West Ham Utd 0 Arsenal 1

  • by Matthew O'Greel
  • Saturday, 29th September 2007

The Hammers suffered a second successive Premier League defeat thanks to a first half Robin van Persie goal.

Dutch forward van Persie's 13th minute strike proved to be the only goal of a lively London derby at the Boleyn, giving the Gunners their first win over United since 2003.

The Hammers - who had controlled the opening ten minutes of the match - were guilty of falling asleep as Arsenal countered to score the game's only goal.

Alexandr Hleb's right-sided cross was converted by van Persie at the far post with marker Lucas Neill apparently asleep - not for the first time in recent weeks.

And despite a spirited second half performance the Hammers failed to make the most of the numerous chances that fell their way, resulting in a second home defeat of the season.

Frustratingly the Hammers weren't given a great deal of help by referee Alan Riley, who had an absolute shocker of a second half.

In the space of five minutes the match offical somehow missed a clear push on Lee Bowyer by Philip Senderos inside the penalty box before ruling out a Freddie Ljungberg 'goal' for offside, when TV replays clearly showed the Swede level with the last Arsenal defender.

Alan Curbishley's pre-match wish to see first-choice strike pairing Dean Ashton and Craig Bellamy up front had proved to be something of a smokescreen, with Bellamy not even making the 16-man squad.

The on-loan Henri Camara took the Welsh international's place but failed to offer any indication that he will prove to be anything but a reserve option for the duration of his year in East London.

Also in for his league debut was Scott Parker, replacing Hayden Mullins, whilst Freddie Ljungberg was drafted in to face his former club in place of the missing Matthew Etherington.

Despite the disappointing result there were still one or two notable individual performances; Rob Green, whe clearly enjoys playing against Arsenal was in superb form once again whilst subs Danny Gabbidon and Hayden Mullins gave the kind of performances which suggested they should perhaps have been in the team from the start.

The defeat sees the Hammers fall a further three places in the table to tenth, whilst the three points for Arsenal gives them a clear three point lead at the top.

West Ham United: Green, Neill, Ferdinand (Gabbidon 48), Upson, McCartney, Parker (Mullins 45), Noble, Bowyer (Boa Morte 83), Ljungberg, Camara, Ashton.

Subs not used: Wright, Cole.

Booked: Bowyer (16), Noble 28).

Referee: Alan Wiley (4)

Attendance: 34,966

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