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Was this all a part of a cunning plan? Heaven knows David Sullivan is definitely a lover of the 'cunning plan', his timely comments relating to West Ham United's inability to sign prolific striker Charlie Austin from QPR because of financial fair play and the player's fitness have evoked an understandably curt response from the player himself via social media, and a lot of tut tutting from Loftus Road.

The FA have confirmed Adrian's sending off and subsequent three match ban with a brief statement on their official website:

West Ham United
13 Adrián 12 Jenkinson 02 Reid 21 Ogbonna 03 Cresswell 35 Oxford 16 Noble 08 Kouyaté 27 Payet 15 Sakho 10 Zárate
Substitutes:
01 Randolph 04 Nolan 05 Tomkins 07 Jarvis 14 Obiang 20 Maiga 28 Lanzini
Leicester City
01 Schmeichel 02 de Laet 06 Huth 05 Morgan 15 Schlup 11 Albrighton 10 King 04 Drinkwater 26 Mahrez 09 Vardy 20 Okazaki
Substitutes:
07 Hammond 14 Kanté 19 Kramaric 23 Ulloa 28 Fuchs 29 Benalouane
Ref: Anthony Taylor

The first of the last! This Saturday marks the beginning of the end for watching matches at the Boleyn Ground, or Upton Park as most pundits incorrectly call it. For many leaving the Boleyn, with all it's associated memories, will be a bitter pill to swallow, but progress inevitably catches up with tradition and so the move to the Olympic Stadium has to be embraced for all the opportunities it can bring to the club. The truth is 'fortress boleyn' is not what it used to be in the days of the chicken run, and even the ICF!

With their efforts to sign a striker failing to materialise, and Enner Valencia being unavailable for at least three months, the West Ham board are believed to have adopted a plan 'b' approach, and are now looking at 'cover' strikers instead of one marquee signing. Mindful of the all your eggs in one basket big risk strategy, it appears that the club have turned their attention to Swansea's unwanted striker Michu.

Hmm, Joey Barton instead of Alex Song? Bit of a strange one, but Hammers boss Slaven Billic has sanctioned a move for Joey Barton, who is a free agent and is undergoing a medical within the next 24 Hrs, apparently after a chat with Julian Dicks about cover for the holding midfield role played so brilliantly against Arsenal by debutant Reece Oxford .

When Mauro Zarate arrived at the Boleyn Ground, he was clearly a David Sullivan signing, and as such the striker was met with a clear degree of negativity by then manager Sam Allardyce. As a result of Allardyce's alacrity, Zarate was given the cold shoulder and eventually farmed out on loan to QPR.

What a result, remember the team, remember the line up!
Arsenal: Cech; Debuchy (Alexis 67), Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin (Walcott 58), Ramsey; Cazorla, Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Giroud
Subs: Ospina, Gibbs, Gabriel, Arteta, Chambers Booked: Ramsey
West Ham United: Adrian; Tomkins, Reid, Ogbonna, Cresswell; Oxford (Nolan 79), Noble, Kouyate, Payet; Zarate (Jarvis 62), Sakho (Maiga 90)
Subs: Randolph, Collins, Poyet, Lanzini Goals: Kouyate 43, Zarate 57 Booked: Noble, Ogbonna, Tomkins
Ref: Martin Atkinson
Att: 59,996

FC.Astra Giurgiu Lung, Alves, Seto, Enacje, Debescu, Morais Boldrin, Texeira, Gaman, Quieros, Amarin
West Ham United Randolph, Nolan, Jenkinson, Maiga, Poyet, Henry, Lanzini,Lee, Page, Cullen, Noyle. Subs;

Ed and crew currently in Andorra of all places! Team sheets may not appear in time or at all, sorry, but even Orgers need a break once in a while. - Ed

Update 01/08/2015(11:12) - The Team Sheets will appear as soon as they are available! - James (MadHammer)

West Ham United:
Adrian, Tomkins, Kouyate, Zarate, Jenkinson, Sakho, Noble, Ogbonna, Payet, Oxford, Page

West Ham United Subs:
Amalfitano, Collins, Maiga, Poyet, Henry, Lanzini, Spiegel, Lee, Cullen, Howes, Knoyle, Nasha, Pask