Daily WHUFC News - 27th December 2013

Hammers undone by Walcott double
WHUFC.com
West Ham United slipped to a 3-1 home Barclays Premier League defeat by
Arsenal
26.12.2013

West Ham United 1-3 Arsenal
Barclays Premier League

West Ham United were undone by a quick-fire Theo Walcott double, as Arsenal
came from behind to secure all three Barclays Premier League points at the
Boleyn Ground on Boxing Day. After an eventful first half ended goalless,
the Hammers seized the initiative inside 50 second-half seconds, when
Carlton Cole scored for a second successive league outing. But having
squandered chances to add a second, the afternoon then turned sour for the
hosts, as Walcott struck twice in four minutes, before substitute Lukas
Podolski sealed the points with 12 minutes to play. Defeat leaves the
Hammers in 19th spot, while Arsene Wenger's men return to the summit of the
Barclays Premier League. The Hammers had earlier shown plenty of promise in
a bright start, with Matt Jarvis a menace down the left. In the absence of
Ravel Morrison, sidelined with a groin problem, Mohamed Diame took up his
more familiar central position, with Joe Cole stationed on the right. But
the Gunners carved out the first chance of note, as Bacary Sagna's
right-wing centre looked perfect for Olivier Giroud, but having squeezed
between James Collins and Tomkins, the centre-forward could get no purchase
on his header. At the other end, Mark Noble directed a free-kick toward the
angle of post and bar, but Wojciech Szczesny turned it away comfortably
enough. With little more than quarter of an hour played, Arsenal threatened
once more, this time from a corner. The set piece was only cleared as far as
Santi Cazorla, whose header from 18 yards forced Adrian into a smart stop.
With 25 minutes gone and from 25 yards out, Diame tried his luck and though
Szczesny juggled his effort, he gathered safely at the second time of
asking. Moments later and Aaron Ramsey's clever through ball picked out
Walcott, but he miscued, volleying tamely into the side-netting. Arsene
Wenger's men continued to press and twice went close in the 33rd minute.
Adrian was relieved to see Cazorla's long-range drive fizz just over the
bar, before Giroud dragged wide, having been played through on goal.
Unscathed thus far, Sam Allardyce was then forced into an early switch, as
an injured Collins was replaced by Razvan Rat. The latter slotted in at
left-back, with George McCartney deputising at centre-half. As the first
half drew to a close, chances came and went at both ends. For the visitors,
Mikel Arteta saw a well-struck half volley fly just past Adrian's right-hand
upright, while Giroud was unable to convert Kieran Gibbs' low centre.
Sandwiched between those scares, West Ham very nearly pulled off a
well-worked set-piece routine. Mark Noble dinked a free-kick into the path
of Kevin Nolan, but faced with the onrushing Szczesny, he failed to make
meaningful contact.

Incredibly, West Ham were ahead within just 48 seconds of the restart, with
Carlton Cole the beneficiary of Szczesny's blunder. The Arsenal stopper
spilled Nolan's 18-yard drive, handing Cole the simplest of chances to fire
the Hammers in front, one that he gratefully gobbled up. Thereafter, West
Ham passed up three excellent opportunities to press home their advantage.
Having beaten the offside trap, Jarvis fired straight at Szczesny, before
Joey O'Brien headed Diame's cross narrowly wide of the far post. Cole then
had a second goal in his sights, but skewed Rat's pinpoint centre the wrong
side of Szczesny's near post.
Fortunate to still only be a goal behind, Arsenal themselves went close on
the hour, with Adrian first repelling Cazorla's effort, before blocking
Mesut Ozil's rebound too. But the Gunners were not to be denied, as Walcott
struck twice in the space of four minutes to turn the game on its head. With
68 minutes gone, he cut inside onto his left foot, before seeing his drive
squirm through legs and then the hands of Adrian. Three minutes later and
the No14 was celebrating once more. Gibbs' pacey cross flicked off the head
of Tomkins at the near post, before Walcott stole in to power a bullet
header beyond Adrian. Much like last season, there was to be no reprieve for
the hosts, as Podolski all but put the contest to bed. Collecting Giroud's
lay-off, the German frontman fired emphatically into the corner to make it
three and consign the Hammers to successive league defeats.

