Freddie back but Di Canio still in Italy rehabbing. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/2210776.stm
First couple of minutes, sounds like teams are feeling each other out. Both playing it back to the keepers a couple of times. Defoe just a bit offsides in attack on the Arse goal. Hammers win first corner of the afternoon. Ball played to edge of area and cleared by Henry.
Defore takes on Edu, sliding challenge by Edu draws jeers from WH crowd. Throw to the Arse. Long ball straight into arms of James. WH fans making some beautiful noise. Throw for WH, deep in Arse area. Schemmel caught offsides on the next sequence. 0-0, still. Ball played back to Seaman, who plays it long to Henry. Over to Parlour but Sinclair intercepts.
Arse with an overlapping run, Repka clears but to Parlour who rips one. Blocked. Out for a throw to the Gunners. Shot, just wide of the far post by Henry, I believe. James not happy that Repka allowed such a chance. Just inches wide. 0-0, still. Goal kick for the Arse. Wiltford ... turns, shot ... goes wide. Given a bit too much space but shot was always wide.
Cole finally gets a good touch, through ball nearly fines Kanoute but Seaman snuffs out the threat. Schem takes a free kick, long into the Arse area. Nothing comes of it. Goal kick to Arse as the Hammers could not chase down a long ball into the Arse area.
Henry ... saved by James. A burst of pace from teh Frenchman is denied by James. Woodwork saves the Arse as Sinclair goes postal from 23 yards. Seaman caught totally unaware. Nearly broke the deadlock. Corner to the Arse as James and Dailly muff clearances. Edu with the left foot and James grabs it in air. First booking goes to Bergkamp for the professional foul on Cole. still 0-0.
Henry with a burst of speed, tackled off, throw leads to corner for the Arse. Whipped into far post, pretty crappy. James with the goal kick. Henry again in the box, cleared by James. Challenge from Vierra is a bit wild, draws some jeers from teh fans. Free kick for the Irons. Challenge was on Winterburn. Cleared away but only for a corner. Schem with a poor corner. Throw to West Ham. Eventually out for a goal kick to Arsenal.
Arse cross is an awkward one. Winterburn diving header goes to Cole who starts a counter. Earn a free kick, floated in by Sinclair, played out by Keough. Cole to take corner. Floated into Repka, away by Keough. Goal kick to Gunners. Kick goes into touch, drawing a few calls fromt the West Ham supporters. still, 0-0 should be about 30 minutes in. right foot shot from Defoe from the edge of the box. dipping shot that dipped not enough. Quick check of Yanks Abraod board. Good move down the right for the Irons, Shem picks out Freddie, first time shot, high over the bar.
Dailly, plays it out. Gives a throw to Arse, deep in the WH area. Eventually, another throw comes to the Arse. Nothing comes of it. 32 minutes in, 0-0 Kanoute ... with a touch in the penalty area off a ball from Joe ... brave save from Seaman. A Cole gets behind defense, cross is an awkward one. Cleared away. Irons defense not happy with AR. Free kick for the Arse, punched away by James. Throw to Gunners as Joe plays it out.
Another free kick for the Arse, near the penalty area. Henry to take, played to edge of 6 yard area. Played away by Repka and Schem. Goes all the way back to Seaman. Free kick to the Gunners as Laurent goes down. Seaman moves out to take the kick. 42 minutes in, 0-0 Hammers with possession, Edu takes out Winterburn, drawing the second booking of the day, which I am sure Wenger never saw. Campbell sheperds the ball over the line, leading to a Arse goal kick.
Wiltord with a burst into the box, saved by James. Cole !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOAL!!!! West Ham 1, Arse 0 Cole goal off a pass from Kanoute. Excellent strike, Joe's first of the year. Great way to open his account.
Into injury time. Arse putting some pressure, trying to equalize by end of the half. Winterburn intercepts a pass to Bergkamp. Moves forward. Ball out for a goal kick. Half time. WHU 1 Arse 0
No problem at all. Bored on a Saturday morning with nothing better to do. Kanu on, did not catch who he replaced. Game on. btw, it is a different pbp man from last year. This has a much more listenable voice. Repka pushing and shoving with Kanu ... free kick to the Irons.
Kanu on for Bergkamp. Kanuote brought down by Laurent in Arse area. Ashely Cole interupts the sequence. Vierra with a right footed shot blocked by Repka. Hammers playing a bit back on their heels. Goal kick to WH.
Sinclair brought down. Free kick to Hammers. Moncur warming up on the sidelines. Seaman makes a comfortable save and releases for a Arsenal break. Yellow card to Ashely Cole on tackle to Schem. Schem is ok. Free kick driven into area but deflected out. GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Freddie with the goal off a cross from Defoe!! WHU 2 Arse 0
I don't have speakers on my computer. So I can't listen. That's why your pbp is so appreciated. Holy Crap!!!!!!!
I think this announcer is getting his goal keeper names wrong. Keeps saying James, when he means Seaman. The other guy did not do this. Seaman with a one handed save on a Freddie shot. Game is certainly picking up. Hammers are driving for a third. Freddie is making a HUGE difference. Freddie goes inches wide of the far post. A collective groan from the fans as the play is replayed on big screen.
Corner for West Ham, conceeded by Laurent. 4th in the game. Defoe curls it in, no one connects on it. Eventually, throw for the Hammers. Nothing comes of it. Parlour off, Penance (sp ?) on for the Arse. Repka booked for a foul on Henry. Free kick to Arse. Edu takes, away by Sincs. Joe finds Defoe .. takes on Campbell ... cross cleared away by Arse defender.
We need to take up a donation to get you some speakers. ************!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Arse draw one back. henry with an excellent strike that leaves James stranded. 65 minute.