ARSENAL v WEST HAM UNITED
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 30 OCTOBER 2010
KICK-OFF: 3PM
FULL COVERAGE ON WHUTV I TEXT COMMENTARY, TABLES AND SCORES
iPHONE APP I TWITTER I FACEBOOK I PODCAST I MATCH PREVIEW
Final score - Arsenal 1-0 West Ham United
94 mins - Da Costa is fouled. The vast majority of the 60,086 want the final whistle. Cole crosses and Fabianski claims. That is the Hammers' last chance as Jones blows for full-time. Football is a cruel game at times, but one mistake at the back cost the Hammers dear. Green can hold his head high after a phenomenal display between the sticks. West Ham go to Birmingham City next Saturday, kick-off 3pm.
93 mins - Arsenal are knocking the ball around. While they've got it, it goes without saying that West Ham won't be scoring an equaliser.
92 mins - Barrera is coming on for Behrami, who sprints to the touchline. Meanwhile, Boa Morte has won a free-kick ten yards inside the Arsenal half. Noble lifts it in and, although West Ham win the initial header, Arsenal scramble the ball clear. I've still no idea how much added time we're going to play.
91 mins - We are going to have a few moments of added time, but at present the fourth official is trying to work out how West Ham can bring on Pablo Barrera.
90 mins - Arsenal have the ball as we approach added time. That is an absolute sickener. Arsenal bring on Emmanuel Eboue for Chamakh.
88 mins - GOAL! Faubert sells himself completely and allows Clichy to cut inside and cross for Song to dive in and head the ball past Green from six yards. No offside flag, and Green is beside himself.
87 mins - Obinna is replaced by Julien Faubert for the final few moments.
85 mins - Green is having a worldy! Fabregas shoots and Green is there with a fantastic save. The ball loops into the air and Obinna tries to clear, but completely misses the ball and it flies off his standing leg to Fabregas, whose second effort his a defender and is grabbed by Green.
85 mins - Both sets of players look tired here. Will Grant choose to make another change late on to eat up some valuable seconds?
83 mins - Green! Boa Morte gives the ball away in midfield and it is worked to Walcott. He shoots and the ball takes a deflection off Da Costa, only for Green to dive full-length to his right to push it away. Chamakh picks up possession, but he is in an offside position.
82 mins - Da Costa out-muscles Chamakh before the Moroccan pulls back the defender's shirt. He is booked for his troubles, is Chamakh.
80 mins - Cole is penalised for a foul as he jostles with Squillaci for a Green clearance. The No9 doesn't like the decision one bit and is given a talking-to by referee Jones.
79 mins - Arshavin is replaced by Dane Nicklas Bendtner.
79 mins - Cole wins a free-kick midway inside the Arsenal half but Walcott is able to clear. Boa Morte picks up possession, but his through ball for Obinna is cut out.
77 mins - The Arsenal players are showing real urgency here. If they want to win the title, they can't afford not score a winner here. The home fans are also a bit anxious, while the West Ham supporters are still singing. I've said it before, but they are top, top, top-class on the road.
76 mins - Good work from Cole to release Ilunga. He crosses and Clichy has to head behind under pressure from Behrami. The corner is taken by Noble, but Jones spots a foul and blows for a free-kick to Arsenal.
75 mins - Song wins a corner wide right from Gabbidon. Cole heads clear at the near post. Obinna picks up possession and wins a pressure-lifting throw-in on halfway.
74 mins - Noble curls the corner to the far post where Da Costa heads goalwards, but cannot get the power nor the direction to beat Fabianski. Arsenal break and the ball is half-cleared to Fabregas, who smashes his shot well over from 25 yards.
72 mins - This is getting a bit one-sided to be honest. Piquionne looks a bit tired, but he's got enough energy to latch on to Jacobsen's pass and win a corner. He gives the travelling fans a clap as he saunters to the touchline. Come on Coley, make yourself a hero...
71 mins - Carlton Cole is going to be on in a second. Walcott gets in behind Ilunga and races into the box, only for his shot to cannone back off the inside of the far post and into the arms of Green. How lucky was that!
70 mins - Parker does well, winning the ball on the edge of the West Ham area before driving 70 yards downfield and trying to play in Piquionne. The Hammer of the Year delays his pass too long, though, and the striker is a few yards offside.
67 mins - Shows how much I know! Denilson is the man replaced by the England forward. Arshavin curls over a free-kick on the re-start and Chamakh heads it straight at Green.
66 mins - Another easy save for Green, who gets safely in behind Nasri's low poked effort from ten yards. Walcott is stripped and ready to come on. My money is on Arshavin going off.