West Ham United: Adrian; O'Brien (Demel 64), Collins (Rat 37), Tomkins,
McCartney; Noble, Diame; J Cole, Nolan (Taylor 75), Jarvis; C Cole
Subs: Jaaskelainen, Collison, Maiga, Diarra
Goal: C Cole 46
Booked: O'Brien

Arsenal: Sczcesny, Sagna, Gibbs, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Arteta, Ozil
(Flamini 81), Walcott, Ramsey (Podolski 65), Cazorla, Giroud (Bendtner 84)
Subs:Fabianski, Monreal, Jenkinson, Gnabry
Goals: Walcott 68, 71, Podolski 78

Booked: Cazorla
Referee: Phil Dowd

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Defeat tough to take for Big Sam
WHUFC.com
Big Sam felt the Hammers deserved more from Thursday's game against Arsenal
26.12.2013

Sam Allardyce felt the effort of his players deserved more than it got in a
3-1 Barclays Premier League defeat by Arsenal on Boxing Day. The Hammers got
their noses in front at the start of the second half thanks to Carlton
Cole's predatory finish, but Arsenal turned the game on its head in the
final quarter. First Theo Walcott notched a brace in the space of three
minutes, before Lukas Podolski came off the bench to make the points safe
late on. After keeping the table-topping Gunners at bay for so long, Big Sam
felt his side could have gained tangible reward from the contest. "I'm sad
for the players because to have no reward from such a great effort is a
little hard to swallow," he said. "The bravery and desire they showed, along
with the ability to have an Arsenal team on the back foot for such a period
of time, particularly at the start of the second half, deserved more.
"Again, failing to score the second goal, when we've created clear cut
chances and not taken them has hit us hard. "A side with the talent and
quality that Arsenal have both on the pitch and on the bench will punish you
for that. Unfortunately for us they punished us in a three-minute spell.
"That made life extremely difficult after that because the pressure came off
them, but we had the chances to score the second. That was the difference
between the two sides on the day."

Matt Jarvis, Joey O'Brien and Carlton Cole himself all had chances to add to
the Hammers' opener and Allardyce believes that had one of those
opportunities gone in, the points would have stayed east. He added: "The
players will be frustrated because they know that they should have given
themselves a great chance to win this one, and relieve the pressure on us
all. "Being sat here having beaten Arsenal would have been one unbelievable
lift for everybody, that's how close we came to it on Thursday. It's a great
shame that we didn't get a point out of it and we ended up losing it, but it
was a magnificent effort and we have to keep believing that if we play like
that we'll get out of the position that we're in. "It's a very delicate
position, a huge amount of pressure on the players and on me. It's my
responsibility to try and keep that pressure off those boys to make sure
they don't play under fear and that they play as fluent and skilfully as on
Thursday."

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On this day - 27 December
WHUFC.com
West Ham struck four against Blackpool for the second time in two days on
this day in 1966
27.12.2013

Classic match
West Ham United 4-0 Blackpool
Division One
27 December 1966
West Ham followed up a Boxing Day win away at Blackpool with a home victory
over the Seasiders just a day later. The Hammers had won 4-1 at Bloomfield
Road the previous day and they struck four again at the Boleyn Ground with
Geoff Hurst and Johnny Byrne bagging one each in both games. Bobby Moore and
Martin Peters also netted in the home win as the Hammers enjoyed a
profitable Christmas period.

