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  • Date:2009-01-31
  • Kick-off:15:00
  • Venue:Emirates Stadium
  • Attendance:60109
  • Referee:Bennett, S

Live Commentary

90mins

Full-Time: ARSENAL 0-0 WEST HAM. There are some boos around the stadium as the full-time whistle goes on a frustrating day for the Gunners.

90mins

There's four minutes of added time.

90mins

Robin van Persie turns and shoots from 15 yards out but his effort is dragged wide.

90mins

Alexandre Song replaces the stricken Vassiriki Abou Diaby.

89mins

Vassiriki Abou Diaby is down injured in the centre circle and has to be stretchered off.

87mins

Luis Boa Morte gets the final touch and the corner goes out for a goal-kick.

87mins

Savio Nsereko wins a corner off Gael Clichy.

85mins

Lucas Neill is booked for a challenge on Carlos Alberto Vela.

84mins

West Ham build up a little pressure but William Gallas cuts out the attack.

83mins

David Di Michele makes way for Luis Boa Morte.

81mins

Matthew Upson does well against Emmanuel Adebayor and the Arsenal striker can only head the ball into Robert Green's hands.

80mins

Emmanuel Adebayor gets up well to head on another corner but can't find the target.

78mins

The crowd are urging Arsenal forward.

76mins

David Di Michele is offside and Manuel Almunia at least gets his hands on the ball.

75mins

Carlos Alberto Vela is booked for diving in the penalty area.

73mins

There's no way through this West Ham defence with just over a quarter of an hour to go.

71mins

Emmanuel Adebayor should have scored but his header is straight at Robert Green.

70mins

Mark Noble is replaced by Savio Nsereko.

69mins

Robin van Persie gets his first touch but is caught by Lucas Neill, although he seems to be okay.

67mins

Robin van Persie is on for Nicklas Bendtner.

65mins

Pereira Neves Denilson has a shot which flies just over the bar.

64mins

The noise level has increased as Arsenal win another corner but Samir Nasri's kick is headed away by Carlton Cole.

62mins

Emmanuel Adebayor slides the ball wide from inside the six-yard box from Bacary Sagna's cross.

61mins

Emmanuel Adebayor can only toe-poke the ball out for a goal-kick under pressure from Jack Collison and Matthew Upson.

59mins

Pereira Neves Denilson's shot is blocked and West Ham are defending for their lives.

57mins

Carlton Cole is struggling up front on his own for West Ham.

55mins

James Collins is booked for kicking the ball into the crowd.

55mins

Arsenal are trying to get forward more but West Ham are still defending well.

53mins

Arsene Wenger is stalking the touchline and doesn't look too happy.

51mins

Vassiriki Abou Diaby shoots from the edge of the area but it's a snapshot and goes well wide.

49mins

James Collins heads the ball off the line as Arsenal step up the pressure and then clears a Pereira Neves Denilson effort.

48mins

Nicklas Bendtner gets into the penalty area but his pass is weak and doesn't reach an Arsenal player.

46mins

Arsenal have an early corner but Matthew Upson is there again to clear.

46mins

The second half gets underway.

45mins

The home fans are frustrated as Arsenal have had lost of possession but West Ham have defended well.

45mins

Gael Clichy heads the ball away from right on the post from James Collins's header.

45mins

West Ham win a corner after Gael Clichy gives the ball away on the edge of his own area.

45mins

There are two minutes of added time.

43mins

Scott Parker is in the right place again to volley the ball out of the penalty area and foil another Gunners attack.

41mins

The crowd aren't happy as Carlos Alberto Vela appears to be fouled on the edge of the area but West Ham are able to break.

39mins

Samir Nasri's corners and crosses are causing all sorts of problems and James Collins does well to block a dangerous ball.

38mins

The game is lacking in attempts on goal and the keepers have not really been called into action.

36mins

Emmanuel Eboue limps off to be replaced by Carlos Alberto Vela.

35mins

West Ham play their way out of defence nicely but David Di Michele can't control the ball and Arsenal have it back.

33mins

Jack Collison is caught in possession and Arsenal are able to come forward again.

32mins

West Ham have their first corner but Arsenal are able to clear.

31mins

Emmanuel Eboue is down receiving treatment after a crunching tackle from Scott Parker.

30mins

Scott Parker has been outstanding today for West Ham and seems to be everywhere.

28mins

There are groans around the Emirates as Emmanuel Eboue misplaces a pass.

26mins

Arsenal haven't created a great deal and the fans are already getting frustrated.

25mins

West Ham come forward but David Di Michele's cross is cleared by Gael Clichy.

23mins

Manuel Almunia makes an easy catch from the free-kick.

22mins

Vassiriki Abou Diaby is booked for a late foul on Valon Behrami after he just got beyond the Arsenal man.

20mins

Nicklas Bendtner has a chance from Samir Nasri's cross but can't make the most of it.

19mins

Gael Clichy and David Di Michele collide but they look to be okay.

18mins

Matthew Upson heads Samir Nasri's cross behind for another corner from the left but it's comfortably held by Robert Green.

