Lukas Podolski scored twice as Arsenal came from behind to beat West Ham 3-1 at the Emirates on Tuesday night. Gunners striker Olivier Giroud gave Arsene Wenger's side the lead on 54 minutes before Podolski made sure of the win, shooting home with twelve minutes remaining.
The through pass was long, hopeful, yet somehow Olivier Giroud turned it into a gift from above.
Here it all was. The reason he polarises opinion; the reason even Arsenal’s most committed followers cannot decide whether he is the future of this team or the burden around its neck.
In the first half, Giroud missed a chance with a finish that was the epitome of powder puff. His critics groaned their I-told-you-sos, his champions shuffled awkwardly and looked at the floor. In the 55th minute the roles reversed.
Giroud supporters buoyant, the critics a little embarrassed. Had Thierry Henry scored such a goal, we wouldn’t hear the last of it. As it came from the boot of Giroud, some will take it as proof a world-class striker exists within the No 12 shirt, others will cry fluke and percentages.
Arsenal’s striker is always going to score goals, they will counter. Think of the chances he gets. True, but even so Giroud has 20 goals this season. That is none too shabby, no matter the service.
Job done: Lukas Podolski fires home the third goal of Arsenal's 3-1 victory over West Ham on Tuesday night
Back of the net: Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud fires the Gunners 2-1 ahead against West Ham on Tuesday night
On the scoresheet: Giroud kisses the Arsenal badge after giving his side the lead in the second half
All smiles: Podolski and Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny celebrate the important victory
MATCH FACTS
Arsenal (4-3-2-1): Szczesny, 6, Sagna, 7, Mertesacker, 6.5, Koscielny, 7, Vermaelen, 7, Arteta, 7, Rosicky, 6 (Ramsey, 72), Kallstrom, 7, Cazorla, 7 (Jenkisnon, 88), Podolski, 7.5, Giroud, 6.5.
Subs not used: Oxlade-Chamberlain, Fabianski, Sanogo, Akpom,
Bellerin.
Manager: Arsene Wenger, 7.
Scorers: Podolski, 44, 78 Giroud, 54.
West Ham (4-3-2-1): Adrian, 5.5 Demel, 5.5 Reid, 6, Tomkins, 6, Armero, 6, Noble, 6.5, Diame, 7, Nocerino, 6, Jarvis, 6 (Vaz Te, 78), Downing, 6 (J. Cole, 78), Carroll, 6 (C. Cole, 84).
Subs not used: McCartney, Taylor, Jaaskelainen, Johnson.
Scorer: Jarvis, 40.
Manager: Sam Allardyce, 6.
Referee: Kevin Friend, 6.5.
Attendance: 59,977
MOM: Lukas Podolski
Player ratings by SAMI MOKBEL at the Emirates
Lukas Podolski was the main goalscorer of the night, with Arsenal’s first and third, but Giroud’s was crucial - the one that put Arsenal’s noses in front, the one that propelled them above Everton in fourth place, albeit temporarily perhaps. It was also a cracker.
After
another poor West Ham clearance - Arsenal’s first two goals began that
way - Thomas Vermaelen pumped a high ball back into the penalty area. Giroud had Andy Carroll and Winston Reid around him but somehow fought
the burly pair off and shaped to receive what in the loosest sense was
now a through pass. He killed it and finished in two deft movements,
leaving goalkeeper Adrian powerless.
It really was magnificent stuff. Those who recalled the miss in the first half would not have reconciled it with the same player.
Arsenal began in an FA Cup semi-final stupor but by the end were completely in control. Confirmation of an important victory came with 12 minutes remaining and Giroud was involved in the build-up there, too.
It was his cross, a little wild in fact, that was headed back into the area by substitute Aaron Ramsey and fell at the feet of Podolski. His finish was expert. This is the man many of Giroud’s detractors would have performing for Arsenal down the middle. He did the cause no harm at all last night, yet Giroud’s 20 goals mean he is likely to remain.
If Arsenal fail to make it to fourth that decision is sure to be blamed for the misstep into the Europa League next season; if Arsenal hold off Everton from here - and Crystal Palace visit Goodison Park tonight, so that is unlikely short term - Giroud’s fan club will cite the influence of their man. He is a good talking point. There is no escaping, however, that Arsenal need more than a conversation piece.
Leveller: Podoslki fires the ball past Winston Reid to equalise for Arsenal just before half-time
Sweet connection: Podolski watches his shot rocket past Reid and sail into the corner of the net
Brave: Wideman Matt Jarvis heads West Ham into a shock lead following Antonio Nocerino's initial effort
Opener: Nocerino (left) celebrates with Jarvis as the Hammers took the lead against Arsene Wenger's side
Hot pursuit: Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna attempts to catch up with West Ham midfielder Mohamed Diame
Midfield battle: Arsenal's Mikel Arteta (right) attempts to get the better of Diame in the centre of the park
Arsenal spent the much of the first 30 minutes looking like a team with a hole in their diary on Thursday nights. Sluggish, sloppy, as far removed from Champions League material as they have been at any stage this season, they were harried out of it by West Ham, particularly in midfield.