Complete record - 27 December
1919 West Ham United 1-1 Huddersfield Town (Division Two)
1920 Birmingham City 2-1 West Ham United (Division Two)
1921 West Ham United 3-2 Bury (Division Two)
1924 Preston North End 3-2 West Ham United (Division One)
1926 Birmingham City 0-2 West Ham United (Division One)
1927 West Ham United 1-1 Sheffield United (Division One)
1930 Huddersfield Town 2-0 West Ham United (Division One)
1932 West Ham United 1-1 Fulham (Division Two)
1937 Norwich City 2-2 West Ham United (Division Two)
1938 West Ham United 0-0 Millwall (Division Two)
1947 West Ham United 1-4 Sheffield Wednesday (Division Two)
1948 Leeds United 1-3 West Ham United (Division Two)
1949 Swansea Town 1-0 West Ham United (Division Two)
1952 Notts County 1-1 West Ham United (Division Two)
1954 Derby County 0-0 West Ham United (Division Two)
1955 West Ham United 1-0 Middlesbrough (Division Two)
1966 West Ham United 4-0 Blackpool (Division One)
1969 West Ham United 1-1 Nottingham Forest (Division One)
1971 Tottenham Hotspur 0-1 West Ham United (Division One)
1975 West Ham United 1-2 Ipswich Town (Division One)
1976 Birmingham City 0-0 West Ham United (Division One)
1977 Chelsea 2-1 West Ham United (Division One)
1980 West Ham United 2-1 Orient (Division Two)
1982 West Ham United 3-2 Swansea City (Division One)
1983 Luton Town 0-1 West Ham United (Division One)
1986 West Ham United 2-3 Wimbledon (Division One)
1988 Norwich City 2-1 West Ham United (Division One)
1993 Ipswich Town 1-1 West Ham United (Premier League)
Played 28, Won 9, Drawn 10, Lost 9, Scored 38, Conceded 35

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West Brom visit is must win for West Ham - Sam Allardyce
BBC.co.uk

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce feels it is critical for his side's survival bid
that they beat West Brom on Saturday. The Hammers slipped into the Premier
League relegation zone after losing 3-1 to Arsenal and next host the
Baggies, who sit three points above them. "West Brom is becoming a must win,
without being over-anxious or over-adventurous," said Allardyce. "You can
always lose to Arsenal, but our big games are West Brom and Fulham in the
next two."

Arsenal dominated the first half at Upton Park but could not capitalise and
West Ham opened the scoring just after the break through Carlton Cole. But
they wasted three glorious chances to double their advantage and Arsenal
equalised through a Theo Walcott strike. The Arsenal forward then headed the
visitors in front before Lukas Podolski lashed home a third. "We let it slip
through our fingers," said Allardyce. "Three golden chances for 2-0 through
Matt Jarvis, Joey O'Brien and Carlton Cole. "We had a great opportunity to
beat the top of the league team, unfortunately we didn't take that and we
paid the price."

Results elsewhere meant West Ham fell from 17th and a point outside the
bottom three to 19th and two points inside it. They have won only one of
their last 11 league games and after the visit of managerless West Brom
comes a trip to Fulham on 1 January. Since causing an upset at Tottenham on
6 October, West Ham's only victories have come over Burnley and Spurs in the
Capital One Cup either side of a 3-0 win against Fulham at Upton Park in the
Premier League.
"We've got to make sure we play like we did against Arsenal - and like at
Tottenham in the cup - against West Brom and Fulham," Allardyce continued.
"When we've had the opportunity recently we haven't done that, apart from
against Fulham. Against Sunderland, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Norwich
we didn't do it. That's our key let down this season. "If we can perform
like this against the clubs around us, we will create chances and we've got
to believe we will convert them."
Allardyce suffered his latest injury setback when James Collins was forced
off with a calf problem in the 38th minute. "On top of all the other
injuries, it's a great concern for me," he added. "The squad is down to 15
or 16 players so I may have to step some of youngsters in. It's making the
situation more difficult to get out of."

