Arsenal take the three points at Upton Park after a hard-fought battle with West Ham, who had their chances but couldn't find a way past Almunia. Final score West Ham 0 - 1 Arsenal.

Cesc Fabregas turns and shoots straight at Green from 12-yards out but it shoudln't matter.

Unbelievably it is now that the game has started to slow down and Arsenal look to be cruising to a victory.

There will be another four minutes of injury time.

Robin van Persie may well have scored the winner and he is being replaced by Nicklas Bendtner.

Fabregas almost keeps his amazing scoring record up as he flashes one goalwards from 20-yards that flies just over the bar.

A lively finish is in store at Upton Park with both sides looking threatening every time they go forward.

West Ham are making a change and the pacey former Arsenal player Luis Boa Morte is on in place of the impressive Lee Bowyer.

West Ham have a corner and Ashton rises to meet it and Van Persie is back in the six-yard box to hack it clear but there was panic in the Gunners defence then.

Flamini has launched yet another rapier like shot from distance that Green is forced to go at full-stretch to push wide.

Gilberto Silva is on for Adebayor which shows Arsene Wenger must be a bit concerned about West Ham's attacking.

The game has certainly been lively again after the break and although there have been few clear cut chances the final ball has mainly been to blame.

Ljungberg with a superb cross from the right hand side that is looking for Ashton but Almunia comes out well to punch it almost off the striker's head.

Wonderful football from Gael Clichy who comes flying down the left wing before firing in a shot that Green again is forced to save superbly.

Mathieu Flamini is slightly fortunate to stay on the pitch after bringing down Ljungberg when already on a booking.

Ashton strides onto the loose ball 25 yards from goal and fires it in through a crowd of players and it only just whistles wide of the post.

Adebayor is put through by Van Persie and is only denied by a marvellous save from Green who just got a finger-tip to his curling effort to divert it wide.

Lee Bowyer is involved in everything at the moment and he is down in the area appealing for a penalty against Sagna but the referee waves them away.

Flamini is booked for foul from behind on Bowyer.

Great ball in from Bowyer for Ashton who must score surely but Almunia makes the save that he really should have had no chance with.

Fabregas is looking imperious once again and he finds Van Persie this time who cuts onto his weaker right foot and smacks it into the post from the edge of the box.

Arsenal have come out for the second half with a spring in their step and they look most likely to score at the moment.

Anton Ferdinand looks to have twisted something and Danny Gabbidon replaces him.

The second period is underway and everyone is hoping for more flowing football from both teams.

Scott Parker has been replaced at half time by Hayden Mullins.

There is the half time whistle! Arsenal lead thanks to Van Persie after a lively start from both sides but it rather died down and the break comes at the right time.

Neill on the right side lifts the ball into the box and somehow it only finds Sagna who was surrounded by three Hammers players and he clears.

Adebayor with half a chance as he cuts in from the left hand side and tries to fire it goalwards but slices it wildly towards the corner flag.

Bowyer on the right again cuts it back towards Lucas Neill who gets under the ball with his left foot and skies it high and wide.

Because of the various stoppages and injuries there are 5 minutes added time.

The game is rather fizzling towards half-time at the moment with neither side creating any great openings.

Camara is as quick as they come and he has had little chance to show it but here he can but Sagna and Toure get back in time to stop him finding Ashton.

Lee Bowyer marauds down the right wing and looks for Ashton arriving in the box but Almunia claws at the ball and somehow holds on to deny the striker a tap-in.

Flamini strides forward from midfield and chances his arm from range and Green does well to hold onto the French midfielder's well-struck shot.

The home support are starting to get a little frustrated as Ashton is caught offside in what once again appeared to be a tight decision.

Emmanuel Eboue has replaced Hleb who did not recover from that knock he took from Noble.

Mark Noble is booked for a rash challenge on Alex Hleb who is suffering after that one.

After a burst of end-to-end football, including what was almost a fabulous flick through for Adebayor from Fabregas, the game has calmed down again.

Ljungberg is escaping and Fabregas slices him down and Noble almost bends the resultant free-kick over Almunia but the Spanish keeper makes a good save and keeps hold of the ball as well.

West Ham are enjoying a bit of territory at the moment but their final ball is not good enough to create a chance that could mean an equaliser.

The game has died slightly after that goal with both teams failing to keep the same level and quality of possession that they were before Van Persie struck.

Lee Bowyer is never short of a booking and he has another here for a foul on Mathieu Flamini.

Van Persie arrives at the back post to meet Hleb's cross and although Green gets a hand to it he cannot keep it out. 1-0 Arsenal.

Ashton looks on top of his game at the moment and this time he chests and turns in one touch before rifling in a shot that just rises over the bar.

The football on show from both sides is quite superb in the opening stages and Fabregas and Noble are starting to influence the game with their passing.

Ashton turns wonderfully and looks for Ljungberg who has a great chance against his former club but his first touch is just a bit heavy and Almunia is out smartly to smother.

A lively start to the game from both sides as Ashton and Adebayor are repeatedly involved in attack.

Early chance for the in-form Adebayor as he picks up the ball just outside the area and bends one just wide of the far post.

Alan Wiley is today's official and he gets the game underway here at Upton Park in front of a typically raucous Hammers support.

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna, Toure, Senderos, Clichy, Hleb, Fabregas, Flamini, Diaby, Adebayor, Van Persie

West Ham: Green, Neill, Ferdinand, Upson, McCartney, Bowyer, Parker, Noble, Ljungberg, Ashton, Camara

The Gunners arrive at Upton Park in top form after their 5-0 demolition of Derby last week while the Hammers are proving inconsistent so far although Dean Ashton is in scoring form.