Sometimes the intial thoughts that pop into your head after a game are worth much more than hours spent in critical appraisal and, leaving Upton Park my first thoughts were 'we didn't deserve that' and 'I can't believe we actually lost'.

In retrospect perhaps, you can look at the Arsenal bench, compare it to West Ham's and see exactly where the match was won - or lost depending on your stance - but at the time the Hammers looked to be so much in control of the game, it looked like one of those days where the more-fancied side would come unstuck.

Certainly, just after the break with a resurgent Arsenal side expected to emerge from the tunnel after going behind on the stroke of half-time to a neatly taken Diamanti goal, it seemed that the second period would go the way of the first with the Hammers snapping around the midfield, covering and tackling back and having three good chances to double their lead.

With Arsenal's few shots fizzing over the bar or going wide it looked really good for the Hammers but the first glimpse of trouble came when an obviously exhausted Frank Nouble was taken off and the Hammers forward line virtually disappeared. That came just a minute after Ramsey drew the Gunners level and left the home side deflated. Even so, it came as a shock five minutes later when a Vela cross that should have been dealt with easily by Upson was met by Eduardo to loop a header into the corner with Green groping. After that, the home side withered as Arsenal grew in confidence and there were several near misses as Green saved and Upson cleared off the line to give the stats a more impressive away look than was really apparent during the game.

The Hammers could only grumble about Nouble firing wide when well-placed and Fabianski's superb palm away from a well struck Stanislas shot - both just after half-time - as Diamanti's turn that beat the off-side trap enabling the Italian to run in and score in first half injury time was no less than West Ham deserved for a sterling 45 minutes

Post-match though, all talk was about the double substitution just after the hour when the Arse replaced Merida with Diaby and Wilshere for Nasri and changed the whole complexion of the game. The fresh legs - not to mention experience - allowed Arsenal to step up a gear just as West Ham were finding the going tough but, with only kids and Doris the Tea-Lady making a rare appearance on the bench, there was little West Ham could do to counter the move.

It's easy to say what could have been, after all the visitors were without players who could have ended the contest much sooner, but the injured Parker and Cole were certainly missed in the game; the real Hammers Captain could have held the centre together for longer while Cole would have made merry with the chances that came the way of the inexperienced but plucky Nouble. Behrami was everywhere for the Hammers in an impressive performance that should have bought the Man of the Match award but, as is the way with these things, it went to Ramsey for turning the game for the Arse.

Ultimately though, that is the way of second-decade 21st Century football, those of us who thought wistfully back to 1980 when a 2nd Division side could boast a Brooking, Bonds, Devonshire, Parkes and Lampard amongst their number just have to shrug our shoulders when confronted by TV pundits talking of a 'shock' because there was a suggestion that a lower Premiership side led a higher one for three-quarters of a match. Perhaps when the press wring their hands and talk about the death knell for the FA Cup - something which, to be fair, wasn't on display in this tie - they might like to discuss a situation where punters are paying out £45 to watch two such unevenly matched sides that are supposed to represent the same top tier. Anyone who doesn't find this worrying hasn't got football's best interests at heart.

Still, it makes no difference to the league table and my guess is that West Ham have probably gone out of the cup to the eventual winners and have to take this result in that context. Shame though... we deserved better...