2006 as a shock member of
England's World Cup squad is sheer fantasy.
If Wilshere was not sufficiently chastened by angering Gallas, then his
unfortunate role in West Ham's 45th-minute goal will have taken him down a
peg or two. A brave attempt to block Fabio Daprelà's pass down the line sent
the ball straight into the path of Behrami, who bisected Gallas and Thomas
Vermaelen with a through-ball of his own to release Alessandro Diamanti, who
showed impressive composure to beat Lukasz Fabianski from the edge of the
area.
Wenger conceded that Wilshere is suffering from a lack of regular football,
and may send him out on loan at the end of the month. "Wilshere needs to
play," Wenger said. "Because he doesn't get the games he feels under
pressure to deliver something special."
Wilshere received a standing ovation from Arsenal's travelling fans when he
was substituted in the 65th minute, although they could also have been
applauding the decision that, as Gianfranco Zola observed, turned the game.
"It was going our way, but the substitution changed everything," the West
Ham manager said. "The difference was we had many opportunities at the start
of the second half, but didn't take them."
Abou Diaby's introduction gave Arsenal some much-needed physical presence in
midfield, enabling Alexandre Song to get forward more frequently to create
two goals in the space of four minutes. Carlos Vela was also involved in
both, helping on Song's pass to Ramsey at the far post and then picking out
Eduardo with a left-foot cross that enabled the Croatia striker to settle
the contest by heading home.
Eduardo has found some form by scoring three goals in four games, but his
best days still appear to be behind him, unlike Ramsey.
West Ham United (4-4-2): R Green — J Faubert, J Tomkins, M Upson, F Daprelà
— A Diamanti, R Kovac, V Behrami, J Stanislas (sub: A Edgar, 87min) — L
Jiménez, F Nouble (sub: F Sears, 79). Substitutes not used: M Stech, M da
Costa, J Payne, O Lee, B N'Gala. Booked: Daprelà.
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): L Fabianski — B Sagna, T Vermaelen, W Gallas, M Silvestre
— A Ramsey, A Song — J Wilshere (sub: S Nasri, 65), F Mérida (sub: A Diaby,
65), Eduardo da Silva — C Vela. Substitutes not used: V Mannone, A Traoré, C
Eastmond, J Emmanuel-Thomas, K Gilbert. Booked: Song.
Referee: M Clattenburg. Attendance: 25,549.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
RAMSEY SHOWS UPTON SPARK
West Ham 1 Arsenal 2
News Of The World
03/01/2010
A DRAMATIC late turnaround at Upton Park saw Arsenal race through the gears
and secure passage to the FA Cup fourth round with a 2-1 win against West
Ham. Eduardo will earn many of the headlines for his match-winning header in
the 83rd minute but it was Aaron Ramsey who was the real instigator. Giving
a performance every bit as impressive as the one he posted against
Portsmouth in Arsenal's previous match, the Welsh teenager is now ready to
become a first-team regular in The Gunners' engine room. The 19-year-old
levelled late on after Alessandro Diamanti had given the home side the lead
before Eduardo leapt high to loop a header beyond Rob Green. The Hammers
began well and Arsenal stand-in Lukasz Fabianski was by far the busier of
the two goalkeepers, palming away a shot from Diamanti. In the second minute
of injury time at the end of the first half, West Ham took the lead they had
long threatened as Diamanti squeezed a shot between Fabianski and his post.
That West Ham didn't double their lead immediately after the restart proved
their undoing. They had the chances. Frank Nouble fired wide, while
Fabianski was forced into a great save, diving high to his left to deny
Junior Stanislas. Arsene Wenger had clearly seen enough and midway through
the second half made a double change. Fran Merida and Jack Wilshere were
replaced by Abou Diaby and Samir Nasri. Diaby gave Arsenal added drive but
Green excelled to deny the rampaging midfielder before the keeper regained
his position to thwart Alex Song on the follow up.
Arsenal were becoming increasingly irresistible and the equalising goal duly
arrived 12 minutes from time. Ramsey made no mistake with a close-range
finish after Song and Carlos Vela had teed up the Welshman. The turnaround
was complete just five minutes later when Eduardo found the top corner of
the goal with a header from Vela's left-wing cross. Arsenal could have added
to the scoreline late on with Ramsey and Song both going close but Ramsey in
particular had already made his point.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers and Gunners add cup of cheer
By Kevin Palmer
ESPN
January 3, 2010
Those who have penned obituaries for the grandest cup competition of them
all may have to revise their opinions after a day of FA Cup action that will
live long in the memory.
