A performance at Goodison Park that needs no further elaboration. 4 shots – 4 goals.  How many times have we said that about an Arsenal team?

It’s West Ham up next and if I remember correctly, they’re the only team to have done the double over Arsenal and Man United last year. Anyway the past is best forgotten and history while helpful is useless when it comes to the game; unless people are psychologically bogged down by a bogey team. If we for example don’t get all 3 tomorrow the media will start blabbing about bogey teams conveniently forgetting that ManU are in a worse predicament with regards to West Ham right now.

Team news is that Sagna is rested which means Hoyte gets a game…I’m not too worried. Hoyte will do well for 1 game for sure. I don’t know whether Clichy will start either; he’s due a rest as well. Eboue is back as well thus disappointing numerous people here who believe he was the worst player on the pitch when that was far from true. His playacting is a different thing but there’s no doubt he brings a bit more pace and power on the right hand side. So if he can cut the crap I wont mind him staying at all.

West Ham are a decent team. I have a feeling that Mark Noble will not have a great game tomorrow as the Hleb incident will be on his mind each time he crosses paths. Matty Upson who did us a favour last time against ManU and Freddie as well will be raring to do well against us. Anyway I’m too tired to think of anything but the obvious stuff that Carlton Cole will do nothing against us. Dean Ashton will win 1 million headers in the air if he starts.

Here’s the squad that AW will put out tomorrow:
Almunia
Hoyte Toure Gallas Clichy(Traore)
Eboue(Walcott) Diaby Flamini Cesc Mozart
Adebayor

I know it sounds strange …AW going back to a 4-5-1..but I get this feeling that it’s what he’ll do and switch to Dudu later who will score the only goal again. All instincts these are…and crap may be but I’ll go with:
Arsenal 1 – Westham 0

Anyway its midnight here on Monday and its already past 12:00 on new year. So for what its worth — Wishing all those (unlike me) who believe a new year is different — A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

A second half Dudu double helps the Gunners pull themselves off the mat for a 4-1 come from behind victory away at Everton on Saturday.

After a first half to forget about, Arsenal found themselves 1-0 down at the half thanks to a 19th minute goal by Tim Cahill.  The second half was a completely different story, as Eduardo da Silva opened his league account with a goal just one minute after the re-start.

With the score on level terms, it was Arsenal who were in the ascendancy, and after 58 minutes, it was 2-1 Arsenal thanks to a cool finish by the Crozillian.

Nick Bendtner found himself sent off after 74 minutes for a second bookable offense after making a very stupid tackle on Andrew Johnson.  It was striker’s challenge, but exceedingly dumb considering he was already on a yellow, and was just moments from being subbed for Emmanuel Adebayor, who made a rare start on the bench.

Down to ten men, Arsene Wenger subbed the big man in for Eduardo, and within moments, Adebayor had made it 3-1 to the Gunners thanks to a mix up in the Everton defense.  For a fraction of a moment, the ball seemed stuck in between two blue jerseys, and Ade pounced on that second, slipped into the space, and guided the ball into the net.

Six minutes from time, it was suddenly 10 v 10, as Mikel Arteta saw a straight red for elbowing Cesc in the face.  There’s no telling whether it was intentional, but with the additional space on the pitch, the Gunners controlled the ball for the remainder of the match.  Another substitution, Tomas Rosicky, sealed the victory with a 94th minute strike to make the final 4-1 to Arsenal.

An excellent win considering the lifeless first half, and coupled with Man U’s loss at West Ham, a win that sees Arsenal top of the table once again.

So, a few days rest, and then it’s back to league action at home on New Year’s Day against West Ham.  The Hammers will no doubt be up for it considering they just knocked off Man U, so it’s sure to be a cracker.  Kick off is 10 AM ET tomorrow, and the match can be seen live here in the US on Setanta USA.

(I know this is very late, but this is the first I’m sitting in front of a computer since Friday afternoon.  In related news, we’ll be taking applications for volunteer admins to help get match reports up in a more timely manner when both Dan and I are away from the web.)