65 mins - Green is called into action again, but this time it's easy for him as he holds on to Chamakh's header. West Ham cannot keep possession at present.
64 mins - Parker picks up the ball 40 yards out and brings it forward, but his shot is well off-target. Obinna wanted a cross to the far post. Arsenal are readying Theo Walcott.
62 mins - Arsenal are really cranking up the pressure here as Ilunga concedes a corner, but Da Costa leaps high to head it clear.
61 mins - That was a good chance. Noble wins the ball back in midfield and has space to run into. Unfortunately, his pass for Piquionne is over-hit and the Frenchman can only pull his cross back into the arms of Fabianski. Obinna was in space to Noble's left, but the No16 chose to ignore him.
60 mins - Parker is back on. Arshavin gets into the box and goes down under a challenge from Da Costa. All eyes on Jones, who gives nothing. Da Costa gives the Russian an ironic kiss on the cheek! That was NEVER a penalty.
59 mins - Parker gets some attention and he doesn't go down unless he is hurt. Fabregas' shot hit him square in the face. It looks like he'll be OK.
57 mins - Nasri sends the ball over and Green catches it. Arsenal get the ball back and have at least three shots blocked by Parker, Behrami and Boa Morte. Refree Jones looks repeatedly at Parker, who was hit in the head by the ball, but gives nothing until West Ham clear. That is ridiculous. If he is hurt, the game should be stopped straight away.
56 mins - It's all come to life a bit here as both teams work hard to find an opening. Behrami gives away a free-kick about 30 yards out. That's not the most sensible course of action with Nasri on the pitch.
53 mins - A booking for Boa Morte, who brings down Denilson as he tracks back. I'm sure that's for persistent fouling, rather than that infringement. Nasri again stands over the set play. He booms a shot in from about 35 yards that cannons off the top of the bar and into the crowd behind. Close! I'm not sure Green had that covered.
51 mins - Behrami loses possession twice in the space of a few seconds. The second time, Arshavin gets in behind Jacobsen but drags his shot well wide of the far post. The Hammers need to be careful when they've got the ball, as you cannot afford to gift it to the Gunners.
49 mins - Kovac and Rosicky high-five one another on the touchline as they warm up. The pair, of course, played together for Czech Republic for many years. Back on the field, Parker brings down Chamakh, who makes a meal of it by diving full-length. It was a foul, though.
48 mins - The home fans don't like it as Parker goes in hard but fair on Denilson. The referee allows play to go on but then whistles for the Brazilian to receive some treatment.
47 mins - Behrami doesn't like Song's antics inside the penalty area and makes the referee aware of his concerns. Jones speaks to both players. The corner is headed clear at the near post.
46 mins - Arsenal get us back up and running and immediately win a free-kick as Parker fells Chamakh. Nasri stands over the set piece. He crosses to the back post and Jacobsen helps the ball behind for a corner.
Half-time score - Arsenal 0-0 West Ham United
48 mins - Half-time! A very decent 45 minutes for the visitors. Green was forced to make two fantastic saves, but West Ham carried a threat of their own and came close through Mark Noble. The challenge now is to maintain the level of work and concentration throughout the second half. Easier said than done, but certainly possible.
47 mins - Obinna breaks clear down the left on to Ilunga's pass, but he's offside. The Nigerian shoots, anyway, and forces Fabianski to make a save.
46 mins - For some reason, we are going to have at least three more minutes. Behrami drives forward and finds Piquionne, who wins a throw-in. Valuable time being used up, here.
45 mins - Controversial. Arsenal are awarded a corner that looked for all the world like a goal kick. Nasri crosses, Squillaci heads goalwards and Green tips it over. From the next corner, taken by Arshavin, Green again does well to claw the ball away from under his own crossbar.
44 mins - Great stuff again from Green, who does well to keep out Song's powerful low drive. Nasri mis-kicks his follow-up effort and Da Costa hacks clear.
42 mins - There is a slight hold-up as Green asks referee Jones to change the ball. The man in blue and black concurs and we'll play out the final moments of the first half with a new yellow football.
41 mins - Nasri's corner is headed clear by Piquionne and when the ball is headed back into the penalty area, referee Jones gives a foul. Seriously, hundreds of fans are heading off to the concourses.
40 mins - Some of the home fans are going for some half-time refreshments already! Back on the pitch, Boa Morte concedes a free-kick. Sagna picks up possession and wins a corner off Obinna.
39 mins - Behrami wins a free-kick from Clichy wide on the right. It is about 35 yards out. Obinna to take... He gets under the ball and although Ilunga tries to keep it in, he has no chance. Goal kick.
