van Persie inspires Gunners to precious win against old rivals
ARSENAL's early-season bandwagon rolled on incessantly.
They maintained an unbeaten start with a hard-earned victory at Upton Park where they had not been successful in the league for seven years.
Robin van Persie's earlyheader did the trick and his side held on to the advantage without too many problems.
West Ham battled hard and Dean Ashton missed one glorious chance of an equaliser. But Arsenal were always the more dangerous side and
West Ham keeper Robert Green had to be alert to prevent the leaders enjoying a
bigger victory.
West Ham manager Alan Curbishley had stressed the importance of a passionate start by his side, but it was Arsenal who made the first
impression, one that could easily have produced a goal with little more than 60 seconds on the clock.
Van Persie, rested for the game against Derby, picked out the run of Abou Diaby who, although too wide for an attempt on goal, pulled the ball back for Emmanuel Adebayor to shoot wide from a decent position.
When Diaby again made progress down the left flank to cut back another cross, Mark Noble showed good anticipation to step in with an important clearance.
Arsenal had some defending to do when Lee Bowyer won a corner. Then, from the edge of the penalty area, Dean Ashton shook off the attentions of his marker to fire a fierce volley a foot or so too high.
Games between these teams rarely disappoint and with 12 minutes gone Arsenal were ahead. Adebayor found Hleb, whose measured cross was headed in by Van Persie. Green made a brave attempt to keep it out, getting a hand to the ball at the foot of his right-hand post, but the momentum of the header ca ried it over the line.
Twice Ljungberg tried to set his side on the march. First he was halted by a forceful intervention from Bacary Sagna. Soon after, Gael Clichy
hacked the Swede's deep cross out of danger.
Bookings for Bowyer and Noble for heavy tackles reflected West Ham's frustration at not being able to gain a foothold in the game.
Noble's challenge left Hleb in a heap and he played no further part in the game.
Van Persie's delivery from dead-ball situations was causing West Ham problems. When he tried something different, directing a free kick with great power towards Green's near post, the goalkeeper parried well.
Scott Parker was replaced for the second half by Mullins, probably feeling the effects of his earlier knock and there was another casualty for West Ham when Anton Ferdinand was hurt and made way for Danny Gabbidon.
Despite the changes, West Ham had a good spell at the start of the second half. Ljungberg lined up a free kick at the angle of the penalty box, but instead of having a go himself touched the ball square to Bowyer, whose shot cannoned to safety off Cesc Fabregas.
But it was Arsenal who almost gave themselves breathing space through Van Persie, whose shot from 18-yards was tipped on to the post by the diving Green.
West Ham had a great chance to equalise when Bowyer played the ball for Ashton, who should have done much better with an unchallenged header than steer it straight at Manuel Almunia.
Ljungberg thought he had equalised, but his delight was immediately cut short by a flag for offside, Arsenal continued to look far more dangerous in front of goal. Van Persie shaped to shoot, but instead played a delicate pass through to Adebayor who was denied low down by Green. Then, the goalkeeper saved equally well from Clichy.
Man of the match Van Persie was again heavily involved when he cleared Ashton's close- range header.
Observer
