Master Outwits Apprentice as Arsenal’s title challenge takes a dent

Arsenal 0 West Ham 2    
Premier League   
Thursday 28th December 2023 8.15pm  

David Moyes’ record as a manager against Arsenal at both Highbury and the Emirates isn’t one he will be pleased with, but the law of averages states he had to win eventually and his gameplan last night brought rewards.

 

Yet he was assisted by an off night for Arsenal’s defenders, who have overall been reliable this season. In contrast to their opponents, they were sloppy for the first goal, and failed to mark the scorer properly for the second. Gabriel made a hash of the clearance for the opener, although for all the world, the ball then went out of play. On the camera angle that VAR had, I could see the line ok, but no trace of the ball. It was a shocker of a decision, but not the first Arsenal have seen in the build-up to a goal this season. Swings and roundabouts? They got away with a handball in the penalty area at Anfield. Yet, the move shouldn’t even have reached that stage. Gabriel had the time and space to clear it properly and failed.

 

The second goal saw Arsenal old boy Mavropanos being marked by Zinchenko, who lost him in the melee. It was a mismatch to start with. Gabriel has been criticised for failing to win the header, but I think this was simply a case of a perfectly delivered ball and a finish that you can’t legislate for – in off the bar and the post. It wasn’t undefendable – the scorer could have been blocked off, but it was an excellent set piece. 

 

West Ham won this game not only through taking their chances, of which they had far fewer, but because of their defensive tenacity and work rate. It wasn’t enough to completely nullify their hosts – Arsenal had enough chances to have won this match despite conceding twice. But putting the ball in the net has become an issue. Those shots that were on target seemed to go directly to the keeper Areola. And there were far more that missed the goal completely.

 

Predictably, the discussion that followed was Arsenal’s needs for a goal-scoring striker along the lines of Wright, Henry and Van Persie. And with ten goals in 19 matches between the first-choice front three, you can see how the team would benefit from such a player. There didn’t seem too much variety in the Gunners’ approach play last night, and it felt like the final seasons of Wengerball at times, the team trying to pass their way through a thicket of defenders to score the perfect goal. 

 

Arsenal have done well this season to be where they are, but after last night, I am not optimistic that they can win the title this season. Teams know how to negate them, and some variety is needed. Havertz, suspended last night, was missed for his abilities in the air. Some of Arsenal’s best chances came from headers. There was a case for the introduction of Smith Rowe much earlier than the 79th minute, and I’d argue he would offer more than Nelson who came on 15 minutes earlier. Arsenal did try a few shots from the edge of the area – good. But they were invariably blocked. Maybe too predictable. What about encouraging the players to take on their man more often to make space for a pot-shot? With so many defenders in the box, deflections can go anywhere.

 

For some reason, the home side were careless with the ball, losing possession when not under great pressure too often with poor passing. West Ham suffocated Odegaard to disrupt the build-up play and always had at least two men, sometimes three, on Saka. Arteta was able to play without a left back for the final 26 minutes, although some might quip they were doing that all game anyway.

 

The penalty at the end was academic, but hey, better a two-goal defeat than three, and going back to 1988-89 every single goal counted in determining the title, which shows you how fine margins can be. Declan Rice slipped in the wrong place at the wrong time to concede the injury time spot-kick, and failed to have the influence on the game he normally enjoys. Could just be that the opposition know him too well.

 

It was a bad day at the office, and there is certainly time to recover. You could make an argument it was a bit of a freak result, but one that shone a light on the squad this season. It looks a bit thin in terms of attacking variation and depth of quality. Unless that is rectified, the team will be relying on a few 1-0 to the Arsenal performances with the defence carrying them through. And if Zinchenko continues to be selected at left back, that feels like a big ask. There aren’t too many league games in January due to the FA Cup and the mid-winter break – just two before the visit of Liverpool in early February. And of course, Fulham on New Year’s Eve. 

 

The Gunners should be able to rack up nine points from the three matches before what will likely be billed as a potential title decider and if Mo Salah is not back from AFCON, it gives them a greater chance of beating Liverpool, currently the leaders. It’s far from over, but this observer just doesn’t have a great feeling about things at present. The West Ham game highlighted an Achilles’ Heel in Arsenal this season. In the top six, every other side has scored more goals. Can the club afford to bring in a striker in January? Maybe they can’t afford not to. In the short term, Fulham on Sunday afternoon has now become a must-win game.

 

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