Arsenal went top of the Premier League thanks to a 2-0 victory over struggling West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Denilson’s early goal and a late penalty from Cesc Fabregas earned the points for Arsene Wenger’s men. They did not have it all their own way though as Thomas Vermaelen was sent off just before half-time to the ire of Wenger. However, Allesandro Diamanti saw the resultant penalty saved by Manuel Almnuia.
Arsenal were in front after just five minutes. Denilson claimed possession from Valon Behrami just on the edge of the Hammers area and exchanged a neat one-two with Nicklas Bendtner as he moved into space and fired a low effort past Robert Green.
Home fans quickly sensed blood and Bendtner was soon off target with a 20-yard effort, while Andrey Arshavin just failed to connect with a teasing Emmuanel Eboue cross.
Mido similarly could not convert a Junior Stanislas set-up at the other end, yet West Ham had a golden chance to go level just before the break. Guiilermo Franco looked to be outpacing Vermaelen as he entered the Gunners’ penalty area and, on the advice of his assistant, referee Martin Atkinson opted to award a penalty and send the Belgian off.
There was no further punishment for Arsenal,however, as Almunia – not quite on his line – did superbly to deny the Italian Diamanti.
Alex Song reverted into Vermaelen’s centre-back role for the second half and produced one great saving tackle on the advancing Fabio Duprela, while Denilson and Sol Campbell both came close to extending Arsenal’s lead at the other end.
Carlton Cole – on fro Franco – then clipped the outside of Almunia’s post as West Ham began to see much more of the ball, but they could not capitalise on it and were punished for that with eight minutes to go when Matthew Upson was ruled to have handled in their own area.
Despite having already been booked no further punishment was dished out to the defender to the anger of the home fans, but their mood soon improved when Fabregas smashed the ball home to ensure the Gunners would be going to bed on top of the pile.