36 mins - Good stuff from Noble, who picks up possession and runs 30 yards before shooting powerfully from 25 yards straight at Fabianski. Noble is taken out by Denilson as he shoots, but the referee gives nothing. Noble needs some attention. While he gets it, Piquionne tells the referee that should have been a free-kick. He's right.
34 mins - Arshavin falls over under pressure from Ilunga and Jones gives a soft-looking free-kick. Nasri will take it about ten yards outside the box. It falls to Song and his shot actually hits the corner flag! Boa Morte and Sagna go in 100 per cent for the loose ball, which then spins behind for a goal kick.
33 mins - Fabregas is back on... A long ball forward looks like it might cause problems for Gabbidon and Green, but the keeper takes charge and smashes the ball clear under pressure from Chamakh.
31 mins - Gabbidon fells Fabregas with a sliding challenge. Jones plays advantage as the ball breaks to Nasri, who then fouls Ilunga. The crowd don't like it. Fabregas grabs his hip and looks in a bit of pain, but I'm sure he'll be fine in a few moments.
29 mins - Grant and Groves are both on the edge of the technical area issuing instructions to the Hammers. They must be fairly pleased with how things are going at present, but Arsenal can score at any time.
28 mins - Ilunga gets forward and wins another left-wing corner. It is headed clear. When Jacobsen pumps the ball back towards the box, Da Costa's flick-on only finds the gloves of Fabianski.
27 mins - Obinna wins a corner down the left following fine work from Behrami and Boa Morte. It is taken short and Obinna skips around his marker before crossing low into the mixer. Unfortunately, Squillaci is there and hacks the ball clear.
25 mins - Song is booked for scything down Behrami as he flies along the right touchline.
24 mins - Robert Green likes playing at the Emirates, doesn't he! Sagna bursts into the box and pulls the ball back for Fabregas. The Spaniard is odds-on to score from 12 yards, but Green flings himself full-length to his right to claw the ball away. He then gets to his feet quickly and pounces on the loose ball.
23 mins - Ilunga is booked for a high challenge on Sagna. Referee Jones originally allowed play to go on, but as soon as Arsenal lost possession, he blew for Sagna to receive treatment. I'm not sure that tackle was any worse than Koscielny's on Piquionne, to be honest.
22 mins - The away fans are getting some encouragement from the players and erupt into a chorus of 'Come on you Irons!'.
20 mins - Noble sends in another dangerous free-kick from the left and Fabianski is again forced to punch. West Ham keep up the pressure and Boa Morte receives possession about 25 yards out before thumping a shot a few yards over the top. Better.
19 mins - Piquionne is felled by another Koscielny tackle. The striker looks to be in a bit of pain. I think it's his right ankle. Replays show that was not a very good tackle. Koscielny is perhaps lucky not to be booked...
18 mins - Arsenal break and Arshavin is now on the right. He is everywhere. The Russian shoots and the ball is deflected behind by Gabbidon. The corner is headed clear by Piquionne and Obinna completes the clearance.
17 mins - Briliant from Noble, who turns and loses Denilson in a heartbeat before sending Piquionne clear down the inside-right channel. The No30 steadies himself, but waits too long to cross, allowing Fabianski to pounce on the ball. Shame.
15 mins - Jacobsen lifts the ball down the right, where Piquionne is barged to the floor by Koscielny. Free-kick. Obinna sends in a dangerous set piece that drops inside the six-yard box. Da Costa swings a leg, but can't make contact and Arsenal scramble the ball clear.
14 mins - Nasri lifts the free-kick over from the right and Song heads about two yards over the top. He was unmarked, was the Cameroon midfielder.
13 mins - Another minute, another chance for Arsenal. Arshavin gets to the byline and lifts a cross over Behrami to the back post, where the ball bounces about a yard from the goalline and away from danger. Seconds later, Ilunga fouls a Gunners player and the hosts have a free-kick.
12 mins - Fabregas lifts a delightful pass over the West Ham defence for Arshavin, who controls, but is flagged for offside. The decision looked correct.
10 mins - The sun is now shining bright over north London. Got to love English weather!
9 mins - A chance for West Ham... Piquionne cuts inside Sagna before being brought down by Song about five yards outside the left corner of the penalty area. Noble to take the free-kick... Ooh! Noble slams a dangerous free-kick just over the head of Da Costa and Fabianski punches clear from under his own crossbar.
8 mins - Another half-chance as Nasri runs into the penalty area and tries to swap passes with Chamakh. Gabbidon sticks his leg out and prevents the France midfielder going clean through.
7 mins - Arshavin again, running in from the left again, playing a one-two with Fabregas before screwing a low shot well wide of the left-hand post. West Ham need a spell of possession to lift some of this pressure.
