Arsenal 0, West Ham 2. Well That Was Refreshing!

I’m sure a political metaphor is not what you were expecting to start the new season. Campaign probably a better word, I guess. And I’m expecting a bit of stick.

Fine. I can deal with that.

George W. Bush wasn’t a popular figure in my neck of the woods. He didn’t have too many fans in the UK, either. I recall the headline in The Mirror when he was re-elected. “How can 59 million people be so dumb”. Harsh, but I saw similar sentiment four years later when W was done. Someone I know said, “I didn’t realize how depressed I’ve been the past 8 years”. Managing a football club is obviously a far less serious manner than running my country. But as I awaited the kickoff today at The Emirates, I came in with a feeling of hope and curiosity. As opposed to simple resignation to not only the outcome but also the events that would lead to it. That was exemplified an hour before kickoff when the rumours that Reece Oxford would start became a fact. Add Zarate to the mix and at least we could fantasize about our beloved club for a bit. I didn’t expect to win. I halfway expected a thrashing.

What a thrilling shock to our system.

The first touch of a professional career normally isn’t something we pay attention to. But seconds into the match, Reece Oxford…who is younger than half of my t-shirts…comfortable chested the ball down to Reid. Moments later, Tomkins made a run down the left, fed Kouyate, who then tried to cross to Sakho but it went out for a corner. If we had scored, we might have credited the kid with an assist just because.

Mark Noble is often criticized for picking up silly fouls in dangerous areas after losing the ball. In the 5th minute, Noble became the first of many players on both sides to go slip slidin’ away on the Emirates pitch and then, trying to regain possession, fouled Coquelin and was shown a yellow card. Minutes later, newcomer Ogbonna made a similar challenge on Oxlade-Chamberlain just outside the West Ham penalty area and was also booked. Two minutes. Two yellows. The resulting free kick went out for a corner, which then came to Debuchy but his header went over the bar.

The first real chance for either side came in the 11th minute when Reid attempted to clear a cross from the left. It went straight to Oxlade-Chamberlain, but his 25 yard volley went over the bar.

The change in leadership to Slaven Bilic is exemplified by the signing of Dimitri Payet. There was no way on God’s Green Earth a creative midfielder of Payet’s quality would have signed for our previous manager. In the 19th minute, Payet showed why he might be the most important signing of the Gold & Sullivan era. The ball was played down the left for Payet to run onto. It was a bit long, but Payet not only saved it from going out for a goal kick but also used a cheeky little header to set himself for a cross to Sakho. The pass missed its target, but the message was clear. Payet can, and will, hurt the opposition when they think they are in the clear.

Mauro Zarate creates two, and only two, reactions from West Ham supporters. Frustration and Euphoria. In the 26th minute, Frustrating Zarate lost the ball to Coquelin, who quickly delivered a cross into the box for Giroud. The Frenchman controlled the ball with his chest, but his shot was blocked by Ogbonna. Two minutes later Oxlade-Chamberlain picked up the ball in his own half and started a steamrolling run into the West Ham area. He eventually found Cazorla with a cross, but his shot went over the bar. Moments later, the ball dropped kindly for Ramsey but his shot deflected off Cresswell and out for a corner.

West Ham went on the front foot in the 36th minute when Payet embarked on a great run, beat two Arsenal defenders before his shot was deflected out for a corner. From a strategic standpoint, the corner was interesting in that it was played back for Zarate to run onto and shoot. From a result standpoint, it was Frustrating Zarate again as his shot went wide. West Ham endured more frustration minutes later when Tomkins was shown the Hammers third yellow for bringing down Monreal.

Have I mentioned that Payet is a great signing? I did? Good. Because he is.

In the 43rd minute, West Ham won a free kick when Noble was brought down in midfield. Up stepped Payet to send a perfect ball into the charging line, and Kouyate guided it past the diving Cech and into the back of the net. Yes, Cech made an error. And maybe if this had been against Chelsea with Cech and his back line being more familiar with each other, the result may have been different. But to take anything away from either the delivery or the finish would be juvenile.

Or Sky Sports. Same thing.

Halftime. Arsenal 0, West Ham 1.

I, for one, would not like to be the one that causes Diafra Sakho consternation. His eyes get this look that sharks get before they strike. Frustrating Zarate could have been on the end of such an attack in the 51st minute when he charged at the Arsenal defense at the top of the box. With Sakho screaming for the ball on the right, Frustrating Zarate tried to do it all by himself, and ended up doing nothing but lose the ball. Sakho punched the air in fury, and Twitter went bananas attacking Zarate’s selfishness.

The next few minutes were The Olivier Giroud Show. In the 52nd minute, Giroud sent a cross into the box that Adrian mishandled. But there wasn’t a Gunner in sight and our cult hero in neon green gathered the ball. Moments later Giroud met an Ozil cross but sent his shot into the side netting. Then, with tons of time and space, Giroud rushed a shot that took a slight deflection off Ogbanna and into the arms of Adrian.

In the 57th minute Zarate was substituted for Zarate. That is, Frustrating Zarate left the and Euphoric Zarate took his place. After taking the ball off of Oxlade-Chamberlain near the top of the box, he made a slight touch and fired. Cech expected the ball to his left, but instead Euphoric Zarate sent the ball low and into near corner.

Arsenal 0, West Ham 2.

When Jarvis came on for Zarate in the 62nd minute, I was surprised. It didn’t help that a minute later a silly challenge from Jarvis gave Arsenal a free kick from a dangerous area. Cazorla’s free kick did find Giroud, but his header had no pace and was right at Adrian.

In the 67th minute, West Ham supporters worldwide groaned to see Alexis Sanchez come on for Debuchy. The script was being set up for West Ham pain. And for a few minutes, Arsenal applied the kind of pressure that usually ends in a goal when playing us. Walcott, a longtime West Ham nemesis, made a run down the right to win a corner. But instead of West Ham making a mistake or committing a foul, it was Sanchez whistled for holding Tomkins. Arsenal came again, only for Reid to clear.

The 74th minute was genuinely frightening for a moment when Giroud and Tomkins clashed heads. It looked like Giroud was knocked cold, especially when he was rolled on his side, presumably to save him from swallowing his tongue. Yet despite what we’ve all read about concussion protocol, both were back on the pitch in a few minutes.

The final ten minutes plus stoppage time were going to be nervy enough. Seeing Kevin Nolan come on didn’t help matters. But moments after coming on, Nolan started a counter attack that had ball movement and interplay to make any supporter in the world proud. It ended with Sakho tackled in the box and a save by Cech. Arsenal came right back down with the ball eventually coming to Oxlade-Chamberlain. However his shot hit the side netting.

Instead of just lofting the ball as far as possible in the final minutes of a game, West Ham played football. Payet led a counter and got the ball near the corner flag. Then Sakho ran the length of the pitch, gathered the ball by the same corner flag, and sent Noble running freely along the touchline. Arsenal had a few chances in injury time, but none that caused any of us to have palpitations.

Final Score. Arsenal 0, West Ham 2.

As I have done every year since the web made it easy, I spent some free time on the days leading up to every season reading previews and predictions. Along with two prognosticators sending us down, many others said “they were worried for West Ham”. Richard Keys and Andy Gray on their new network BeIN Sports (who have also employed Big Sam), Robbie’s Mustoe and Earle over here on NBC. Considering that I wrote down Arsenal when asked who will win the league, I wasn’t expecting much. But I thought, or maybe just hoped, that the team under Bilic would at least give me a reason to pay attention for all 90 minutes.

Instead, I got the most refreshing and enjoyable West Ham experience in many years.