Giroud Is Arsenal's Most Improved Player

Match Review: Arsenal 3 West Ham 0 - Premier League 14.03.15

Arsenal's performance against West Ham wasn't necessarily one of our best of the season, but provided us with some of our best goals of the season. We played well, but the result wasn't secure until the 80th minute so 3-0 makes it look a little more comfortable than it was. Still, it's another good win to build confidence and momentum and with City and Chelsea dropping points, we may be able to start looking above us rather than over our shoulders.

Walcott got a chance in the starting line-up following Chamberlain's injury, while Calum Chambers came in at right back, maybe to give us more insurance with Theo down the right. Ramsey got his first start since returning from injury, with Cazorla dropping to the bench. Up front, Giroud replaced Welbeck.

We dominated the game from start to finish, but especially in the first half. Things worked really well in midfield, where Ramsey and Özil linked up time and again to create opportunities galore. Walcott should have had a penalty when set free in the six yard box, only to hesitate and then be fouled by Collins. Ramsey, Özil and Sanchez all had chances before Walcott missed a sitter, slipping at the vital moment. It looked like some poor finishing and some brilliant goalkeeping from Adrian was going to frustrate us, but mere seconds before half time, our endeavour was rewarded.  

Özil was the pivot, playing a one-two with Giroud before playing in Ramsey. Ramsey took the ball on before Giroud stole the ball from his feet and smashed it in off the post. Gorgeous passing and movement and a thumping finish, it was what we'd spent the half working towards. It also perfectly highlighted the brilliance of Giroud. He held off the defender, linked up with Özil and then produced a brilliant finish. ‘Target man’ is doing him a disservice, as he brings so much more to our play than just a physical presence up front. It was Ramsey last season, but this season it’s Giroud who surely takes the most improved player title.

The second half was a little less entertaining. We lapsed a bit in the first part of it before reasserting ourselves. However, the second goal was proving hard to come by, we weren’t creating the volume of chances nor playing with the same intensity as in the first. Özil squandered a glorious opportunity when, incredibly, he chose to play a clipped pass to Walcott instead of shooting from inside the area with a clear sight of goal. Welbeck came on and started causing problems for West Ham, but despite that, we had to wait until the 81st minutes for the game to be secured.

Again Giroud was involved, letting the ball run past him to Ramsey, making a run off the defender and then laying the ball back for the midfielder to power home with his left foot. Another goal for Wenger to be proud of as we picked our way through the West Ham defence and a big confidence booster for Ramsey, who’s looked desperate for a goal for a while now. It capped an excellent game for the Welshman who has struggled to recapture last year’s stunning form.

But the Wengerball wasn’t finished yet. Three minutes later Cazorla, a second half substitute, combined beautifully with Giroud before squaring for the unlikely Flamini to tap in. He’d been on the pitch less than a minute, but became our 21st goalscorer of the season and completed a hattrick of beautiful goals. Nothing scrappy about them, just pure football and all of them owing a large part to Giroud, who proved his football matches his body for beauty.

Wengerball won the day and our control of the game was such that West Ham never really got a sniff. With a very winnable FA Cup semi final coming up and City dropping points left right and centre, there’s a real chance for us to finish the season on a big high. Talk of a title challenge is a tad on the silly side at the moment, especially with Chelsea having such a large points lead and a game in hand. However, with them still having to come to us, anything is possible, but no one should doubt that a 2nd place finish and more FA Cup glory would be an excellent season.

Teams

Arsenal (4-2-3-1)
Ospina, Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Ramsey, Walcott (Cazorla 72’), Özil (Flamini 83’), Alexis (Y) (Welbeck 65’), Giroud
Subs
Szczesny, Bellerin, Gibbs, Flamini, Cazorla, Welbeck, Akpom

West Ham (4-5-1)
Adrian, O’Brien, Kouyate, Collins, Cresswell, Song, Noble (Nene 82’), Nolan, Downing, Jarvis (Amalfitano 75’), Sakho (Y)
Subs
Jaaskelainen, Demel, Amalfitano, Nene, Onariasie, Cullen, Poyet

Player Ratings

Ospina - 7/10 - Required to make one stop and did it well
Chambers - 7/10 - A decent showing at right back, seems to have benefited from a break
Mertesacker - 7/10 - Had very little to worry about
Koscielny - 7/10 - Sakho may feel his presence behind him still…
Monreal - 7/10 - One of the standout players of our season and another solid showing here
Coquelin - 7/10 - Calm and untroubled, a fairly easy game for him
Ramsey - 8/10 - That’s more like it! Looked more comfortable and at ease with his game
Walcott - 5/10 - Poor, wasted three good chances and disappeared in the second half
Özil - 8/10 - Watch him conduct the passing for the first goal, magical
Alexis - 7/10 - In a bit of a lull in terms of his form, but was still a constant threat
Giroud - 9/10 - A complete performance. A goal, assist and pre-assist, all beautifully done
Subs
Welbeck - 7/10 - Will find it hard to displace Giroud, but is still a potent threat out wide
Cazorla - 7/10 - A well earned rest, but time enough for a cameo assist for Flamini
Flamini - N/A - The unlikely beneficiary of a wonderfully worked goal, but not on long enough to rate

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