For all the wonders technology provides us, it amazes me in this day and age that sometimes, one’s mobile phone just decides not to let its scheduled alarm go off. Either that, or I slept through it. As a result, I missed a match that most certainly would have left me hoarse from waking up the neighbourhood.

A static Arsenal side came from a goal down at Upton Park to win out 2-1 thanks to goals from the prodigious Aaron Ramsey and the struggling Eduardo.

The game would have been a frustrating affair were it not for the timely introductions of Abou Diaby and Samir Nasri off the bench, who grabbed the game by the collar and added real authority to one that was threatening to get away. West Ham, by all accounts, were not dominating the game, but had found their niche within the 90 minutes to get to the next round, irrespective of all our possession.

But Diaby strode forward at the West Ham defence, fed in song across the box, who spat the ball to Vela. The ball came stuck in a mess of defenders legs before the young Mexican stabbed it to the waiting Ramsey, on-side, who thrashed the ball into the side-netting. It was a terrific goal that completely deflated the Hammers and, five minutes later, it would be game, set, match to the Arsenal.

Vela received the ball on the left flank, who smacked a floating cross into the penalty area. Eduardo then sent a terrific looping header past Green, who could do nothing against an immaculate aerial finish.

While Song’s header against Portsmouth was impressive in the way he added all the strength to a slow delivery, Eduardo’s was even more complex and eye-catching a finish. A dipping lob off your head into the postage stamp is not the easiest thing to do.

No player ratings today as I missed the game, much to my chagrin. I woke up at 7:00am, having dreamt up the result that Arsenal had won through 4-3 after a Diaby hattrick had leveled the game up after we went down 3-0. Alex Song scored a scrappy winner in the 101st minute to send us through.

It wasn’t the fact that there would be no extra-time for this match that made me realise ‘that didn’t actually happen, Jam’. I think it was the fact that, upon memory, Diaby was white, had hair like a prom-queen, and Vermaelen had a luminous blonde, fuzzy beard and matching eyebrows.

Anyways, what the real result does demonstrate is that Wenger is really getting his substitutes right this season, as Goonerholic rightly observes. It’s not the first time he’s sent someone on to change the game and he deserves full credit for doing so. Wrighty7 gives the manager the dues owed to him.

Furthermore, the team selected included 3 of the regular back four, with Mikael Silvestre replacing Armand Traore at left back (and getting the captain’s armband). While it was deeply risky, it shows that Wenger is putting a smoke screen over his intentions of ‘prioritising’ trophies. He certainly wanted to win this match.

Eduardo is still nowhere near his best form, but 3 goals in four games is just fine by me. It was evident how shaky his confidence was against Hull with the fact that his goal was pretty close to being a miss. But a lucky deflection against Portsmouth is enough to start getting that scent for blood back, and he showed it with a magnificent header at the always-intimidating Upton Park.

Last but not least, I’ve criticised the home support before, but the away boys really did their reputations no harm with a stormer of vocal support at Upton Park. Magnificent work. Surely the best away support in the country?

We’ve drawn Stoke at the Britannia for the fourth round, which is just typical when Chelsea draw Preston and Man City get Scunthorpe. Nevertheless, you have to beat whoever’s in front of you to win a cup.

In other news, Arsene Wenger discusses how to deal with Song’s absence in his post-match interview and the state of the transfer market.

Next up, it’s that fabled GAME IN HAND at long last, against Bolton at home. All eyes should be firmly fixed on that one to start making our move up the Premier League table.

It’s really becoming a good season. So far.

Filed under: Arsenal, FA Cup, Match Reports