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West Ham 1 Arsenal 3
26 December 2013
Last updated at 19:24
By David Ornstein
BBC Sport

Theo Walcott struck twice and Lukas Podolski netted a third as Arsenal came
from behind to win at West Ham and go back to the top of the Premier League.
Arsenal dominated the first half but fell behind as Carlton Cole tapped home
after Wojciech Szczesny spilled a shot. The Hammers wasted chances to double
the lead and Walcott equalised with an effort that Adrian should have saved.
Podolski crossed for Walcott to nod Arsenal ahead before lashing in to drop
West Ham into the relegation zone. Results elsewhere saw them slip from 17th
and a point outside the bottom three to 19th and two points inside it. The
Hammers have won only one of their last 11 league games and will be
desperate to respond at home to West Brom on Saturday. Arsenal, by contrast,
ended a run of four games in all competitions without victory and lead
second-placed Manchester City by two points. City beat Liverpool, who were
top of the table at the start of the day and would have leapfrogged Arsenal
had they won the late kick-off. The importance of this match to Arsene
Wenger was underlined by a line-up featuring only one change from that which
played a full 90 minutes in Monday's 0-0 draw with Chelsea at Emirates
Stadium. His side were also up against a West Ham team who kept clean sheets
in their previous two home matches and welcomed experienced trio Kevin
Nolan, Joe Cole and Carlton Cole back into the starting XI. The hosts came
closest in the early stages through a Mark Noble free-kick, but Arsenal soon
began to build momentum. Adrian reacted well to repel a goal-bound header
from Santi Cazorla and Walcott volleyed wide when he should have scored.
West Ham's threat was now being posed on the counter-attack, Mohamed Diame
testing Szczesny after a powerful run, while, at the other end, Cazorla,
Giroud and Mikel Arteta went close. Arsenal weaved many a pretty pattern but
lacked end product, with nobody on hand to convert Mesut Ozil's cut-back,
before Giroud failed to connect with a low Kieran Gibbs cross from
invitingly close range. Gibbs and Giroud - seeking a first goal in seven
appearances - looked on in disbelief and Arsene Wenger cut a frustrated
figure at half-time.

Their disappointment was compounded when, within a minute of the restart,
Szczesny spilled a Nolan drive straight into the path of Carlton Cole and he
made no mistake with the simplest of finishes. Arsenal looked rattled and
after Szczesny saved from Matt Jarvis when one-on-one, Joey O'Brien headed
wide and Carlton Cole prodded off target; both when in glorious positions to
double the lead. Buoyed by their multiple reprieves, Wenger's men poured
forward and Adrian made a fine double stop to deny Cazorla and Ozil.
However, the Spanish goalkeeper will want to forget his next involvement:
Walcott cutting in and scuffing a shot through his hands. The equaliser
followed Podolski's arrival for an injured Ramsey, and the German marked his
first appearance since suffering a hamstring problem on 27 August by helping
turn the game on its head. He provided a new focal point for the visitors
and was involved in all of their best work, crossing from the left for
Walcott to head his second. With West Ham seemingly resigned to defeat,
Podolski lashed into the bottom corner after a Walcott cross and Giroud's
lay-off.

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Arsenal back on top after 3-1 win at West Ham
Last Updated: 26/12/13 9:03pm
SSN

Theo Walcott struck two goals in three minutes to send Arsenal back to the
top of the Premier League with a 3-1 Boxing Day win over West Ham at Upton
Park. Sam Allardyce's men had weathered some heavy pressure in the first
period and snatched the lead early in the second through Carlton Cole - only
for the Gunners to come up with a whirlwind final quarter and seal a
surprisingly comfortable victory.

Best of the Match:

Man of the match: Theo Walcott. Worked tirelessly up and down the flank and
scored two great goals to inspire the win.

Goal of the match: The third Arsenal goal as Lukas Podolski put the result
beyond doubt with an emphatic finish with the outside of his foot after some
good work in the box by Olivier Giroud.

