Ramsey is starting 2010 as he finished 2009, on a high. He doesn’t hide, he wants the ball in every part of the pitch at any time. He isn’t afraid to take responsibility when other senior figures are around him.

Match Review – West Ham 1 Arsenal 2 – FA Cup Third Round

Rotation was the name of the game for all the top sides in the third round of the FA Cup. I had watched a Manchester United side mixed of prospects and experience get out passed and out played by Leeds United at Old Trafford earlier in the afternoon, a thoroughly entertaining game of football, so my spirits were sufficiently lifted before the Arsenal took to the Upton Park pitch.

I frantically flicked around websites and sky sports news desperate for the team line up like an impatient child on Christmas eve, I finally got my fix and was shocked to see both Thomas Vermaelen and William Gallas continue to partner each other in a game that I was certain that at least one of them would be rested. It was not to be, Arsene wanted to build a strong defensive unit with Alex Song playing his final game just ahead of them.

The rest of the side had a Carling flavour sprinkled around the midfield and attack. I scratched my head at the lack of a Czech influence from the starting line up or the bench. What had happened from the time I saw him running around at Fratton Park to now? There wasn’t much time to digest that information as the game was set to kick off.

The first half didn’t start as I expected, West Ham having to deal with many injuries would surely find it difficult to stop the youngsters from keeping the ball. Well I was wrong on that front, the Irons number one objective was to deny the Gunners any time and space on the ball, this was causing our midfield to misplace passes and consequently starve the front men of service.

Jack Wilshere found it difficult to stamp his authority in front of the home side that he supported as a boy and had a bit of a Ramsey vs Cardiff moment. At one point giving away a sloppy pass in front of his own box then when receiving the ball seconds later, dribbling into trouble.

Jack is a teenager of immense talent and I have been guilty of calling for more starts but the truth is physically he is not ready to play for Arsenal on a regular basis. It was the same type of performance against Manchester City in the Carling cup. We have seen it with Ramsey and even more so with Cesc, natural physical development will come in time for Wilshere.

Fran Merida also had an indifferent game in the Arsenal engine room, he found it difficult to cope with the pace of the game and couldn’t use his excellent passing range. Fran was in charge of the in swinging corners via his left foot, time and time again the man on the front post cleared unchallenged. It is easy to point the blame at the young Spaniard but I have been watching those for years. Robert Pires, Theirry Henry, Jose Reyes, Cesc Fabregas the list goes on. I assume it is a theory that Wenger has and has instructed his players to hit a certain area. That area didn’t cause West Ham any problems. It seems like only Robin Van Persie has caused defences problems consistently over the years from the corner kick.

Chances were few and far between from both sides, Fabianski clawed away Diamanti’s curling effort and Green saved well from Eduardo.

The deadlock was broken on the stroke of half time, Silvestre played Diamanti onside and he ran through to face Fabianski one on one, Fabianski guessed the right way and got a hand on the shot but it wasn’t enough to prevent it from rolling into the back of the Arsenal net.

Half time, a goal down and the team looking disjointed and lacking any real cohesion. It was going to be a big ask of the players to get through this tie. But I always thought our bench was strong enough to change the game, that was proved to be correct in the end.

Lukasz Fabianski was in fine form in between the sticks, looking calm and assured from crosses, distributed very efficiently and made several high quality saves. In this form he will be breathing heavily down Manuel Almunia’s neck, quite why he should be so close to him is anyone’s guess but judging from that performance, he looks ready.

As so often the case, Arsenal came out a different side in the second half, more purpose about the passes, quicker movement and a shift up in tempo.

After twenty minutes into the second half of door knocking, Arsene decided to show his hand. Off came the inexperienced Wilshere and Merida for French duo Samir Nasri and Abou Diaby respectively. The difference was instant, the power of Diaby along with the guile of Nasri swung the pendulum in favour of the Gunners.

The improvements from both Aaron Ramsey and Carlos Vela contributed to the second half showing. Vela had been interchanging with Eduardo in the first half but looked more of a permanent fixture on the left touchline throughout the second half and injected some pace and penetration.

It didn’t take long for Arsenal to create an opening, and a great move ending up with Diaby bearing down on Green’s goal but his right foot shot from close range was smoothed by the Hammers keeper, the follow up from Song was also blocked by Green.

Minutes later the goal finally came for the Arsenal. Aaron Ramsey’s chocolate left foot showing that his strike against Portsmouth was no fluke. More than twelve passes saw the ball ping from the back to front. Song finding Vela on the edge of the penalty area, his flick was intelligent and creative with a bit of luck on the way, flicking off a West Ham defender into the path of Ramsey who struck it hard and low past the diving Robert Green.

Ramsey is starting 2010 as he finished 2009, on a high. He doesn’t hide, he wants the ball in every part of the pitch at any time. He isn’t afraid to take responsibility when other senior figures are around him. Give him a few years and he will be one of the best goal scoring midfielder’s in the country if not the very best. If he can progress at the same rate as Alex Song then why not?

Our tails were well and truly up and it didn’t take long for the winner to come along. After Luis Jimenez attempted to tear Diaby’s head off with a ridiculous high foot that went unpunished, the play resumed and Carlos Vela curled in a peach of a cross. A number nine rose in the box and directed an expert header into the far corner, I thought the clocks had turned back and Smudger had scored one of his typical headers, it was in fact the Crozilan Eduardo with the wonderful finish. He may not be the big lumbering forward that many are clambering for but he out jumped Matthew Upson and won the tie for Arsenal.

The chances kept coming for Arsenal but the East London club’s blushes were spared.

Stoke City were picked out of the hat in the next round at the Britannia Stadium, we may well see yet another mixed team especially as we will have some massive games around that time but that is for another day. We only have a few days of celebration before Bolton arrive at the Emirates.

The kids gain experience, some get a breather and Manchester United get beaten by their enemy. A pretty good Sunday I’d say.