The 20,000th Premier League goal will be scored soon (probably by the time you read this article) and it’s got me feeling all nostalgic; it’s got me thinking what are my favourite West Ham Premier League goals? I managed to narrow it down to three.
At no 3 it has to be Bobby Zamora’s winner at the Emirates; in the season of the great escape West Ham travelled to North London desperate for a result against an Arsenal side that were so far unbeaten in their new home. But buoyed by the fact that West Ham had actually won the same fixture last season and in doing so became the last side to beat Arsenal at Highbury; Alan Curbishley’s men took to the pitch at the Emirates with a cautious optimism…and received an absolute pasting. The first half was the most one-sided affair you will ever see, Robert Green played the part of a goal-keeper possessed as he somehow kept the score at 0-0. Then on the stroke of half-time something quite remarkable happened; Lucas Neill picked out Bobby Zamora who managed to evade the Arsenal defence and quite magnificently lob Jens Lehmann to send West Ham into the lead. It was a majestic finish; made even more incredible considering it was probably the first time during the contest we managed a foray into the Gunners half. The game ended 1-0 to West Ham and with this result West Ham became the first side to beat Arsenal at the Emirates.
In at no 2 it simply has to be Yossi Benayoun’s winner against Tottenham to stop them getting into the Champions League. Yes the final day of the 05/06 season saw Spurs venture into East London needing to at least match Arsenal’s result to secure a seat at Europe’s top-table. The score was poised at 1-1 and Arsenal were beating Wigan, this was do or die stuff for the men from the Lane. However on 80 odd minutes after a neat passage of play the ball found its way to Nigel Reo-Coker who was just inside the Spurs box, his cheeky back-heel played in Benayoun who weaved his way past a lunge from Michael Dawson and shot past Paul Robinson to send Upton Park into scenes of absolute delirium. I was lucky enough to be sat in the Bobby Moore upper and you’ve never heard a louder, more passionate or vociferous roar. It was a superbly executed goal from Yossi and the perfect way to end the season. The game has since become known as ‘Lasagne-gate’ but those who were there will simply remember it for Yossi’s amazing winner.
In at no 1 it’s no surprise…Paolo Di Canio’s bicycle volley against Wimbledon. It was described by Martin Tyler as ‘a moment of striking perfection’ and there simply aren’t more apt words to describe that goal. The contact Di Canio made with Trevor Sinclair’s cross was with the outside of his right foot, he was at an acute angle from goal, logically speaking there was no way on earth he could score from that position and yet he managed it with an effortless and elegant grace that was the hallmark of Di Canio as a player. What’s truly amazing about this goal (apart from the flawless technique) is that it could win the goal of the season award in 2000 and then a full nine years later be voted the Premier League goal of the decade. I am biased but in all honesty I’ve never seen a finer goal scored. As Andy Gray said whilst he was commentating ‘take a bow son, take a bow’
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