6 mins - Arshavin has switched to the centre and picks up possession. He tries to slide in Chamakh, but again Jacobsen is in the right place within the 'D' and he prods the ball out for a throw. The attack fizzles out.
5 mins - A free-kick for the Hammers as Boa Morte is held back by Song. West Ham take it quickly and Piquionne wins a throw deep in Arsenal territory, but it comes to nothing.
4 mins - Da Costa goes in strongly on Chamakh. He appears to win the ball, but referee Jones blows for the free-kick.
3 mins - Green comes out smartly to collect from Fabregas' attempted through ball to Chamakh. All I can hear are the West Ham fans singing their hearts out.
2 mins - West Ham lose the ball down their right and Arshavin runs at the back four again. Da Costa sticks to the Russian and gets a foot in, with the ball trickling through to Green.
1 min - Arsenal are the first to threaten through Fabregas, but he is crowded out. Seconds later, Arshavin breaks through the middle, but Jacobsen comes across to cover and lays the ball safely back for Green to clear.
3pm - We're underway...
2.58pm - From nowhere, the heavens have opened and it is absolutely chucking it down with rain. The floodlights are on as Arsene Wenger dons his benchcoat to protect him from the elements. West Ham will kick-off through Piquionne and Noble.
2.56pm - Here come the two teams... All you can hear are the West Ham singing 'Bubbles' - they are something special. I know it's a cliche, but if West Ham can achieve a positive result this afternoon, it could really kick-start the season. Don't forget, the Hammers have lost just one of their previous seven matches in all competitions.
2.54pm - The two teams are in the tunnel and waiting to enter the arena. The Emirates is far from being full, but I'm sure those red seats will be occupied come 3pm. Cesc Fabregas will captain Arsenal, while Scott Parker wears the armband for West Ham, who are wearing their white away kit this afternoon. I suppose that isn't really a surprise, considering we are playing away from home!
2.50pm - The away fans are making plenty of noise over in the corner to my right. Good luck to them all. It is 22 league matches since West Ham last won on the road at Wolverhampton Wanderers on 15 August 2009...
2.45pm - For those who are somehow still blissfully unaware of who West Ham have drawn in the Carling Cup quarter-final draw - it is Manchester United at home on either Tuesday 30 November or Wednesday 31 November. Keep an eye on whufc.com for confirmation of the date and kick-off time, as well as ticket details.
2.40pm - It has been brought to my attention that a few supporters were having trouble refreshing the live updates page during Wednesday's win over Stoke. A little tip for you - add a ? to the web address and press Enter. This should refresh the page for you...I hope!
Good afternoon and happy Hallowe'en to you all!
Welcome to the Emirates for what promises to be another 90 minutes full of emotion and pulsating Barclays Premier League action. West Ham United know they will have to be at their very best to halt a free-scoring Arsenal side that has netted 14 goals in four home league games so far this season.
While the Gunners have been irresistible in recent weeks, the Hammers have only to look at the example of West Bromwich Albion to see what can be achieved. The newly-promoted Baggies arrived in north London as rank outsiders on 25 September, only to stun Arsene Wenger's men by securing a shock 3-2 victory.
West Ham themselves can also draw on the experience of becoming the first away team to win at the Emirates back in April 2007. That day, Robert Green and Mark Noble played a starring role in a stunning 1-0 win that paved the way for the 'Great Escape'. Green, especially, was in world-class form, making save after save to deny the hosts.
Back to the present day and West Ham manager Avram Grant - who tasted victory over Arsenal during his single season as Chelsea boss - has made seven changes to the side that beat Stoke City 3-1 after extra time in the Carling Cup fourth round on Wednesday.
Robert Green replaces Marek Stech in goal, Lars Jacobsen returns from being cup-tied to replace Julien Faubert at right-back, with Danny Gabbidon is in for James Tomkins at centre-back. In midfield, Valon Behrami and Mark Noble replace Pablo Barrera and Radoslav Kovac. Up front, Frederic Piquionne is in for Carlton Cole and Victor Obinna replaces Benni McCarthy.
Stech, Faubert, Tomkins, Barrera, Kovac and Cole all drop to the substitutes bench alongside New Zealand FIFA World Cup star Winston Reid.
Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Koscielny, Squillaci, Clichy, Song, Denilson (Walcott 67), Fabregas, Nasri, Arshavin (Bendtner 79), Chamakh
Subs: Szczesny, Eboue, Djourou, Rosicky, Vela
West Ham United: Green, Jacobsen, Da Costa, Gabbidon, Ilunga, Behrami, Parker, Noble, Boa Morte, Obinna (Faubert 87), Piquionne (Cole 72)
Subs: Stech, Reid, Tomkins, Kovac, Barrera