Danny Welbeck scrambled Arsenal into the League Cup semi-finals as they secured a scrappy 1-0 win over West Ham at the Emirates Stadium.
The England international scored midway through a drab first half as Arsenal secured their third consecutive clean sheet, though they were scarcely tested by a West Ham side who didn’t even register a shot until over an hour had been played.
There was, however, cause for concern in Arsenal’s victory as Olivier Giroud limped off in the second half with a hamstring injury, potentially robbing Arsene Wenger of a crucial player ahead of the hectic festive schedule.
Both David Moyes and Wenger had named sides filled with senior internationals, with Theo Walcott captaining Arsenal and Javier Hernandez making a first West Ham start since returning from a hamstring injury.
But neither side could provide the attacking verve to excite a half-full Emirates in a first half woefully short on quality from either side, who both seemed set up to counter a non-existent threat from their opponents.
After 35 minutes both sides had mustered a solitary shot on goal between them, Welbeck’s shot blocked by the West Ham defence. When the chances came the finishing was woeful as Theo Walcott somehow contrived to head well wide of the returning Joe Hart’s goal after a brilliant run and cross by Sead Kolasinac.
The half was not to end goalless however as it got the opener it merited, Welbeck shinning home from close range after Mathieu Debuchy had put a dangerous cross into the area.
Neither side were able to raise the intensity of the contest early in a second half as riddled with sloppy errors as the first had been. One of those from Debuchy gave West Ham their first shot of the game – 64 minutes in – as Aaron Cresswell curled a 20-yard free-kick well wide.
It was not a game when the players on the fringes of both sides could feel they had done much to advance their cause, particularly the under-fire Hart, who came within inches of conceding a penalty when he clattered feet-first into Welbeck just outside the West Ham box.
Read More
Even in victory Arsenal could not fully celebrate, with Giroud pulling up with a hamstring injury in the 76th minute that immediately saw him replaced by Reiss Nelson. Coquelin also looked in some discomfort when he was substituted moments before full time.
Moyes turned to the big guns on his bench, introducing Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho and Marko Arnautovic to no avail, though West Ham will not be unduly concerned at their exit from this competition as they focus on pulling clear of the relegation zone.