Arsenal got back to winning ways against West Ham at the Emirates in an exciting match which showcased some actual football from the Gunners.
Taking a while to get going, Arsenal grew into the game and the crowd grew with them, galvanised by Martin Atkinson’s refusal to give the Gunners anything at all. The increased urgency from Arsenal was received well by the diminished crowd. They gave the team their full support in response to the effort they saw on the pitch.
Mesut Ozil’s beautifully caressed effort from the corner of the box opened the scoring. Arsenal doubled their lead after a sublime move capped off by Theo Walcott’s cool side-foot finish. Assisted by? Mesut Ozil. Of course.
The third was another beaut after some great play from the Ox, finding Giroud who bent one into the far corner. They’d only just came on.
The big boys had finally come out to play after their winter hibernation.
Things are still far from perfect and this win, of course, fixes little. But winning is better than not winning and confidence builds little-by-little. This should help a lot.
Let the building continue.
Here’s how the game unfolded on Twitter:
My goodness, Arsenal players actually appear to be talking tactics as they get ready to kick off
— Lee Hurley (@HLeeHurley) April 5, 2017
Planned #WengerOut protest has been cancelled this evening due to low attendance.
Fewer than 10 people have turned up. pic.twitter.com/a040CCFJZO
— Adam (@AdamHamdani_) April 5, 2017
Pitch invasion! Guy with a Superman shirt… Liveblog https://t.co/BmL1OxpiY6 #NapoliJuve #CoppaItalia #TIMCup
— footballitalia (@footballitalia) April 5, 2017
The massive Arsenal fan, spends all his time calling for the managers head yet hasn't got a clue if the team are playing home or away. pic.twitter.com/XY9FiEH3Y8
— Doug Walker (@Doug_180) April 5, 2017
https://twitter.com/CentraIRamsey/status/849696073643905026
West Ham supporters always moaning about empty seats in London Stadium but Arsenal beat us on their ground.get the points there!⚒️
— willem velthuijs (@lepneuvide) April 5, 2017
Xhaka is doing some things
— Leutrim Rexhaj (@LeutrimRexhaj) April 5, 2017
Xhaka-Elneny is the partnership we should try all the time without santi. Has some good potential this. #arsenal
— KAKAwesome (@ThePiresChip) April 5, 2017
#whufc fans (alternate chanting): "Wenger Out! Wenger In!"
— James Olley (@JamesOlley) April 5, 2017
This banner didn't seem to get much attention at the weekend pic.twitter.com/gou9XKCOGq
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) April 5, 2017
Swansea score against Spurs
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) April 5, 2017
Arsenal fan TV has got nothing on Spurs Twitter. More meltdowns than Chernobyl.
— Mike Flynn (@Flynny403) April 5, 2017
No penalty …shocking…
— Rima Mohammed (@trinirima) April 5, 2017
Atkinson doesn't give a pen and then gives a (justified) yellow to Bellerin
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) April 5, 2017
Xhaka sent Noble back to Upton Park pic.twitter.com/ui3VqLpXmh
— Ahmed (@Ahmed91Gooner) April 5, 2017
Surprised I don't have a tweet 'should've been a penalty for Arsenal' saved in my drafts
— FG (@FunnyGooner) April 5, 2017
Great play from Hector and Theo, with a shot on target in the end. A glimpse of pre-Kylo Ren Bellerin there.
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) April 5, 2017
Davie Proven putting his Sky Sports career on the line by controversy saying Arsenal should have had a penelty.
— Kildare Gunner (@KildareGunner) April 5, 2017
It is one of those 'great chances' to catch up that we usually make a total mare of!
— Mat VP (@mat_v_p) April 5, 2017
https://twitter.com/ArsenesChilean/status/849701169681358848
So quietly influential that a lot of people don't like him but Arsenal are, again, really missing Iwobi's ability to drift and link play.
— Lewis (@LGAmbrose) April 5, 2017
Arsenal do actually look a little bit more urgent than of late. Still clueless, but a little more urgent.
— Lee Hurley (@HLeeHurley) April 5, 2017
Everything I said Atkinson would do when I wrote his preview, is exactly what he's doing.
— Lee Hurley (@HLeeHurley) April 5, 2017
Scores going very nicely for Arsenal this evening. Apart from this one, obviously.
— gunnerblog (@gunnerblog) April 5, 2017
After watching Theo Walcott play week in week out I'm still full of hope that I can one day play for Arsenal
— Ieuan (@Herbieeeeee_x) April 5, 2017
Gone through the spectrum of questions who, how, what, why and when with Atkinson. I don't understand any of his calls today
— Panda Monium (@arsenalpanda11) April 5, 2017
Elneny's forward run made that entire move. You need an extra body. Can't have two midfielders sit deep. It's what we lose with Coquelin.
— JB™ (@gunnerpunner) April 5, 2017
We are looking good. Only a goal missing. Only.
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) April 5, 2017
Another elbow, another Atkinson 'play on'
— Lee Hurley (@HLeeHurley) April 5, 2017
Mustafi went mental at the 4th official indicating he was elbowed twice and has stormed over to him at half time. Xhaka pushing WHU players.