Sam Allardyce has suspected his team are safe for a while now, yet it was West Ham who went at the game with greater abandon, Mohamed Diame finding Antonio Nocerino at the far post after six minutes, only for his shot to be blocked from close range.
Allardyce grew frustrated with the imprecision of Stewart Downing but his wide partner Matt Jarvis was a constant threat and Per Mertesacker had his work cut out dealing with Carroll in the middle. The German stuck to his job well, though, and even nutmegged Carroll at one stage, to roars of approval from the locals.
Not that they had much else to cheer. In the 14th minute, Tomas Rosicky broke down the left and whipped in a cross for Giroud that the striker just couldn’t meet. What happened next suggested it might not have made much difference, either way.
Some of the Arsenal players had two hours of football against Wigan at Wembley on Saturday as mitigation for their lacklustre display, but this was not the case with Giroud. He was relatively lightly raced in the FA Cup semi-final, so must take full responsibility for his desperately poor miss after 29 minutes.
As the main goalscorer for a club with elite ambitions, it was simply not good enough. Jose Mourinho bemoans the dearth of world-class strikers at Chelsea, but he has three who would have fancied their chances given the opportunity Giroud spurned here.
Tussle: Podolski does his best to evade the challenge of West Ham centre back James Tomkins
Control: West Ham's Mark Noble moves forward with the ball under pressure from Santi Cazorla
Head over heels: West Ham left back Pablo Armero, on loan from Napoli, attempts to dispossess Giroud
Full stretch: West Ham goalkeeper looks on as Tomas Rosicky's effort flies past the post in the second half
Ready: Aaron Ramsey waits to be introduced before replacing Rosicky with twenty minutes to go
Santi Cazorla played the neat through pass and Giroud had one leg in an offside position. The linesman, Harry Lennard, missed this tiny detail, however, but Giroud did not capitalise on his good fortune. Left one-on-one with Adrian, he tried the most self-indulgent of finishes, the little dink chip, Lionel Messi style. Messi carries it off with a precision bordering on genius, though. Giroud drew only the anger and ridicule of the crowd.
His chip was soft, under-hit and probably misdirected. Even if Adrian’s hand had not patted it out of the air with the ease of a swatter flooring a crane fly, it would probably have missed the target. The home fans despaired. They want Giroud to answer his critics, not load their ammunition.
From West Ham’s next attack, they were ahead. Nocerino broke down the right, cut inside and forced a save from Wojciech Szczesny. The ball bounced up, Nocerino reacted faster than the defence and the ball made its way to Jarvis, who put it in with his head - probably the most surprising header in a fixture between these teams since Trevor Brooking in 1980.
At last, a reaction from Arsenal. Within minutes Kim Kallstrom had forced a save from Adrian, and just before half-time the home side were level. Downing, hemmed in by the right corner flag, struck a poor clearance forward which was cut out by a long Arsenal leg, the ball falling to Cazorla. He played a good pass to Lukas Podolski, whose low shot left Adrian no chance.
Skills: Arteta looks on as Diame moves forward with the ball at his feet
Winner: Podolski salutes the crowd after scoring Arsenal's third goal of the night
Strength: keeps the pace with Giroud as the Frenchman races forward with the ball
Heads up: Arsenal's Swedish midfielder Kim Kallstrom climbs above Nocerino to head the ball clear of danger
Runaway: Substitute Ramsey gets the better of West Ham defender Armero
| Pos. | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 34 | 24 | 5 | 5 | 51 | 77 |
| 2 | Chelsea | 34 | 23 | 6 | 5 | 42 | 75 |
| 3 | Manchester City | 32 | 22 | 4 | 6 | 54 | 70 |
| 4 | Arsenal | 34 | 20 | 7 | 7 | 18 | 67 |
| 5 | Everton | 33 | 19 | 9 | 5 | 22 | 66 |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 34 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 60 |
| 7 | Manchester United | 33 | 17 | 6 | 10 | 18 | 57 |
| 8 | Southampton | 34 | 13 | 9 | 12 | 5 | 48 |
| 9 | Newcastle United | 34 | 14 | 4 | 16 | -14 | 46 |
| 10 | Stoke City | 34 | 11 | 10 | 13 | -10 | 43 |
| 11 | West Ham United | 34 | 10 | 7 | 17 | -9 | 37 |
| 12 | Crystal Palace | 33 | 11 | 4 | 18 | -15 | 37 |
| 13 | Hull City | 33 | 10 | 6 | 17 | -6 | 36 |
| 14 | Aston Villa | 33 | 9 | 7 | 17 | -14 | 34 |
| 15 | Swansea City | 34 | 8 | 9 | 17 | -5 | 33 |
| 16 | West Bromwich Albion | 33 | 6 | 15 | 12 | -11 | 33 |
| 17 | Norwich City | 34 | 8 | 8 | 18 | -27 | 32 |
| 18 | Fulham | 34 | 9 | 3 | 22 | -40 | 30 |
| 19 | Cardiff City | 34 | 7 | 8 | 19 | -34 | 29 |
| 20 | Sunderland | 32 | 6 | 7 | 19 | -25 | 25 |
Post a Comment