Third round day in this competition used to be one of the most eagerly
anticipated occasions in the English football calendar, but the last decade
of FA Cup anti-climax has done little to banish the notion that this is now
very much a runners-up prize for the true giants of the English game. Aside
from Portsmouth's improbable triumph in 2008, this competition has become
the back-up prize for powerful teams who have used it to claim consolation
at the end of seasons when they have failed to achieve their chief targets
and the first clutch of third round games did little to silence the prophets
of FA Cup doom. Without an upset of note on the first Saturday of 2010, FA
Cup romantics were struggling to offer conclusive evidence that the fading
reputation of the game's most famous knock-out contest was about to be
salvaged, but we only had to wait 24 hours for the sheen to be restored.
Knock-out football requires that element of the unexpected for it to retain
its interest and after Leeds stunned Manchester United with a famous Old
Trafford victory earlier in the day, Premier League relegation candidates
West Ham came within 12 minutes of ending the hopes of another 'top four'
side in a gripping encounter at Upton Park.
Oozing with passion and desire, Gianfranco Zola's men worked hard to
establish a lead thanks to an Alessandro Diamanti goal on the stroke of
half-time and just when West Ham fans were daring to dream that their New
Year was to be given the most thrilling start, Arsenal found the answer with
a couple of classy late goals to claim their place in round four. The
introduction of substitutes Samir Nasri and Abou Diaby moved Arsenal into a
gear the Hammers couldn't deal with and Aaron Ramsey's 78th minute leveller
and Eduardo's stunning headed winner five minutes later gave the Gunners a
victory that had seemed unlikely for long periods. Make no mistake, Arsenal
boss Arsene Wenger was beginning to feel the pinch as the clock ticked by
and his side showed little sign of forcing their way back into a tie that
was heading in West Ham's direction until a double second half change that
changed the tempo of the game, though he would not admit as much as he faced
the press.
"We saw two very committed teams in this cup tie, but I felt it was a matter
of time before we established our superiority in the second half," claimed a
curiously downbeat Wenger. "We have nine players out injured at this moment
and it means we are fighting very hard to get through, so we need to get
some of our players back to cope with all the competitions we are in. "Stoke
away is a tough draw for us in the next round, but it doesn't matter where
the next draw is for us because we are capable of winning anywhere if we
play at our best."
The bigger picture must be that this afternoon of action has served to
revive the FA Cup as an entire generation of football lovers could be
forgiven for believing this competition has become little more than an
inconvenience in the modern fixture list. With the battle for Premier League
points a priority for all, the under-strength sides so often sent out in
this competition have undermined its credibility, so this was a day of
redemption was much needed for the jewel in the Football Association's
crown. West Ham's memories of their FA Cup Final victory over Arsenal 20
years ago and the Gunners' famous victories in this competition down the
years seem to have been part of a different era of the English game and the
gloomy mood of Hammers supporters on the packed tube trains before kick-off
in this tie did little to fuel the belief that they believed another cup
upset was in the offing. Five months of disappointments have dulled the
enthusiasm of supporters who gave the distinct impression that they feared
the worst as the New Year dawned and the modest hopes being invested in
Zola's side were hardly boosted when his opposite number picked a side that
was stronger than many Arsene Wenger has sent into FA Cup third round combat
in recent years.
However, West Ham's brand of hard working bustle proved enough to knock
Arsenal out of their stride in the first half and while a goal did not look
likely until Diamanti found the breakthrough, the Italian sprang the
off-side trap well and finished with ease when his big moment came. Then,
just when it seemed as if West Ham fans could dare to dream once again,
Wenger's double change altered the course of this game and once the
impressive Ramsey had pulled the scores level with a well taken left footed
strike, the tide had turned against Zola's men. Eduardo's looping headed
winner eight minutes from time was a cruel blow to a West Ham side that had
worked so hard to keep their FA Cup hopes alive and Zola struggled to find a
silver lining as he met the press. "I cannot fault the commitment of my
players and it feels very harsh on them to lose this game," said the
Italian. "We deserved the advantage we had in the first half and losing the
game when we felt close to winning to tough to accept. There are positives
from the performance, but disappointment that we are out."
The form book may have been followed in the final analysis of this tie, but
at least it feels as if the FA Cup is beginning to re-establish itself as a
competition worthy of the glorious legacy it clings on to.
MAN OF THE MATCH: Valon Behrami
This Swiss international led by example in the West Ham midfield as he broke
up so many of Arsenal's midfield bursts with an all-action display. He
didn't deserve to end up on the losing side.
FA CUP PASSION: Any doubts that the supporters present for this game viewed
the FA Cup as a side-show in the fixture list was banished as the atmosphere
built around Upton Park throughout this gripping tie. The Arsenal fans
behind the goal away to our left were euphoric as Eduardo snatched his
winner.
WEST HAM VERDICT: Zola's men simply couldn't handle Arsenal when Wenger
introduced the classy duo of Nasri and Diaby. The danger must be that their
hard work ethic will not be enough to keep them afloat this season.
