Kouyate’s first goal can’t save Irons
Irons 1 Arsenal 2
We can sit here claiming we should have got something from the game for as long as we like but the fact remains we have emerged from Christmas without a point to our name.
Here are the bare facts:
O We went behind just before the break when Winston Reid fouled Santi Cazorla in the box and the Spaniard dispatched the subsequent penalty. Reid would have seen red but for James tomkins saving him from the last man rule!
O Danny Welbeck doubled the lead two minutes later from an Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s cross before found a way back five minutes into the second half when Cheikhou Kouyate headed in his first goal for the club after great work from Morgan Amalfitano and James Tomkins.
O We really carried the game to the Gunner in the second period but when Enner Valencia on as sub headed over in injury time.
Alex Song looked to have scored with a brilliant volley from 25 yards early on but it was harshly ruled out for offside, With no West Ham player touching the ball and nobody interfering with play the howls of disapproval were entirely understandable.
The Hammers were also aggrieved a few minutes later as Sakho went down in the box under a challenge from Mathieu Debuchy but of course nothing was given.
Andy Carroll was always a threat but when James Tomkins – clean through and with time – ballooned his shot over you got the feeling this was not to be our day.
Arsenal took the lead from the spot came as a result of a trip by Reid before Welbeck’s tap in.
Downing went close but dragged a shot wide from just inside the box before Sanchez saw an effort deflected just wide at the other end.
Our goal came when the ball was lofted back into the box by Tomkins and Kouyate easily rose above Debuchy to head home.
Adrian pulling off excellent saves to deny both Oxlade-Chamberlain and Sanchez before Wellbeck shot over when it was easier to score.
And as the game entered its late stages the hammers poured forward with even goalkeeper Adrian joining in before Valencia’s chance went begging.
Disappointing doesn’t even start to get close and we were left wondering and what might have been had Song’s ‘goal’ stood as it would have done nine times out of ten.