Good win, we looked more like our usual self at the Emirates- dominating possession, creating loads of chances etc. This could've (should've?) been 6 or 7-0. Not sure how Walcott thinks he will ever be a striker when he missed those chances today. He's apparently stalling over a new contract and I for one hope he doesn't sign. Putting Sanchez on the right wing and buying Kurzawa or Edgar Mendez to put on the left would be better than today's winger formation. Ramsey did well considering his recent/persistent injuries and defensively we did ok barring a couple of nervy moments which we seem to specialise in. We need to produce that type of constant pressure against Monaco (but finishing the chances obviously). Adrian was very good for West Ham but he's the only one I'd award a 7 or more to in all honesty. It looked as though they thought (knew?) they didn't stand a chance of even getting a point.
@praveenarsenal- Giroud has done well but considering the number of chances we produce for him, he should have 20 goals by now. Costa puts the vast majority of those in. Giroud's contribution to the team in terms of bringing other players into play, holding the ball up and creating chances is much better than Costa though which is why Wenger likes him.
@Milann- I don't drink. Anyways, Giroud's stats for this season are impressive, largely due to his current run of 6 goals in 8 league games, and if you hadn't watched every minute of every game he played, you'd think he was a potent finisher. However, if you had seen every minute of every game, you'd see far too many EASY chances missed which world class strikers put away. Also this season's stats are an aberration. When you take his career, from his last season at Montpellier, he is a goal per every 7 shots striker which isn't world class. He's on a great run and I think he's a better overall player than people give him credit for (after all his role in the Arsenal team is not just to score goals) but if anyone thinks he's as good a striker as Costa and Aguero, they're the ones who are drunk.
@Nigga- Yes but basic mathematics skills and an understanding of sport/the human body would tell you it's a hell of a lot more difficult to maintain a 1 goal per 3.82 shots ratio like Costa after 21 games than a 1 per 4.45 after 3 less like Giroud. If it were the other way round then you'd have a case(for this season only) but the longer a season goes on, the more likely the shots per goal number increases. Giroud would have to score 6 goals in 16 shots or under in his next 3 games to have the same record as Costa after the 21-game mark. That's a goal per 2.666r shots in Olivier's stand-out season just to break even with Diego. Costa's average in the last 4 league seasons to date is a goal per 4.2 shots (including his 2nd to last season at Atletico where he was the support act to Falcao), Aguero 1 in 5.86 (has a major injury spell every season), Benzema 1 in 5.15 (even though he plays 2nd fiddle to Ronaldo) and the greatest Messi 1 in 4.22. Giroud's by comparison is 1 in 7.25.
@SteveHyland@SteveHyland Lets take a Giroud for one moment. Here's a guy who came from Division 3 in France. Now he plays in the Champions League in England. Do you know how many players in the lower leagues ever go up? Let alone DIVISION 3... IN FRANCE. So since he's come so far, I think he's willing to go a bit further... He is 4th best in the league as per WhoScored ratings just after Aguero, Costa and Kane, if thats not world class what is?
@Nigga- He's had a great season statistically for sure but it has followed a few average ones for a striker at a top tier team and you don't get to be world class after a single season. I suppose Alex Meier and Bas Dost are also world class? At 28, Giroud is very old to become world class. It either happens earlier or it doesn't happen for the vast majority. Deductive logic says this is what the American sports journalists call a "career year". I'm a fan of Giroud but I don't see how he can miss the simple chances he does and be considered up there with the elite strikers regardless of where he is based on WhoScored. Nobody has said "Steve you're wrong, he doesn't miss easy chances" because I'm not wrong and anybody who has actually watched him for a substantial period won't be able to disagree with me.
@NotBiased- Lack of confidence. He doesn't want to take the responsibility of shooting in case he misses when he can produce an opportunity for someone else who is more likely to score. He should shoot in positions like that but he really needs to be playing well for him to do so.
We are in two streaks - 7 home wins in the EPL and 9 wins vs West Ham in all competitions. Every streak comes to an end, but I hope these two will continue. We are in a great shape, so only underestimating can cost us points. If we are focused and determined, we will get the 3 points. Giroud on the scoresheet once again!
