Arsenal fans across the globe give a huge sigh of relief to see their darling club side recorded a win at last in the English premier league. it seemed like ages ago since the Gunners last win a match, an Arsenal fan told me she doesn't know what it's like to celebrate a win anymore, poor girl! Well, the long wait is finally over.
The Gunners, under the caretaker coaches, former Arsenal players, led by Freddie Ljungberg(supported by Per Mertesacker) recovered from a goal down to defeat West Ham 3-1 at the London Stadium. It was Arsenal's 1st win in 10 matches in all competitions.
With Arsenal free-falling under the dismissed manager Unai Emery, clearly desperate measures needed to be taken. The Spaniard oversaw 5 winless league matches(D, L, D, D, L) and 7 winless matches in all competitions(L, D, L, D, D, L, D), Arsenal's worst run since George Graham's led side went on an 8 winless run in 1992. How fortune changes in a blink of an eye, it is hard to believe that it was the same Emery that led Arsenal last season to 11 consecutive wins(22-game unbeaten run), the Gunners best run since 2007. Emery's 18-month stint with the Gunners is now the 4th shortest managerial role in the club's 133 years history.
As it is with every new manager, the apparent task is to improve the mood in and out of the locker room, on and off the pitch, and the interim handlers have their hands full with an Arsenal side lacking not just the will but leadership and mental strength. Ljungberg had tagged the mood as "strange". His 1st 2 matches in charge didn't go according to scripts as the Gunners were held 2 all by Norwich City and fell 1-2 at home to Brighton and Hove Albion, Arsenal's 8th & 9th game without a win.
However, 3rd time is a charm as some would say, Ljungberg's 3rd match as the Gunners' handler finally brought the much-coveted 3 points. It was hard-fought though, as Arsenal fell behind in the 38th minute, Angelo Ogbonna's deflected header flat-footed Bernd Leno in Gunners' goal. Arsenal was poor and laboured almost in vain for an equalizer, however, West Ham, also in troubled waters of their own, took their feet off the gas for 9 minutes and were made to rue their sloppiness. Gabriel Martinelli(60'), Nicolas Pepe(66') and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang(69') completed Gunners fight back.
Read little meaning to the win though as the team need more than a win over equally under-fire West Ham to think that the storm is over. Nevertheless, fans can savour this moment while it lasts.
Post cross-published
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