At 1.20pm on Saturday afternoon I was starting to regret accepting an invitation to watch the game at my Arsenal supporting brother-in-law’s house.
Having left gaps at the back big enough to drive a travelling circus through, Alexis Sanchez had just dealt us a second punishing blow.
I reminded my brother-in-law of the Everton fight back, he thought the game was won. I didn’t.
Where we are now as a team is a wonderful place to be. Despite mistakes by ourselves and the officials putting us on the wrong end of a 2-0 score line, we played as if we were the side in command. Heads didn’t drop, in fact it was akin to poking a polar bear with a stick. The beast was made angry and ready to fight.
And fight it did.
And what happened when we pulled one back? Arsenal did the opposite to us. They looked nervous, unassured, almost afraid.
The claret and blue beast seized upon this and struck 2 more vicious blows to a now cowering Arsenal side.
It was quite simply a sublime comeback, adding yet another highlight to this fantastic season.
But the bear rattling the cage was not the previously all conquering headline grabber Mr Payet.
Quite rightly this season, ourselves and many others have lauded Dimitri as the star attraction. On Saturday though we (and Mr Hodgson) were reminded that we have another very unique talent in our ranks.
It’s something we all tell anyone that will listen that on his day Andy Carroll is unplayable. When he is fit, confident and provided with the right service, he is equal to any striker in the Premier League.
If we could keep him fit, he is more than capable of being a 25 goal a season player. And those are very very hard to come by.
We don’t need to be splashing big money for a goal grabber to push us on, we just need to keep the world class one we have already injury free. The goals will come, and often.
Speaking of not needing to splash big money I need to mention 2 other players. Michail Antonio and Aaron Cresswell. £10m for the pair. That is stunning value.
Both have now settled in to vital roles within the team. I am never not impressed by either, both epitomising what it takes to be a West Ham great – not giving up, always giving 100% and looking like wearing claret and blue really means something to them.
We can now look forward to Manchester United with real relish on Wednesday. If they grab an early goal so what? If they get 2, so what? This team will fight and claw its way back.
The team is by no means perfect but it’s ability to keep its head up and fight on is the real turnaround this season. 2-0 down to anyone in years gone by would have been goodnight nurse. Now it’s a signal to hold on to your seats and don’t dare look away from the action.
COYI