Awful Bridge is Avram's Epitaph

West Ham 0 Arsenal 3

Rumours have been rife of Martin O’Neill’s imminent arrival at Upton Park no matter what the outcome of tonight’s Premier League encounter was, but surely now Avram Grant will be getting his marching orders. A brace from Robin Van Persie, including a penalty and a Theo Walcott strike consigned the Hammers to their eleventh defeat of the season.

As dominant in possession as the Gunners were, West Ham lacked belief and confidence. The loss of Mark Noble to a calf problem after twenty minutes compounded the absence of Scott Parker and left the midfield lacking a crunch. Arsenal profited by monopolising the ball, their passing going largely unopposed.

New signing Wayne Bridge on loan in East London from Manchester City was thrown in at the deep end despite his lack of match time and that decision is almost certain to have been one of the final ones Grant makes in his job. He was at fault in some way for all the goals the Hammers conceded and yet he was supposed to sure things up at the back. Bridge couldn’t handle Walcott’s pace down the right, evidenced by him giving away the penalty that sealed the win for Arsene Wenger’s side.

Van Persie was finally starting to look sharp after his spell on the sidelines and his opener was superbly taken. Samir Nasri played his part too, dummying Walcott’s low cross before the clinical finish from the Dutchman. Although the visitors took the lead inside fifteen minute, the Hammers showed some signs of responding with Zavon Hines shooting over and across goal from a tight angle.

Arsenal’s number ten turned provided for the second, pulling the ball back from the by-line and Walcott finished into the roof of the net to give them a two goal cushion at the break. In the second half Szczesny in the visitors’ goal had little to do again, but was nearly caught out by a cross-shot from Freddie Sears before the Gunners sealed the win thirteen minutes from time with Van Persie scoring from the spot.