@john666 Have our defence is out, either ineligible or injured, and valencia is out as well, so I fear we shall be trying to keep Arsenal from scoring a hatful against us. As much as I hate to say it, 3-1 Arsenal. Sanchez MOTM
West Ham often give us a good game at Upton Park but rarely have at Highbury/Emirates. I think we'll see, shall we say, a more "classic" Allardyce blueprint for this game. I don't blame him if he does since if he tries to play football with us at the Emirates, that'll suit us. Hopefully we get back to our dominant selves. I predict a 2-0 win, Cazorla is in fine form atm so can't bet against him for MotM.
@Overmars- That's true and we actually had a couple of seasons where we couldn't beat them in the league (drew 1 and lost 3 including the last game against them at Highbury). As a general rule though, we end up winning at home even though tbf there have been some close wins. Since that loss at Emirates (why does Zamora only score against us btw?!?!) we have 5 wins, 1 draw, 0 losses at home so am confident here even against a more attacking WHU team.
Good win, we looked more like our usual self at the Emirates- dominating possession, creating loads of chances etc. This could've (should've?) been 6 or 7-0. Not sure how Walcott thinks he will ever be a striker when he missed those chances today. He's apparently stalling over a new contract and I for one hope he doesn't sign. Putting Sanchez on the right wing and buying Kurzawa or Edgar Mendez to put on the left would be better than today's winger formation. Ramsey did well considering his recent/persistent injuries and defensively we did ok barring a couple of nervy moments which we seem to specialise in. We need to produce that type of constant pressure against Monaco (but finishing the chances obviously). Adrian was very good for West Ham but he's the only one I'd award a 7 or more to in all honesty. It looked as though they thought (knew?) they didn't stand a chance of even getting a point.
√ Three points for Arsenal √ Goals by Giroud Ramsey and Flamini √ Clean sheet √ Beautiful football √ Happy Gooners √
Diego Costa: 32games, 17goals, 3 assists, £32m Giroud (despite out for 3 months) 24 games, 14 goals, 4 assists, £12m. #NaNaNaNa #NaNaNaNa #Giroud
@praveenarsenal- Giroud has done well but considering the number of chances we produce for him, he should have 20 goals by now. Costa puts the vast majority of those in. Giroud's contribution to the team in terms of bringing other players into play, holding the ball up and creating chances is much better than Costa though which is why Wenger likes him.
@SteveHyland Giroud has a very high rate of converting chances. Are you drunk ?
@Milann- I don't drink. Anyways, Giroud's stats for this season are impressive, largely due to his current run of 6 goals in 8 league games, and if you hadn't watched every minute of every game he played, you'd think he was a potent finisher. However, if you had seen every minute of every game, you'd see far too many EASY chances missed which world class strikers put away. Also this season's stats are an aberration. When you take his career, from his last season at Montpellier, he is a goal per every 7 shots striker which isn't world class. He's on a great run and I think he's a better overall player than people give him credit for (after all his role in the Arsenal team is not just to score goals) but if anyone thinks he's as good a striker as Costa and Aguero, they're the ones who are drunk.
@SteveHyland ohh and thats after being out for 3 months... none of the 3 above him actually were injured for so long.
@Nigga- Yes but basic mathematics skills and an understanding of sport/the human body would tell you it's a hell of a lot more difficult to maintain a 1 goal per 3.82 shots ratio like Costa after 21 games than a 1 per 4.45 after 3 less like Giroud. If it were the other way round then you'd have a case(for this season only) but the longer a season goes on, the more likely the shots per goal number increases. Giroud would have to score 6 goals in 16 shots or under in his next 3 games to have the same record as Costa after the 21-game mark. That's a goal per 2.666r shots in Olivier's stand-out season just to break even with Diego. Costa's average in the last 4 league seasons to date is a goal per 4.2 shots (including his 2nd to last season at Atletico where he was the support act to Falcao), Aguero 1 in 5.86 (has a major injury spell every season), Benzema 1 in 5.15 (even though he plays 2nd fiddle to Ronaldo) and the greatest Messi 1 in 4.22. Giroud's by comparison is 1 in 7.25.
