Match Report: Podolski and Giroud Give Arsenal Boost in Win Over West Ham
It took them a while to get going, but Arsenal eventually found their feet in their last London derby of the season to maintain an impressive record against the capital's clubs. It was another vital three points gained as they do battle for the fourth and final Champions League spot, and the second half performance was full of the vigour that they displayed in their early season stint at the top of the table, but it was far from as smooth a win as the fans, who were made to suffer at the weekend, would have hoped for.
The Gunners began just like they were coming into the game having recently laboured over 120 minutes plus penalties in an FA Cup semi-final and not like a group of professionals that should be able to motivate themselves for the first of five equally important games in the Premier League run-in. Early problems subsided, though, and in a second half that Arsenal asserted themselves on the game, they will have gained a great deal of confidence for a testing climax to the season.
West Ham had started the brighter of the two sides, creating six openings in the first 40 minutes and eventually taking the lead via the head of an unlikely source, with Matt Jarvis netting only his second headed goal in 168 Premier League appearances over the past 5 seasons. This one came as he bravely nodded home after Wojciech Szczesny had saved Antonio Nocerino's original effort.
By that stage, the Hammers were in the ascendency and Arsenal were wobbling; Laurent Koscielny looked far from his commanding usual self, Kim Källström seemed unsettled and gave the ball away too often, while Olivier Giroud was wasteful on the occasions he got chances in front of goal. The superiority of Arsenal's players shone through, however, and within 4 minutes they were level.
Eventual man of the match Santi Cazorla slipped Lukas Podolski through to equalise with his fifth goal of the season. The German has often stated his desire to play as the furthest man forward for the Gunners, and going by the average positions of Arsenal's players' touches here, it seems that he might well have been taking things into his own hands. Arsène Wenger admitted after the game that he is "tempted to play Podolski and Giroud up front together", but also that without Theo Walcott available he "needs Podolski out wide". His attacking input was in no way compromised, though, and he later netted Arsenal's third to take his record against West Ham to an impressive 4 goals and 4 assists in just 4 matches.
His goals sandwiched the moment of the night, and that belonged to Olivier Giroud, who beautifully brought down Thomas Vermaelen's lofted ball forward before calming knocking the ball past Adrián. Wenger praised the striker's use of his body to first create space for himself before he controlled the ball with what his manager called "the perfect first touch".
Questions remain as to whether Giroud is good enough to lead the line for a club of Arsenal's stature, regardless of the obvious need for an alternative to at the very least give him a bit of rest throughout the season. He has played more minutes (2759) than any other striker in the Premier League this season, and fatigue has shown in his game of late. Nonetheless, it is difficult to criticise a player who can still produce moments of magic such as this one. He may not be of the calibre of his predecessor Robin van Persie, capable of carrying an underperforming team - he has been poor in Arsenal's recent dismal run - but he has proved himself time and again that he has the quality to lead the line for the Gunners if some competition is added in the summer.
West Ham surrendered in a way that reflected the lack of meaning that comes with Sam Allardyce's tendency to target points in what he considers more 'winnable matches'. However, the fact that they lost here will not have greatly affected their plans for the rest of the campaign as 3 more points will likely see them safe.
For Arsenal, though, this was a huge win, both for the points and confidence gained, and Wenger's men should go into their final 4 matches with the belief that they can rediscover their early season form. Mesut Özil will soon return, while Aaron Ramsey's cameo will only have boosted morale at the club. This season might not have been as huge a success as many had hoped it might be, but silverware and a 4th-placed finish would be far from a failure.
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