18mins

Arsenal have had lots of possession but West Ham are looking solid.

16mins

Pereira Neves Denilson's free-kick is not the best and swerves behind for a goal-kick.

14mins

Steve Bennett has a word with Matthew Upson after Emmanuel Eboue is fouled again.

13mins

Samir Nasri's free-kick is deflected behind by James Collins for another corner.

12mins

West Ham are defending strongly and Emmanuel Eboue wins a free-kick 30 yards out on the right.

10mins

Bacary Sagna's cross almost finds Emmanuel Adebayor in the area but West Ham manage to clear the danger.

8mins

it's a freezing day at the Emirates and there's not much noise from the crowd so far.

6mins

Emmanuel Eboue's effort is well wide after West Ham do well to put him off his strike.

4mins

West Ham are able to clear their lines.

4mins

Samir Nasri's corner is headed just over the crossbar by Abou Diaby, James Collins getting the last touch for another corner.

3mins

Emmanuel Adebayor wins a corner off Matthew Upson.

2mins

Arsenal are controlling possession in the opening minutes.

1mins

The game gets underway.

0mins

It's almost time for kick-off and we should be in for a cracking London derby.

Match Preview

Arsenal are clinging on to the Premier League's frontrunners by their fingernails after another midweek draw at Everton.

An injury-time goal from Robin van Persie saw Arsene Wenger's team escape Goodison Park with a point and they currently lie five points behind Aston Villa, who occupy the final Champions League qualification spot.

The Frenchman refused to be upset with a point, praising his team. "We had a very difficult game tonight and we played with a lot of intensity, focus, desire and resilience and, in the end, our character allowed us to get a point at least," he said.

Wenger may have Mikael Silvestre available following a thigh strain, but three key players are long-term absentees.

Captain Cesc Fabregas (medial ligament), Theo Walcott (dislocated shoulder) and Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) all remain on the sidelines.

It may be too early to call upon Eduardo who is building up his fitness after suffering a leg break and dislocated ankle last season.

Gianfranco Zola has his West Ham side playing with smiles on their faces again. They have gone unbeaten in seven games, winning six of them.

Zola lost in-form striker Craig Bellamy to Manchester City last week, but moved quickly to land Germany Under-20 international Savio Nserko from Serie B side Brescia.

Savio made his bow in a cameo appearance in the Hammers' 2-0 win over Hull City on Wednesday and Zola is expecting big things of his £9million man.

"He is a good boy, he has good quality. He just needs to settle down and he will be an important player," Zola said after the win over the Tigers.

Dean Ashton is suffering from ongoing pain in his ankle, while Danny Gabbidon is out with a groin and pelvis problem.


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Match Report

Arsenal and West Ham United shared the points in a hard-fought goalless draw at the Emirates Stadium.

Gianfranco Zola had the brightest smile on his face after the final whistle as his charges extended their unbeaten run.

The Gunners too made it ten games unbeaten, but that was scant consolation for Arsene Wenger who saw it as two points lost.

Arsenal showed the most attacking energy, but West Ham, marshalled by former Gunner Matthew Upson, had an answer for whatever the Arsenal strikers had to offer.

Both Arsenal and West Ham have proven hard to beat over the last few weeks. They have also been among the Premier League's best passing teams and so it would be difficult to predict what sort of game would be on offer.

The first half saw the Gunners dominate possession but only had an Abou Diaby header that shaved the top of the bar to show for their endeavours.

West Ham for their part showed little attacking desire, so much so that Manuel Almunia was not forced in to any action at all.

The second half showed more promise. West Ham looked a little more adventurous, but then began to sit back as the Gunners camped in the visitors half.

Arsenal should have been rewarded just before the hour when a burst on the right by Bacary Sagna culminated with a cross into the box.

Emmanuel Adebayor slid in front of his marker but somehow directed the ball well wide when it seemed easier to score.

Denislon saw his shot fly just wide shortly after but the Gunners could not break through with the combination of Nicklas Bendtner and Adebayor being decidedly unproductive.

Wenger introduced top scorer Robin van Persie in the 68th minute in an effort to break the Hammers down.

Gianfranco Zola also looked to his bench to add some attacking impetus and brought on new boy Savio Nsereko for Mark Noble on 70 minutes, but to little avail.

Adebayor, for once, got away from Upson in the 72nd minute and met Carlos Vela's cross from the left but his header was directed straight at Rob Green.

The Gunners has a good claim for a penalty on 75 minutes when Vela cut into the area. His progress was halted when he was the meat in between a West Ham defensive sandwich but referee Steve Bennett waved play on.

As full-time drew nearer, Arsenal's plight worsened when Diaby was stretchered off.

With Cesc Fabregas still at least a month away from a return, Wenger's midfield options were further restricted.

Ultimately it was a disappointing afternoon for the Gunners and a frustrating one for Wenger but the West Ham fans went home happy.

Arsenal

West Ham United

Corners

133

Fouls

1212

Goal attempts

152

Shots off target

70

Offsides

13

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