@SteveHyland @SteveHyland Lets take a Giroud for one moment. Here's a guy who came from Division 3 in France. Now he plays in the Champions League in England. Do you know how many players in the lower leagues ever go up? Let alone DIVISION 3... IN FRANCE. So since he's come so far, I think he's willing to go a bit further... He is 4th best in the league as per WhoScored ratings just after Aguero, Costa and Kane, if thats not world class what is?
@Nigga- He's had a great season statistically for sure but it has followed a few average ones for a striker at a top tier team and you don't get to be world class after a single season. I suppose Alex Meier and Bas Dost are also world class? At 28, Giroud is very old to become world class. It either happens earlier or it doesn't happen for the vast majority. Deductive logic says this is what the American sports journalists call a "career year". I'm a fan of Giroud but I don't see how he can miss the simple chances he does and be considered up there with the elite strikers regardless of where he is based on WhoScored. Nobody has said "Steve you're wrong, he doesn't miss easy chances" because I'm not wrong and anybody who has actually watched him for a substantial period won't be able to disagree with me.
Yet again Glory to Gooners................COYG....
Why didn't Ozil shoot there? Really should have buried that.
@NotBiased- Lack of confidence. He doesn't want to take the responsibility of shooting in case he misses when he can produce an opportunity for someone else who is more likely to score. He should shoot in positions like that but he really needs to be playing well for him to do so.
ozil is so bad... :(
@iAgx360 He was fine when we sold him to you. You must have broken him or something :P
@HalaMadridGOAL im not an arsenal fan
I want to see sànchez score a super free kick
West Ham are without James Tomkins, dislocated his shoulder in training. West Ham Winston Reid will miss out with a hamstring complaint.
3-1
Gunners with brio.
probability = no. of chance / no. of occurence. asernal probably will win 2-1
Arsenal 2-1 Westham. 13' Alex Song, 62' Giroud, 94' (OG) Alex Song
Should be a doddle for The Arsenal
We are in two streaks - 7 home wins in the EPL and 9 wins vs West Ham in all competitions. Every streak comes to an end, but I hope these two will continue. We are in a great shape, so only underestimating can cost us points. If we are focused and determined, we will get the 3 points. Giroud on the scoresheet once again!
west Ham will take this one, they are better than Arsenal defensively, and will hit on the counter attack, will give this a 2-1 to west ham
@john666 #Half our defence is out - lol
@john666 Have our defence is out, either ineligible or injured, and valencia is out as well, so I fear we shall be trying to keep Arsenal from scoring a hatful against us. As much as I hate to say it, 3-1 Arsenal. Sanchez MOTM
@john666 arsenal have won 5 of their last 6 at home. about to be 6 of their last 7 with this win
@Mr.Parker there is nothing wrong with what you have said, but lets jus see how this one will play out..
@john666. Nd Mr. Parker ... Arsenal re fighting hard to maintain in d top 4 so dey won't lose....
2-1
Mathieu Flamini is doubtful, not out.
West Ham often give us a good game at Upton Park but rarely have at Highbury/Emirates. I think we'll see, shall we say, a more "classic" Allardyce blueprint for this game. I don't blame him if he does since if he tries to play football with us at the Emirates, that'll suit us. Hopefully we get back to our dominant selves. I predict a 2-0 win, Cazorla is in fine form atm so can't bet against him for MotM.
@SteveHyland Except for that match when Bobby Zamora scored, was the first loss at the Emirates if I recall.
@Overmars- That's true and we actually had a couple of seasons where we couldn't beat them in the league (drew 1 and lost 3 including the last game against them at Highbury). As a general rule though, we end up winning at home even though tbf there have been some close wins. Since that loss at Emirates (why does Zamora only score against us btw?!?!) we have 5 wins, 1 draw, 0 losses at home so am confident here even against a more attacking WHU team.
@SteveHyland Yes I agree, we were lucky at the Boleyn ground when Song had a volley ruled out for offside. Confident we will win this game: 2-1
Arsenal 3-0 West Ham