ARSENAL VERDICT: Manchester United's demise earlier in the day means the
Gunners are now strong contenders to lift the FA Cup this season and it may
end up being their best chance of silverware in 2010. A tricky fourth round
draw away to Stoke will not be easy.
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Match Report: West Ham 1 Arsenal 2
West Ham Till I Die
What an off game. At times in the first half I thought we were
comprehensively outplayed, and yet despire all their fancy passing play
(which was a joy to watch) they didn't really threaten our goal. But if we
had gone in one down we couldn't have complained. Instead, we scored an
unlikely goal ourselves after Diamanti found himself one on one with the
goalkeeper. It wasn't a great strike and Fabianski very nearly tipped it
round the post, but that's 6 goals in 10 starts for Diamanti, albeit 4 of
them from the spot.
I think I am in a minority here, but I am not a huge fan of Diamanti. He's a
grandstander, a gloryhunter who will always go for glory when the simple
pass might be more productive. In the first half he was largely anonymous
before the goal. He sparked a bit in the second half and hit a couple of
good free kicks from distance and played two incisive passes for others to
run on to but then got distracted by a petty dispute with one of the Arsenal
players. Diamanti is a luxury player. On his day he can be unbeatable but I
imagine his teammates find him incredibly frustrating. However much I don't
rate him I do recognise that he is a player who can turn a game with one
moment of sublime skill.
Robert Green had his best game for a long time, saving at least three
certain goals in the middle of the second half. He kept us in it. I'm not
sure whether he was at fault for Arsenal's second goal or whether it was
just a very well directed header. Defensively we looked relatively secure
until the last ten minutes. Upson played well and although Tomkins had a
shaky game (for him) the full backs were in great form. I cannot understand
why Fabio Daprela hasn't been played before. He is a specialist left back
and really looked the part. Three times he stormed forward with mazy runs
and his tackling was pretty hot too. Faubert also did well, using his speed
to good effect. But his crossing was woeful, again. If only he could recitfy
that, he'd have a chance of making a decent right back.
The midfield was makeshift and at first it showed. We played five across the
middle with Behrami and Kovac playing the anchor roles. They grew into the
game as it went on and Behrami was all over the place making a great
nuiscance of himself. Kovac, too, buzzed around and put in some good
tackles. His passing was far better than normal. Stanislas flattered to
deceive at times but you can't fault his effort. I wish he's have a little
more confidence in himself sometimes. The big disappointment, again, was
Luis Jimenez. I am afraid that he hasn't played well in a single game for
West Ham yet, and it wouldn't surprise me at all if his year long loan is
cut short and that he returns to Italy sometime this month.
Up front we offered very little. Frank Nouble looked far fromn the player
some of us imagined him to be. He got better as the game went on and once he
had had a couple of goal attempts early in the second half he gained a
little confidence. However, his heading was woeful and his hold up play left
a lot to be desired at times. And we saw very little of his alleged
lightning speed. He went off and was replaced by Freddie Sears who hardly
got a touch on the ball.
Make no mistake, Arsenal put out a good side. Bringing on Abu Diaby was what
turned the game. He provided them with some much needed bite. But the best
Arsenal player by far was Aaron Ramsay. I hadn't seen him before but he is
quite some player. A bit of a Berkovic but with more application. He is the
player Diamanti should be but never will be.Jack Wilshere was also very
impressive. If he really is going out on loan, I'd be delighted if we took
him for the rest of the season.
So overall, we have to be disappointed that we didn't manage to keep the
score at 1-0. Bearing in mind the makeshift nature of our lineup we
shouldn't be too despondent. It was also good to see Anthony Edgar get a few
minutes. He looked quite bright. I suppose we now have the consolation of
being able to concentrate on the league!
Green 8
Daprela 7
Upson 7
Tomkins 6
Faubert 7
Diamanti 6
Stanislas 6
Kovac 7
Behrami 8
Nouble 5
Jimenez 4
Sears 4
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West Ham expecting new buy-out bid
Published 23:00 03/01/10 By Neil McLeman
The Mirror
Tony Fernandes last night insisted he is still in the hunt to buy West Ham.
And the Upton Park club said they expect a bid from London-based financiers
Intermarket on Monday after insisting no deal has yet been done to sell the
club. Former Birmingham owners David Gold and David Sullivan claim to be on
the brink of gaining control at Upton Park after the club's Icelandic owners
agreed to sell 50 per cent of their stake. But West Ham say two rival
investors - Malaysia-based Tony Fernandes and Intermarket - are still in the
frame. Fernandes, who also owns the Lotus F1 team, said on his twitter page:
"Soon they will have an owner who will make a difference and cares." Any
sale must go through in the next 10 days to give the new owners the time to
spend in the January transfer market. With the club around £50m in debt, the
asking price would drop sharply in the summer if 7th-placed West Ham fall
out of the Premier League.
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