Ozil, Walcott, Giroud deepen West Ham's relegation woes

Adjust Comment Print

Hammers manager Slaven Bilic was given the support of the club's board this week after a poor run of form - which now stretches to five league defeats in a row - that has dragged his side into the midst of the relegation battle.

Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin insists he understands fans' frustrations at the team's struggles, but has asked for calm as a top-four place is there "for the taking" in the Premier League.

'I love Mesut Ozil and I love his game as well, ' admitted Wenger afterwards. We have players back from injuries.

"I will never stop believing in myself but to get, or to keep, other people believing, people who are not involved in training or the amount of work I do here, you have to deliver the results and now it is about time".

Wenger said it was possible to reach fourth, adding: "We have players back from injury, we've done it before - in more hard conditions". Elneny does not possess the same intelligence in possession but, in tandem with Xhaka, he was able to inject sufficient tempo into this performance to help secure three precious points.

With the victory, Arsenal have moved to fifth position on the Premier League table with 54 points. The West Ham keeper complained of offside, however his complaints were not vindicated.

He said: "Everybody needs to remember how good we are, as a team and as individuals".

Tesco sales up 0.9% as recovery continues
He reported the chain's first full-year rise in United Kingdom sales since 2009/10, with comparable sales up 0.9%. They include Schroders Investment Management and Artisan Partners, which together hold a 9% stake in Tesco .

Third-choice goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez started for Arsenal as both Petr Cech and David Ospina were injured, but didn't have much to do until making two fairly simple saves near the end.

With only the visits of Everton, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool to come, the Swansea game and next weekend's trip to basement-side Sunderland are "massively important" for Bilic, if his team are to put daylight between themselves and the bottom.

"Who knows who is going to win each game?"

Arsenal dominated the start of the second half and Jose Fonte and Masuaku needed treatment after colliding in the West Ham box.

Such comments, though, alongside Ozil's sudden resurgence do allude to a huge weakness in his game.

Arsenal emerged for the second half with the sort of attacking verve it has lacked in recent weeks, although West Ham, who lost Michail Antonio to sickness at half time, did contribute to its own downfall.

"We have a little handicap on the points front".

Comments