Arsenal used their final trip to Upton Park to conjure a microcosm for their last decade under Arsene Wenger. They roared into a 2-0 lead early on, and then went about conceding three goals to Andy Carroll (!) before getting a goal back to briefly show late promise that ultimately goes unfulfilled.
There was surprise early on as Wenger opted to keep faith with David Ospina rather than select the fit-again Petr Cech:
Not sure about the decision to pick David Ospina when West Ham will be hanging the ball up for Andy Carroll. 🤔🤔🤔
— Jack Pitt-Brooke (@JackPittBrooke) April 9, 2016
Arsenal started well, and sauntered into a 2-0 lead against a West Ham side that started very slowly. Both goals were assisted by Alex Iwobi. Piers was happy:
BOOOOOM! 2-0.
Terrific ball by Iwobi, smart finish Alexis.#afc— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 9, 2016
Carroll then scored twice before half-time. Piers was not happy.
Wenger bangs on & on & on about 'mental strength' - oblivious to the irony that's it's the one thing we've lacked for 10yrs. #afc
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 9, 2016
This is utterly disgraceful.
Get the entire defence off now.
Play Giroud & Walcott back there. #WHUvAFC— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) April 9, 2016
Others focussed on the contribution of Carroll, who completed his hat-trick minutes into the second half:m
Andy carroll last night sent Roy Hodgson a EURO COME AND GET ME PLEA
— Barney Ronay (@barneyronay) April 9, 2016
That finish will send SHOCKWAVES around Europe
— Barney Ronay (@barneyronay) April 9, 2016
Sorry Arsenal. You're experiencing Andy Carroll's one great game per solstice.
— James Tyler (@JamesTylerESPN) April 9, 2016
. @barneyronay put it best | "like an Action Man hurled into the middle of a dolls’ tea party… a medieval siege tower… @AndyTCarroll
— James Horncastle (@JamesHorncastle) April 9, 2016
Andy Carroll is Arsenal's very worst fears becoming flesh.
— Nick Miller (@NickMiller79) April 9, 2016
Arsenal equalised through Laurent Koscielny, but couldn't better it, and ended with a point that all but ends their title hopes. It is an opportunity missed for the Gunners to catapult themselves back into title contention, and many saw Arsenal's failure to win a game they were cruising in as proof of the club's mental fragility:
Arsenal sniffed a title challenge at 2-0 and quickly realigned.
— Paul Ring (@Paul__Ring) April 9, 2016
I little bit of pressure and we choke instantly!!! #Arsenal
— Alan Norton (@alnorts) April 9, 2016
The classic Arsenal game: 1): promising play + false hope. 2): the monumental says-it-all blunder. 3): the reassuring but deceptive response
— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) April 9, 2016
The mind-numbing sameness of Arsenal's season continues unabated. You feel the starting point for any change in that cycle will be a revamp in the dug-out.
