Will that once familiar refrain “One-nil to The Arsenal” come back to haunt us? Arsenal, not playing particularly well by their Manager’s admission, were back to those old days of grinding out a 1-0 win to continue their improved F.A. Premier League results if not form. This time West Ham United were on the receiving end in front of 60,335 fans at The Emirates Stadium on Saturday 7 March 2020. The Hammers, having created 5 or 6 good chances, succumbed to a 78th minute goal by Alexandre Lacazette. Female Referee’s Assistant Sian Kelly had flagged him offside, but V.A.R. said he was played marginally onside by the heel of Hammers’ Angelo Ogbonna. At least it was a part of the body which could legitimately have played some part in the game. At Managerial level it was a very friendly PLDs match with West Ham’s David Moyes warmly embracing the Gunners’ Mikel Arteta whom he had managed at Everton for 7 happy and successful years.
The second PLDs match on Saturday 7 March 2020 saw Crystal Palace also run out as 1-0 winners in front of 25,461 at Selhurst Park against Watford. That made it three 1-0 wins in a row for the Eagles and a nice reward for the evergreen Roy Hodgson who has agreed a one -year extension to his contract. The only goal was a fine shot on 28 minutes by Jordan Ayewdescribed as “a rare spark of quality in a scrappy match” in one account. V.A.R. ruled that the clash in the build-up between the two Christians, that is the arm of Palace’s Benteke and Hornet’s defender Kabasele, was not sinful!
There are no PLDs matches this weekend, but Championship play-off placed Fulham and Brentford meet, and there is another North London women’s derby game, this time in the quarter-final of the Women’s F.A. Cup. Something the men won’t be doing thanks to the hapless display by Spurs’ men against Norwich City earlier in their round of 16 match.
Until next time, enjoy your football, Andrew at PLDs.