Published: 7 October 2012
by PAUL COWLING at Upton Park

Premier League
WEST HAM UNITED 1 ARSENAL 3

THEO Walcott was Arsenal's super-sub again, this time in an exciting match at Upton Park. His quality strike on 76 minutes put the Gunners 2-1 up in a match that, up until then, could have gone either way.

But, until he signs a new contract, Walcott will be no more than an impact sub to test tiring defences, and he won't be the starting striker he believes he should be.

Arsene Wenger praised Walcott's “outstanding attitude”. When asked whether he had a role to play up front, Wenger said “he wouldn't rule anything out”.

Wenger admitted West Ham had given his side a “difficult test”.

"There was lots of pace from both sides, in different styles. It was a good test for us mentally, when we went 1-0 down."

United had taken the lead against the run of play on 21 minutes.

Mohammed Diame split Aaron Ramsey and Carl Jenkinson, burst through into the box and curled the ball past Vito Mannone in the Gunners' goal.

West Ham looked set for a half-time lead but on 40 minutes Diame, who had earlier been booked, pulled out of a challenge that could have stopped an attack, but got him sent off.

Instead, Olivier Giroud crossed for Lukas Podolski. The German pulled the ball back into the goalmouth, where Giroud followed up to stab home his first Premier League goal for Arsenal.

The second half saw chances for both sides to take the lead. Podolski and Cazorla had shots blocked, while there were appeals for a penalty when Ramsey was caught in a tangle of West Ham legs.

At the other end, Arsenal fell asleep to an offside appeal, but Metersacker came to their rescue to deny Kevin Nolan when he was through on goal.

Andy Carroll, a constant menace with his height and strength, outjumped Mannone, but his header fell wide of the goal.

Cue Walcott, on for a poor Gervinho. Giroud, buoyed by a goal of his own, fed the Arsenal sub, who burst through with a clincial finish beyond the reach of Hammers keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.

A turning point came 12 minutes from time, when Nolan should have made it 2-2, but he blasted the ball over the Arsenal crossbar.

That miss was the key for Arsenal to take charge again, and the cue for the imperious Santi Cazorla to orchestrate in midfield. I counted one misplaced pass from him in the entire match. On 83 minutes he set the seal on a fine afternoon for him and his team with a swerving drive that bamboozled Jaaskelainen.

Wenger purred with delight after the game.

"He (Cazorla) was a delight from first to last. It was a pleasure to see what he did on the pitch. I hope every young player in England watches him."

The Arsenal boss was clearly in buoyant mood after this important win that sees his side move into fifth place going into the international break.

Arsenal's multinational squad will travel the globe in search of World Cup points for their national sides, and in Theo Walcott's case a hopeful starting role against Moldova and Poland.

Whether it's as a striker is open to question, but as Wenger joked: "Maybe Theo can play up front with Carroll."

Arsenal: Mannone; Jenkinson, Vermaelen, Mertesacker, Gibbs (Andre Santos 56); Ramsey, Arteta, Cazorla; Gervinho (Walcott 61), Giroud, Podolski (Koscielny 85)
Att: 34,974