Rarely has a manager led a team in more awkward circumstances; regardless of the rumours tipping Martin O'Neill to take over, Avram Grant, still at the helm of the threatened relegation, managed West Ham in the Saturday London derby against Arsenal. A
win would take the Hammers out of the drop zone, but will their players be motivated to fight for a boss tipped to be sacked after the match?
It was a depleted West Ham side that lined up in what was rumoured to be Avram Grant's last match as Hammers' boss. Their talismanic captain Scott Parker was sidelined with an ankle injury, while upfront strikers http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Victor-Obinna-c36080
and Frederic Piquionne were ruled out. Wayne Bridge made his debut at left-back, while Zavon Hines supported Carlton Cole up front. There were no new injury worries for Arsenal, which retained http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Wojciech-Szczesny-c36998 in goal and Emmanuel Eboue at right-back.
Avram Grant's treatment has been appalling to say the least, no matter how badly a manager has done, he at least has the right to know whether he's being backed or sacked. To ask a manager to lead a team out in this situation was
incredibly harsh on the owner's part.
It was a decent start from Arsenal and Upton Park was uncharacteristically subdued. A last-ditch foot in from Julien Faubert prevented Cesc Fabregas from getting in a shot after Robin Van Persie headed on a cross into the Hammers
box.
Samir Nasri struck a free-kick from about 35 yards and it ricocheted off James Tomkins before ending into the arms of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Robert-c31222 Green. West Ham were spending most of their time trying to stop Arsenal playing, which they were doing
very well.
The muted atmosphere got even worse as Arsenal worked the ball to Theo Walcott down the right, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Samir-Nasri-c32360 stepped over it, Robin van Persie smashed it into the corner
of Rob Green's net from 15 yards out to put the away team ahead. It was a clinical finish from the Dutchman.
Supporters were now officially worried about West Ham; they could be in serious trouble based on their performance so far. Julien Faubert was booked for a horrible tackle on Cesc Fabregas, with the Spaniard requiring some treatment.
It should have been two-nil as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Theo-Walcott-c34873 - Tomkins got in a superb tackle, but the ball fell kindly for Walcott
again, only for him to panic and rush his shot at Rob Green. Mark Noble was struggling with injury and he was replaced by Luis Boa Morte.
West Ham's best moment came as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Johan-Djourou-c18779 left a back pass short and Carlton Cole was in - Wojciech Szczesny made himself big and it was an excellent save to deny the striker, with Hines rolling the rebound just past the angle
of post and bar with his left foot from an angle.
Avram Grant was prowling around his technical area, giving his players the occasional clap to try and get them going. Arsenal broke with pace once again and after http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Robin-van-Persie-c31380 brilliantly cushioned Cesc Fabregas's pass into
Alex Song's path, the midfielder's shot was deflected into the arms of Rob Green.
Arsenal were opening West Ham apart at times – it shows how good they are, rather than the Hammers' deficiencies. Samir Nasri's spectacular cross field pass found Robin van Persie, and the Dutchman's ferocious first-time left-foot
rocket shot cannoned back off the base of Rob Green's left-hand post.
Arsenal were dominating and West Ham were relying on the ball over the top to catch them out and hit them on the break. It worked well for Ipswich on Tuesday, but Avram Grant's side just cannot get hold of the ball enough to make
it work.
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