Premier League
West Ham United 2 Arsenal 2

Sunday, 25th October 2009
by Gordon Thrower

Well that was a bit of a turn up wasn’t it? The second 2-2 home draw in a row but whereas the Fulham result left us all deflated this one at least cheered us up a bit.



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Player Ratings

Robert Green
Came for one he shouldn?EUR(TM)t have. Should have come for one he didn?EUR(TM)t. Result: two goals. A lot better on crosses in the second half and made two fine saves that ended up earning us the point.


Jonathan Spector
Right-back is a position that worries me at the moment. Never looked all that comfortable defensively and seems to have an allergy to the opponents?EUR(TM) half of the field. Improved as the game progressed.


Herita Ilunga
A lot of the threat came from down his flank. Got forward well on occasion but crossing was poor.


James Tomkins
Won just about everything in the air in the second half. Decent match.


Matthew Upson
Another who improved from a bit of a shaky start. Still not at his best though.


Scott Parker
Dreadfully unlucky to encounter a referee as poor as Foy. No penalty and two yellow cards for nothing.


Mark Noble
There is something not right here. The more the game went on the worse his passing got and his delivery from set pieces left much to be desired.


Jack Collison
A quietish one ?EUR" a few decent passes and a bit unlucky with an early shot that was adjudged to have been offside.


Valon Behrami
Did some useful harrying round but still looks about a yard off the pace.


Guillermo Franco
A few good touches ?EUR" won the ball in the air a few times and there was some decent link play early on with Cole. However, the longer the game went on the less noticeable he became.


Carlton Cole
The one player on the pitch who never gave up. Thoroughly deserved the goal and whatever MOTM plaudits came his way.



Substitutes

Alessandro Diamanti
(Replaced Noble, 56 mins) The catalyst for the comeback. Seemed to take being left out as a personal affront and kept a cool head amongst all the gamesmanship that was going on for the penalty.


Zavon Hines
(Replaced Franco, 64 mins) Caused Arsenal problems by running at them and was instrumental in winning the free-kick for the first.


Radoslav Kovac
(Replaced Behrami, 90 mins) Presumably he came on as an exercise in running the clock down. That was about all he was able to do in the two minutes or so he was on the pitch.


Peter Kurucz
Did not play.


Julien Faubert
Did not play.


Manuel Da Costa
Did not play.


Junior Stanislas
Did not play.



Match Facts

West Ham United: Robert Green, Jonathan Spector, Herita Ilunga, James Tomkins, Matthew Upson, Scott Parker, Mark Noble, Jack Collison, Valon Behrami, Guillermo Franco, Carlton Cole.

Goals: Carlton Cole 74 Alessandro Diamanti 80                .

Booked: Zavon Hines 71 Jack Collison 75 Scott Parker 78      .

Sent Off: Scott Parker 78    .

Arsenal: Mannone, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Eboue, Song, Diaby, Fabregas, Arshavin, Van Persie.

Subs not used: Almunia, Silvestre, Nasri, Gibbs, Ramsey.

Goals: Van Persie (16), Gallas (37).

Booked: Eboue (77), Mannone (80).

Sent off: None.

Referee: Chris Foy.

Attendance: 34,442.

Man of the Match: Carlton Cole.