Arsenal climb above West Ham with victory

Arsenal climbed above West Ham and Spurs to fifth in the table after a hard fought victory at Upton Park.

West Ham were arguably the better side for long periods of the game but found themselves 2-0 down moments before the break fokllowing Santi Cazorla’s third penalty of the season and Danny Welbeck’s tap-in from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s cross.

The second half brought more chances for both sides in a pulsating encounter and Cheik Kouyate’s first for his club saw West Ham get a foothold in the game.

A string of fine saves from Adrian kept the Hammers in the game and they had chances themselves to level against a visibly nervy Arsenal before the visitors held out for victory.

The result means that Arsenal leapfrog both West Ham and north London rivals Spurs to fifth, the Hammers dropping a place to sixth, two points behind.

5’ – GOAL RULED OUT: Alex Song thinks he’s scored against his old club after volleying home from just outside the box following a corner. The flag goes up for offside and it looked the correct call with Kouyate and Sakho both marginally off.

20’ – CARROLL CHANCE: The big man bullies Debuchy out of the way far too easily but smashes his shot across goal instead of hitting the target.

37’ – TOMKINS BLAZES OVER: Downing finds Tomkins with a quickly-taken free kick but he blazes over the bar from a tight angle.

41’ – GOAL! West Ham 0-1 Arsenal: Santi Cazorla forges into the box and gets a fortunate deflection before Winston stretches out a leg and brings him down. Cazorla gets up to slot home his third PL penalty of the season.

44’ – GOAL! West Ham 0-2 Arsenal: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain forges to the byline before cutting back a cross into the path of Danny Welbeck, who can’t miss.

45’ – CHANCE DOWNING: The ball deflects to the winger in a central position on the edge of the box but he drags his shot wide.

54’ – GOAL! West Ham 1-2 Arsenal: Kouyate leaps to meet Tomkins’ cross and heads in via the back of Debuchy’s head.

56’ – GREAT SAVE ADRIAN! Oxlade-Chamberlain sets Cazorla but the keeper gets down quickly to parry his fierce drive with his left hand.

66’ – WELBECK BLAZES OVER: It’s a great run by the striker who forges into the box. He should at least hit the target but blazes over.

73’ – GOOD SAVE ADRIAN: It’s another fine stop, saving Oxlade-Chamberlain’s header with his foot.

76’ - ADRIAN TO THE RESCUE AGAIN: Another outstretched leg prevents Sanchez getting on the scoresheet.

Santi Cazorla has netted his third PL penalty of the season – the joint-most in the division, along with Jedinak & Berahino.

Danny Welbeck has scored in each of his last two PL starts against West Ham (for Man Utd & Arsenal).

Stewart Downing plays his 50th PL match for West Ham.

Alexandre Song faces his former club Arsenal for the first time in the PL. Song played 138 PL matches for Arsenal from 2005 – 2012.

Cheikhou Kouyate has scored his first Lge home goal since netting in Anderlecht’s 4-3 home defeat v Lokeren in May 2011.  

West Ham have won none of the last 12 Barclays Premier League games against Arsenal (W0 D2 L10), losing the last eight in a row.

Arsenal have won away at West Ham more often than any other team in Premier League history (11).

Did Song score against his former club? The ruling out of Alex Song’s early goal was contentious in that both Kouyate and Sakho may not have been interfering with his shot in an offside position. On closer inspection, not only was the keeper unsighted by their positioning but Sakho appeared to try and divert the path of the ball.

Adrian (West Ham): Although West ham had much the better of the first half, Arsenal could have been well clear in the second had it not been for a clutch of fine saves. Unlucky to be on the losing side.

West Ham: Adrian 8, O'Brien 6, Tomkins 7, Reid 6, Cresswell 6, Song 6, Amalfitano 7, Kouyate 7, Downing 7, Sakho 6, Carroll 6. Subs: Nolan 6, Demel 6, Valencia 7.

Arsenal: Szczesny 6, Debuchy 5, Mertesacker 6, Koscielny 6, Monreal 5, Coquelin 6, Flamini 6, Oxlade-Chamberlain 7, Cazorla 7, Sanchez 7, Welbeck 7. Subs: Gibbs 6, Chambers 6.