They earned their share

That familiar feeling of being “What Could Have Been” is engulfing me right now. We were cruising, rather effortlessly at one point of time only to be done in by some irresponsible defending and inexplicable refreeing. The final score is a disppointing 2-2 draw, that anyday feels like a defeat for us, and a victory for West Ham who were reduced to 10 men by the end of it all. We simply didin’t produce enough firepower and failed to capitalise on United’s defeat at Anfield.

11 Gunners looks back on a forgetful day for the Gunners

This wasn’t a performance expected from a team that has netted 27 goals in the season. But we seemed to be doing enough to assure 3 points on the night. Robert Green made an appaling mistake and unfortunately for him, Persie was lurking in the danger area. 1-0 to the Gunners in the 15th minute. West Ham were keeping possession on the ball on a day when we were uncharacteristically slippery with ball possession. But Carlton Cole was waging a solo war from their end and lack was support was preventing West Ham from troubling Arsenal. We doubled our advantage when William Gallas slotted home from a corner. Again, a goal that could have been avoided by the home team.

Half time and 2 goals up, we were sitting pretty in the driver’s seat, but were we?

We had chances to seal the deal. Fabregas’s thunderous long range effort whisked past the West Ham goal and some wayward finishing from Eboue denied us that golden 3rd. Carlton Cole has been touted as one of our possible winter targets and after this game, Wenger might be looking into that more seriously. He opened the scoring around the 70th minute to suddenly inject life into the game. The crowd rallied behind them as they ventured forward in search of the equaliser. After turning down a penalty appeal few minutes ago, refree rather harshly adjuged Song to have brought down Carlton Cole. Dimianti stepped up from the spot to equalise.

Arsenal were awoken from their sleep and Wenger threw first Bendtner and then Eduardo into the mix to force the issue. Scott Parker was given a second yellow in the 84th minute and West Ham would have to see off the Gunners with 10 men. It seemed we had clinched it in the 90th minute but a heart stopping save by Green kept alive the spirit of the home fans and pretty surely would have impressed the onlooking Fabio Capello.

Disappointment in the end for us as we failed to make further inroads towards the top of the table. If we dream to become champions we just have to put this behind us and focus ahead as Spurs visit Emirates next for a mouthwatering edition of the North London derby.