— AFC_Andrew (@PR_WhoRu) April 5, 2017
Watching Arsenal is like soft porn. Very pretty & some nice build up play but boring to watch after a while because no penetration
— Man Like Memz (@Ata_Memz) April 5, 2017
Xhaka and Elneny bossing the midfield – our top passers pic.twitter.com/G0QlsgHPNG
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) April 5, 2017
— Sparra10 (@S_parra10) April 5, 2017
https://twitter.com/BeeGooner_/status/849711162048610304
Atkinson not giving fouls it not enough, now he started playing DM for West Ham ffs.
— Gooner Macek (@MaceK_M) April 5, 2017
Wenger in his programme notes: "I think it's a good opportunity to remind people we are not fighting to not be relegated." pic.twitter.com/eYmf2qnoqk
— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley_) April 5, 2017
Arsenal turning the sexy on
— Leutrim Rexhaj (@LeutrimRexhaj) April 5, 2017
— Özil (@Gabriellechara) April 5, 2017
I think I was a bit optimistic with my 4-0 prediction. I gave it a shot.
— Lee Hurley (@HLeeHurley) April 5, 2017
Mesut Özil bottles it when it matters to make it 1-0
— JB™ (@gunnerpunner) April 5, 2017
Imagine not rating him ffs
— Charteta (@Charley2385) April 5, 2017
'Arsenal have a stroke of fortune' says the commentator FUCK YOU
— Lee Hurley (@HLeeHurley) April 5, 2017
Finally. pic.twitter.com/V4yDrCBGG7
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) April 5, 2017
rule number one in commentating. Never give Arsenal any props.
— Kiddi Agnarsson (@Kiddi) April 5, 2017
Can we maybe not immediately concede please? That’d be good, thanks.
— Arseblog Tom (@arseblog_tom) April 5, 2017
#ARS Ozil with the first goal of the match #PLonNBC pic.twitter.com/ikEoDfSay1
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) April 5, 2017
Elneny HAS TO keep his spot even when Coquelin can play
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) April 5, 2017
Sanchez and Özil came to play today.
— You Are My Arsenal (@YouAreMyArsenal) April 5, 2017
Alexis passes the ball to where he wants a player to run to.
Özil passes the ball to where the player is running towards.— Stephen Bradley (@bradley08) April 5, 2017
That. Was. Brilliant.
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) April 5, 2017
What a goal! So many passes involved there, awesome Özil assist.
— Lewis (@LGAmbrose) April 5, 2017
I'm sure I could find a goal where Henry, Bergkamp, and Pires did that
— Leutrim Rexhaj (@LeutrimRexhaj) April 5, 2017
Winning 2-0. Can probably launch the Red Arrows over the stadium spelling out Wenger's signed a new deal lads.
— Jamie Dalton (@JamieDalton82) April 5, 2017
It really is Özil FC
— Arsène's Son (@hughwizzy) April 5, 2017
Good save Martinez. Way to stay alert
— Panda Monium (@arsenalpanda11) April 5, 2017
OOH I THINK WE FOUND OURSELVES A GOALKEEPER, HE IS BETTER THAN DAVID OSPINA
— Charteta (@Charley2385) April 5, 2017
https://twitter.com/ZPAFC/status/849718662990897153
We should have had two penalties https://t.co/voY7wHaLbE
— Lee Hurley (@HLeeHurley) April 5, 2017
Arsenal are the first Premier League side to score 100 goals in all competitions this season.
— Ian Abrahams (Moose) (@BroadcastMoose) April 5, 2017
Look how nicely we play when Coquelin isn't at the stadium.
— Lewis (@LGAmbrose) April 5, 2017
I honestly don't see any sensible reason why people hate Mesut.If he played for your club you'd understand why most Arsenal fans love him pic.twitter.com/S9I3tIJPjK
— Coca Kola (@Cechque) April 5, 2017
Beautiful finish. Beautiful man. #GRude
— FK³ (@fkhanage) April 5, 2017
Anytime a Spurs player hears the word Title Race…. pic.twitter.com/cArQXinBrq
— BetBright (@BetBright) April 5, 2017
https://twitter.com/manlikemanchez/status/849720627841970176
It is such a good feeling to see Arsenal winning again
— debsthegooner (@DebstheGooner) April 5, 2017
Lovely to watch us play like this again, nothing better than an Arsenal win.
— HF (@_hfafc) April 5, 2017
We've got our Arsenal back!! Anyone unhappy after tonight doesn't support the team. This has been a brilliant performance
— Ever, Greatest (@FaithInWenger) April 5, 2017
Thank you, @Arsenal https://t.co/f0HCJKzDYj
— Lee Hurley (@HLeeHurley) April 5, 2017
Three stonewall penalties. THREE. Atkinson is unreal.
— Lee Hurley (@HLeeHurley) April 5, 2017
https://twitter.com/ZPAFC/status/849722155499737088