The victory at the Emirates was David Moyes' first in 72 attempts away from home against Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and “Manchester United”. Photo: Getty Images/Catherine Ivill
The best Christmas party in the capital this week might well take place on Thursday night at the back of Emirates Stadium. It's rarely a happy place for fans to visit, but in this case it doesn't get much more enjoyable than being a West Ham United fan in north London.
“Declan, Declan, what's the score?” West Ham fans shouted at their former hero Declan Rice as their boys pulled off an astonishing victory. “You should have signed for a big club,” shouted another player, shouting from around the corner in between shouts of joy about being European champion.
From the 55th minute, when Konstantinos Mavropanos scored the second goal, until the end of the evening, these songs did not stop. And when the whistle finally blew, David Moyes was their conductor. Both fists clenched, joy reflected on his face, Moyes enjoyed the victory that had been waiting for him for a very long time.
David Moyes and jubilant @WestHam fans…
What a result at the Emirates 🙌#PLonPrime #ARSWHU pic.twitter.com/sINyEZGhV7
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport), December 28, 2023
In 72 previous away Premier League games as manager against Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United, Moyes had never won. Not a single victory. Thus, it was the 73rd stroke of luck, and these were three points earned thanks to a purely Moyesian style of football.
A counter-attack goal to throw the ball away and then a header from a set-piece to double the lead. Between these two strikes and after the second there was defense of the highest quality. Some might call it old school, with West Ham filling the box and pointing everything into the night sky, but sometimes there is beauty to be found in performances like these.
Konstantinos Mavropanos silences the Emirates!
Former Arsenal man heads home brilliantly for West Ham's second match 👏#PLonPrime #ARSWHU pic.twitter.com/KNXA11gGOV
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 28, 2023
By the end of the match, Arsenal had made 77 touches in the opponent's penalty area. Never before has a team scored so many points in a Premier League match without scoring. Mikel Arteta's men reached the penalty area, but no further. It was simply impossible to pass through the bodies. In total, Emerson Palmieri, Mavropanos, Angelo Obgonna, Vladimir Coufal, Tomas Soucek and James Ward-Prowse made 31 clearances.
Moyes will get extra satisfaction on Friday morning when he wakes up and examines the league table: West Ham are in sixth place, ahead of Manchester United and just two points behind Tottenham Hotspur.
So always seems. that Moyes is just a few defeats away from finding himself under pressure at West Ham, despite all he has achieved at the club. Such discussions seem completely ludicrous on nights like last season, when Moyes led West Ham to European Conference League glory.
West Ham have won their last three league games (against Wolverhampton, United and now Arsenal) without conceding a single goal. Last time this happened? February 2014
It takes an experienced and skilled manager to lose a player of Rice's ability and, if the last few weeks are any indication, to build a team that is stronger without him. Or at least a more rounded one, with James Ward-Prowse and Edson Alvarez battling it out in midfield while Mohamed Kudus pounces at the other end.
To be clear, there were moments here for West Ham Good luck. Arsenal had their chances and were guilty of wasting them. But in such cases, luck can be earned, and West Ham defended with heart and head from the first to the last minute. Just as Moyes wanted. “This is an important victory for everyone,” Mavropanos said. “And for our boss.”
"They were absolutely amazing!"@AlanShearer is full of praise for @WestHam's performance at the Emirates 👏#PLonPrime #ARSWHU pic. twitter.com/kS4Zp5uIGy
— Amazon Prime Video Sport (@primevideosport) December 28, 2023
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