Save of the match: Adrian with an absolutely terrific double save, first
parrying Santi Cazorla's shot from outside the area before clearing the
follow up effort from Mesut Ozil.

Talking point: West Ham's mounting injury problems with James Collins being
withdrawn early and the Hammers dropping to just a point above bottom-placed
Sunderland.

Also pleasing for Arsene Wenger was the successful return of Germany forward
Lukas Podolski, who wrapped up the points having come off the bench, but
both Aaron Ramsey and West Ham's James Collins were forced off by new
injuries during the game. It was the hosts who produced the first meaningful
attempt at goal in the 10th minute - Mark Noble nearly punishing a needless
Mikel Arteta foul with a free-kick that forced Wojciech Szczesny into a
full-stretch save. The Gunners were struggling to dissect a determined home
defence and when they did in the 26th minute, Walcott should have done
better than volley a precision lofted pass from Ramsey wide of the near
post. Santi Cazorla was two feet too high from distance on the half-hour
mark and Olivier Giroud cut a frustrated figure having wasted a pair of
openings created by well-timed Mesut Ozil passes. Arsenal were left ruing
their misses in the very first minute of the second half.

Wojciech Szczesny will take the vast majority of blame for spilling Kevin
Nolan's tame long-ranger but his defenders did him few favours, allowing
Cole to pounce on the loose ball unattended and tuck home from close range.
The Pole went some way to atoning by smothering a Matt Jarvis attempt, and
there were further scares for Arsenal before the hour mark - Joey O'Brien
sending a free header the wrong side of the post and Cole failing to turn in
a Jarvis cross. It took a piece of poor goalkeeping to open the floodgates
for Arsenal in the 68th minute. Walcott teased George McCartney onto the
back foot, shifted the ball inside to shoot off his left foot and, despite
making poor contact, Adrian could only usher his effort into the net.
Reaction from Arsene Wenger and Sam Allardyce after Arsenal came from behind
to beat West Ham 3-1. Walcott's second, just three minutes later, was more
impressive. Podolski whipped over a cross that James Tomkins could only
flick on - prompting Walcott to hang in the air a little longer in order to
arrow a header past Adrian.

Podolski had already fired a pair of range-finders - the second a shot from
an exquisite Cazorla pass that was well-saved by Adrian - by the time he
marked his return to action with a goal. Giroud was his assistant, the
Frenchman holding the ball up in the area before teeing up for Podolski to
blast home from 15 yards.
Another substitute, Nicklas Bendtner, was a foot away from adding insult to
injury as the game drifted into injury time but the Hammers' second half was
summed up neatly by Joe Cole's tame attempt to snatch a last-gasp
consolation goal.

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West Ham manager Sam Allardyce irked by 3-1 defeat to Arsenal
Last Updated: 26/12/13 9:12pm
SSN

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce was critical of his side's wasteful finishing
after the 3-1 defeat to Arsenal at Upton Park. The home side held firm
during the first period and snatched the lead at the start of the second
through Carlton Cole - missing several opportunities to double their
advantage before Theo Walcott's brace swung the game in favour of the
visitors. Allardyce said afterwards: "We've let it slip through our fingers,
haven't we? "We had three golden chances after we scored - Matt Jarvis in
the box, one-on-one, Joey O'Brien's free header in the six-yard box and
Carlton Cole's side-foot tap. "We paid the price because what Arsenal do
then is take more and more chances when they are losing. "It was either
going to be us getting that second goal and then we would have made sure we
tightened it up or they'd score.
Reaction from Arsene Wenger and Sam Allardyce after Arsenal came from behind
to beat West Ham 3-1.
"I think the quality they have got, they said, 'alright lads, you're going
to have to continue to defend without much support from us because we have
gone a goal down'. "We had a great opportunity to win against the top of the
league team and unfortunately we didn't take it because we didn't get the
second. We paid the price today, sadly." On his continuing injury problems,
which increased against Arsenal with James Collins' premature departure,
Allardyce added: "Ravel Morrison reported a groin (injury) on Christmas Eve
and James we won't know how bad it is until tomorrow. "Then you have your
Winston Reids, Stewart Downings, Richard Vaz Tes and Andy Carrolls that are
progressing but are still a little way away at the moment."

