Our first win since March 16th - Almost a month ago!
It wasn't a special performance by any stretch of the imagination. But damn, we needed that. For confidence, if nothing else.
Podolski showing why selling him would be stupid, I think he'd work great under a new manager / with two up front, where his defensive frailties would be less exposed. Good performances from the likes of Kallstrom, great Emirates comeback for Rambo, and a fantastic goal for Giroud.
But don't get ahead of yourselves, guys, because we were pretty insipid for the first third of the game, and a 3-1 win over West Ham is nothing amazing - it should be pretty routine for us. I can see some articles being penned now, saying that everything is OK, and blaming our 'unlucky' injuries, saying it'll all be different next season injury wise even though we've had the same injury problems every single season. This doesn't change anything regarding what we need or how we should progress.
Though, thankfully, it does give myself and hopefully the team a lot more belief regarding our chances of getting top four and the cup. Stuff really needs changing in the summer, but if we can limp over the line, hopefully stuff will change this summer. 4th is pretty pathetic given where we were aiming for earlier, and getting there shouldn't be celebrated, it should be a sense of relief come the end of the season if we do. This is the first step, Hull away next.
Recovery
posted on 16/4/14
I felt we were very poor until West Ham scored. Slow in possession, lacking in ideas, no movement from any of our attackers. Once they scored, we woke up and i felt we comfortably controlled the match thereon.
Podolski, for me, is an enigma. Overall he had a very poor match. Couldn't make the runs, poor in possession. Then he pops up with 2 great goals. It'll be interesting to see what his short term future holds. Personally i think he's on too high wages to be left as a squad player, and yet he isn't really what we need to push on next season. I wouldn't be fussed if he stays or goes.
Giroud was pretty awful, as usual. Again, the lack of movement up front was stark. Had a chance and fluffed it. However, once he scored (and it was a lovely goal), his confidence shot up. Started dropping back and link up play. Looked very confident from then on. It seems that Giroud has been struck by a severe lack of confidence and is suffering from exhaustion. I still don't think he's good enough for Arsenal, and hope he moves on. Bu if you look at the teams we have left, he should do a decent job against them.
I've read some people praise Kallstrom for his performance. Personally i felt his passing was very poor. He lofted the ball to Giroud and Podolski several times, and in all occasions overhit the ball by some distance. Defensively he did good. Perhaps with match fitness, his passing sharpness will improve. But tbh, i can't see him extending his loan term.
MotM was Santi. Perhaps the level of opposition was poor, but Cazorla dominated the midfield and looked assured in possession. I find it remarkable that him and Arteta, despite playing the full 120 mins vs Wigan, still managed each a great performance. Again, perhaps the poor quality of opposition helped us. But still to put in that shift after a tough week is commendable.
One thing in that match did strike me clearly. The instant impact that Ramsey made. In the match, before West Ham scored, we were very poor. Then we were decent to good in the middle of the match. However, we looked so good when Ramsey came on for his 15 min cameo. He looked sharp in possession, sharp in his pressing, and sharp in passing. His assist to Podolski showed what we've been missing these past 4 months. Some clever creativity. His work rate, even in that 15 mins was great to see. We have missed Ramsey in the 1st team very much, and it showed.
posted on 16/4/14
Spot on Serial on observation on Kallstrom. The Swede passing was abject.
posted on 16/4/14
I've read some people praise Kallstrom for his performance. Personally i felt his passing was very poor. He lofted the ball to Giroud and Podolski several times, and in all occasions overhit the ball by some distance.
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But was that poor quality of passing? Or was it simply that he's not yet in tune with the passing rhythm, and not anticipating the way Arsenal players are drilled to move into space?
posted on 16/4/14
comment by Koscielny Patented Proof Readers (U7373)
posted 47 minutes ago
I've read some people praise Kallstrom for his performance. Personally i felt his passing was very poor. He lofted the ball to Giroud and Podolski several times, and in all occasions overhit the ball by some distance.
====
But was that poor quality of passing? Or was it simply that he's not yet in tune with the passing rhythm, and not anticipating the way Arsenal players are drilled to move into space?
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Nah his passing was poor. Lots of attempted Hollywood balls with very little success. He's regaining match fitness and sharpness so is understandable but lets not pretend it wasn't largely poor. Other aspects of his game were fairly decent though.
posted on 16/4/14
It was funny that we didn't turn up for the match until coincidentally West Spammers sang "are you Tottenham in disguise"!
posted on 16/4/14
what's the bets every team you play until the end of the season have complete shockers? like every year..
posted on 16/4/14
comment by Koscielny Patented Proof Readers (U7373)
posted 2 hours, 21 minutes ago
I've read some people praise Kallstrom for his performance. Personally i felt his passing was very poor. He lofted the ball to Giroud and Podolski several times, and in all occasions overhit the ball by some distance.
====
But was that poor quality of passing? Or was it simply that he's not yet in tune with the passing rhythm, and not anticipating the way Arsenal players are drilled to move into space?
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Well when a player overhits the ball 15-25 yards from where his intended target was, i naturally assume it was poor passing, rather than any exotic excuses.
posted on 16/4/14
comment by The GOONER (U4256)
posted 7 minutes ago
It was funny that we didn't turn up for the match until coincidentally West Spammers sang "are you Tottenham in disguise"!
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That was hilarious. They scored, started to sing the chant. Then we scored and sang it back.
posted on 16/4/14
"Well when a player overhits the ball 15-25 yards from where his intended target was, i naturally assume it was poor passing, rather than any exotic excuses"
My thoughts exactly! Over-analysis can be a dangerous thing.
posted on 16/4/14
We created 2 or 3 good chances before WH scored.