After our perfect start with Denilson's well-taken goal on 5 minutes, we seemed to shift back into 3rd gear, and looked content and comfortable with a slower, less urgent pace to the game. Of course, everything changed with one stupid decision. It was, at best, a 50-50 penalty decision, as Vermaelen went in to challenge on Guillermo Franco (side note: Who can forget his crying when we won at Villareal in 2006!). It was far from clear cut, and a penalty decision would've been penalty enough. But no, Mr Atkinson proceeds to send TV off. Just perfect. Cruising one moment, staring disaster right up the arse the next. Just perfect, and quite typical of some of things that we've done (and been done to) this season. But up steps Almunia for his first and only meaningful contribution to the game, with an excellent stop from the quite irritating Diamanti.
That was at the end of the first half, and the second, well...was how should I say this? Well orchestrated. Efficient, but with 10 men, unable to be as extravagant as we would like. Though West Ham never really threatened, you felt we would need the second. All in all, though - I have to say I was probably more satisfied with our second-half performance than our first. Song especially stood out - first at the back in midfield, then doing a sterling job in TV's place. Eboue was always threatening, and particularly when our midfield was light, bypassed it all with a couple of good runs into the West Ham area. Our penalty was sweet too. We've got to make those cheeky, chipped shots onto someone's arm a specialty. Much like what Rory Delap has done with his throw.
Not the 7-0 we wanted, but the 3 points we needed. Job done. Top of the table. Now let's see Pool take care of Man U. (Yeah, right).
Player ratings:
Almunia 7.5 - Fine penalty save. Came into the office, did the one thing he needed to do, and kept the rest easy.
Clichy 7 - Nothing spectacular, nothing disastrous either. Down to 10 men, you felt his more creative side was sadly curtailed.
Sol 7 - Another good good show. Who would've thought he would have so many 90 minute-games under his belt. With TV gone, provided enough stability at the back with Song.
TV - Can't say very much. Slightly unfortunate with the sending off, and up till then had not really been troubled.
Eboue 8 - My co-Man of the Match. Great in defence. Solid going up, and even in the middle. Seemed to be everywhere. This was Eboue at his best. Probably drew more fouls than any other Arse player (even Cesc).
Song 8 - The other Man of the Match. I don't think there's anyone in the team that can do what he does. We'll need him fit for the Champions League on this form. Strong at the back, measured going forward. Monster Man, I'll call him.
Nasri 7 - Slightly muted with Cesc's return. At times threatened to do brilliant things again, but faded late into the second half. May need a rest with Birmingham.
Denilson 7 - Gave us the perfect start, and for the rest of the game, did what was needed. Has shown the knack of showing up every now and then with crucial goals.
Cesc 7 - Not his best by far. Seemed slightly off the pace, and wasted more than one corner and free kick. We can forgive him that, given his time away, but still managed to show his class with a cool penalty.
Arsh 5.5 - The laggard of the lot. Seems desperately in need of a rest. With Barca coming up, the boss may do well to give Rosicky and Walcott a good run in. Looked tired and lacking in ideas.
Bent Nick 7 - Out and about as usual, and looked to have a goal in him. Until he had to be taken off - tactical, it looked it. Diaby coming on in his place did change the game quite a bit, shaking things up in midfield.
Looking forward then, it does look like we will have TV suspended. Now that utterly sucks. Believe it or not, that was our first red card of the season, and you'll hardly see a softer, more meaningless red card this season. It was a pathetic refereeing decision, and we can only be glad that the next game's v Birmingham, and hopefully Silvestre/Campbell can take care of things.
Before we play again on Saturday next week though, Chelski will play their two games in hand - both away, at Blackurn and Pompey. Blackburn could be tricky, and I'll be watching to see that Fat Sam does us an unlikely favour. Same too at Fratton Park. The boys there will have nothing left to play for than pride, and given their performance against Hull this afternoon, I won't write them off just yet. (Of course, they could screw the whole thing over but fielding their entire second string with the FA Cup in mind. What's the FA gonna do? Deduct them more points?)
Alright then. Saturday's out of the way. An interesting game or two tomorrow, and a few telling ones in midweek too. Nothing that involves us, so hopefully everyone gets a good rest up before the action comes thick and fast in two weeks time.
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