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West Ham chief David Sullivan promises January spending for beleaguered
Hammers
Dec 26, 2013 11:17 By Ben Burrows 1 Comments
The Mirror

The co-chairman has watched as his side have struggled in the Premier
League, but has pledged to open his chequebook to help arrest the slide

West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan has promised to splash the cash in
January. Sam Allardyce's men have struggled in the Premier League this
season mustering only one win in their last eight league games. Couple that
with the fact record signing Andy Carroll is yet to lace up his boots this
season, and Hammers fans have little to be cheerful this festive period. But
Sullivan has moved to reassure fans that the New Year should bring more
positivity - and has pledged to open his chequebook to help arrest the
club's slide. "Families pull together during tough times - and these are
tough times," he said in a festive message on the club's official website.
"The last few months haven't been quite as good as we hoped but, on behalf
of the board, I would say we will be making signings in January and we hope
to rectify the balance of the team so, by the end of the season, we're well
clear of relegation."

Despite their recent travails in the league, the Capital One Cup has
provided welcome relief and with a semi-final against Manchester City to
come, Sullivan is daring to dream. "It's absolutely fantastic we've got into
the semi-final of the [Capital One] Cup," he added, "and - who knows? Not
only will we climb the league in 2014, we might have a cup final for
everyone."

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Sam Allardyce says West Ham's clash with West Brom is a must-win following
Arsenal defeat
Dec 26, 2013 22:30 By John Cross 2 Comments
The Mirror

"Our big games are the West Broms and Fulhams in the next two games," says
Big Sam after Hammers let a one-goal lead slip against the Gunners

Sam Allardyce admitted West Ham's relegation scrap with West Brom has become
a must-win. West Ham slipped to second from bottom in the Premier League
after defeat to Arsenal made it just one win in 11 games. It leaves West Ham
stuck in a rut and Allardyce admitted they must beat fellow strugglers
Albion tomorrow lunchtime to ease the pressure. Hammers boss Allardyce said:
"West Brom is becoming a must-win, so we have to go all out without being
over anxious or over adventurous. "We can't start leaving backdoors open and
start conceding too many goals, we're going to have to score far more goals
than we concede to win a game of football. "Our big games are the West Broms
and Fulhams in the next two games. "It is about performing like that against
those clubs, which give you a better chance to win the game. "We have to
believe, at the end of the day, that we will convert the chances as we did,
certainly the home game a few weeks ago against Fulham. "Catch up is getting
a little wider and wider each game when you don't pick up points, but we
have to take a lot of positives out of the way we played today and make sure
we played today, like we did at Tottenham in the cup, against a West Brom.
"When we've had that opportunity recently, we haven't done that. We haven't
played as well as that, apart from when we beat Fulham 3-0 here. "We played
Sunderland here and never got to this level so ended with a draw. We played
against Aston Villa at a high level but didn't score. We played at Crystal
Palace and lost, failed after going 1-0 up against Norwich. "They are key
let-downs. You can always lose to Arsenal if you play your best or not. It
is disappointing for the lads when they have put such a big effort in and
made so many chances against this team and not finished the game off."

Allardyce admitted he was cursing defeat against Arsenal and also an injury
blow for defender James Collins. He added: ""We let it slip through our
fingers, haven't we? We had three golden chances after we scored - Matt
Jarvis in the box one-on-one, Joey O'Brien's free header in the six-yard box
and Carlton Cole's side-foot tap. "We paid the price because what Arsenal do
then is take more and more chances when they are losing. "Collins has a calf
problem, a tight calf. He couldn't play on with it and I think that on top
of all our other unfortunate injuries at the moment is of great concern to
me."

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