Morning Gooners,

According to some of the comments prior to the West Ham game, many felt that we would or could come unstuck but it seems that Wenger and the squad felt differently.

After going 1-0 down from an outstanding goal by Diame, against the run of play, Arsenal just took it in their stride and carried on doing what they were doing prior to the goal and that was, total possession.

Santi Cazorla bossed the midfield his usual style of football which is clearly well suited to the way we play.

Wenger has again found a round peg that fits well into a round hole. Oliver Giroud has at last scored his first goal for us after many attempts, he had no time what so ever to think about it prior to toeing it past the hapless keeper, maybe now the monkey is off his back he can now build his future with us.

Although I don’t think its fair on players who have an off day to criticise them too much, but Gervinho had one of his worst afternoons since he joined us. He seemed to have his mind on something other than football, perhaps he was wondering where the manager wants him to play, having played centrally with great effect. Playing wider on Saturday may have put him out of sorts and maybe he needs to know exactly what his role is before we start to see him at his best.

Many have said that Gervinho is a genius on the pitch, Hazard, his ex LilleΒ team-mateΒ has said he felt that Gervinho was the best player he has ever worked with, I on the other hand feel that Hazard may just be sucking up to his old mate. I have listened to many supporters rave about him, how he battles, fights to win the ball back and like a dog with a rag, he is very hard to shrug off!

I am of the opinion that he often tries to do to much and when he loses the ball, he should make a bit more effort to get it back. Many a time I feel a quick pass would be more beneficial than trying to dribble round three players.

Although I am against criticising players I make exception to referee’s and Phil Dowd in particular!

One of our regular posters here revealed some statistics recently which suggests that the FA have an agenda when it comes to Dowd and Arsenal. Whether that is true or not I will leave you to ponder over but I would say that some of his decisions were very hard to understand on Saturday.

He booked Diami for over celebrating with the fans but failed to caution him for a terrible tackle on Arteta which was a very strange decision and when a TV pundit/commentator suggests that the foul was a definite bookable offence you know it must be bad. The same pundit/commentator went onto say that had Diame not already been booked, he would certainly have been booked for that foul.

That statement is totally wrong. A foul is a foul, a booking is a booking, regardless of what has gone on previously, Diame should have booked a second time and been given his marching orders! Dowd obviously didn’t want to hand us an advantage did he?

Dowd also missed a trip on Ramsey just on the edge of the box he just waved play on but he didn’t miss a little tackle from Gervinho and his book was out doubly quick for that one!

Its been said that Alex Ferguson is not that keen on Dowds refereeing abilities so he very seldom officiates and Manchester United fixtures which suggests that Fergie is running the FA as well.

As I said in my last post, I feel we have the making of a squad that can win something this season. I also said that we have some fine players who are starting to gel and after this game we gelled a little bit more.

I said we would inflict pain on others and West Ham were the one’s to feel that pain.

Alladyce had to admit after the game that this Arsenal team were very good which must have hurt him but it’s true.

As we progress and inflict more pain on sides, that is when some of our doubters will start to believe again that we can win things.

I have no doubts and I don’t care what the great legend Tony Adams says about how we will fall short yet again. Maybe he too has an agenda but I couldn’t care less. Β Adams also said that Steve Bould’s job will just keep getting harder but my advice to Tony is to keep his mouth shut, Steve Bould is doing a wonderful job he is after all an Arsenal man through and through and were used to taking knocks.

We are The Arsenal and were going to do an Arnie.

We’ll be back !!!

And that moment gets nearer every day COYG’s

Written by Steve Palmer.