Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
EFL CUP QUARTER-FINAL WELBECK TOP OF THE WORLD
Gunners ace nets the winner to show he can be on plane to Russia
NO ONE really believed Arsene Wenger’s prediction last month that Danny Welbeck would definitely go to the World Cup.
But Welbeck scored the winner at the Emirates last night, his first goal in three months and one that might also give him a glimmer of hope of a Three Lions recall for next summer in Russia.
The Arsenal striker has been held back by injuries but the League Cup offered him a rare chance, one which he took while others blew their opportunities.
West Ham keeper Joe Hart looked shaky, Theo Walcott was misfiring and even Olivier Giroud (above with Wenger) had a bad night, limping off with a hamstring injury.
How the mighty have fallen. Hart’s downward spiral continues, with him having lost his starting place to Adrian.
Recalled for this quarterfinal, the England keeper’s patchy form continued – he could have done better for Welbeck’s goal and was booked late on for a rash challenge.
West Ham went out of the competition with barely a whimper, Arsenal reached their seventh League Cup semi-final during Wenger’s 21-year reign yet it is the only domestic trophy the Frenchman has never won.
There were swathes of empty seats, perhaps explained by a cold evening just before Christmas and a game not included on season tickets.
West Ham, despite bringing 7,000 fans to North London, also made changes with David Moyes putting Premier League survival before silverware.
Arsenal’s mix-and-match of fringe players and youngsters took time to get going while the Hammers came to defend, sit deep and try their luck on the break.
The Gunners did not really create a chance until the 39th minute when Sead Kolasinac’s cross found Walcott but the out-of-form winger dived in and headed wide when he had enough time to control the ball and pick his spot. An awful miss.
Three minutes later, Arsenal’s dominance told. Francis Coquelin spread play wide, Mathieu Debuchy headed the ball into the box and, while Hart and his defence hesitated, Welbeck forced home from close range.
Hart should have been quicker off his line and commanded his penalty area. His standards have fallen badly and it is easy to see why he is not Moyes’s first choice.
Moyes eventually brought on Andy Carroll and Diafra Sakho to liven up his attack. Within 30 seconds Carroll made his presence know with a foul on Coquelin, leaving him in agony.
But even a bit more aggression up front did not make a difference for the visitors.
Giroud went off in the 77th minute and his injury will be a worry ahead of the busy Christmas schedule.
But Arsenal are through to yet another cup semifinal, which should bring Wenger some much-needed cheer.