OTF

Even 5 minutes is normally necessitated only by a bad injury that requires a stretcher. 6 is absurd in the context of this game. It was clearly complaining from the Chelsea bench that lead to the weak officials giving them every chance to get a result.

He did. Started slowly but really warmed to the challenge and ended up as one of the best on the pitch. A handy player who's always going to put in an honest shift. He's desperate to score so hopefully he can put one in the back of the net soon.

It was all over when the King spotted the three points in Chelsea's bag. When you're the King you can do anything.

Fantastic win. Really disciplined with the exception being Taylor's stupid challenge. That was a shame too, as he had played well up to that point.

6 additional minutes, WTF for?

Yeah that was some pathetic commentary. As if saying that good teams get results is some insightful bit of knowledge, even separating it from Taylor's stupidity.

What's Costa whinging about there. Rattled.

You beauty! Sissoko stuffed that touch so badly that it came good! Colback always looks good breaking into space, great tackle from him to start the play.

Good block on Schurrle, Ameobi.

Worries me when I try to say his name.

Never doubted Cisse tbh.

I do like that Ameobi always puts his crosses in with pace. As we've seen there it makes it much more difficult for the defense even if they're positioned well.

Cisse on for Cabella doesn't seem a wise switch given the way we're playing. That's not saying Cabella has been good, fair from it. He's looked nervous on the ball possibly because he's not had it very much. Well there you go! Cisse you beauty!

We've been pretty disciplined. Unfortunate for Elliot to pick up an injury. He'd been playing well so far in this game where our keeper is of additional importance. Perez suits the way we're set up here but he desperately needs some support which should come from Cabella and Ameobi. Those two are having pretty weak games, with Ameobi looking sloppy in defense a few times. Taylor has been quite good, credit to him, partners g well with Coloccini so far. I'd probably have gone with Haidara over Dummet at left back, he's faster and offers more going forward. Colback started poorly but has really warmed. Sissoko has been frustrating as he has gone on some good runs but inevitably ends up with a poor final ball.

It's a bit generous, but it's ultimately true. Gouffran needs some time out and can hopefully regain some of the attacking play that he had when he first joined. Without that he's useless. I'd say a large part of his decline is the amount of ground he covers, probably at the insistence of Pardew, in useless closing down. For it to be effective the whole team needs to press and this never happens. The net result for Gouffran is that when he gets the ball he doesn't have the energy to take on the defense. The sooner Aarons is available the better, he seems more consistent than Ameobi. Cabella will hopefully cement a spot.

Abeid was one of our better players though his set pieces and shots were woeful. Gouffran has been poor for a while now, but on that scale this was an improvement. Getting into the right place and challenging allowed Cisse to score. Perez was having a poor game before he was subbed. Elliot was weak for their goal, it was in prime saving position, but he had no idea where the ball was. One side of the argument says he couldn't see the ball, the other says as a keeper you have to move to position yourself to see the ball. Once again missing Coloccini at the back to help play the ball out. Ameobi and Haidara are forming a reasonable union down our left side. We need a forward who will attack the front post as that's where most of their whipped in crossed end up going. Cabella was strong off the bench and should have earned himself a run in the side. Not great timing considering who we're coming up against, but the main positive is he appears to have adjusted to the league. All in all we were flat.

Shoddy way to end a winning run. Two games early, going to be a rough patch coming up.

Perez still shining bright.

That was all an act.

There appeared to be nothing in the second yellow. He'll be missed in our next match.

Sissoko two yellows in under a minute. ffs. The first for kicking the ball away, the second for standing over Andy Carroll.

West Ham have been surprising so far this season. Saw them in pre-season and they were awful. I really do like beating them, which I think we can do if we can maintain our enthusiasm and are able to put out a good side. A number returning to training including Coloccini and Steven Taylor so the make-up of our defense remains to be seen.

A cameo or two off the bench couldn't hurt and should keep playing regularly in the youth team.

Written or illustrated?

The quality of their team has dipped severely since their peak, you have to question how much of that is down to Wenger's stubbornness, or whether it's the sensible financial stewardship that ultimately has prevented them from competing for anything major of recent times. They've never replaced Fabregas.