Arsenal against West Ham United

WHAT A SAVE! Pires and Henry combine on the edge of the penalty area, but Hislop gets down to make a superb low save to turn Pires' shot wide of the post for a corner.

Some committed defending from Gabbidon and Ferdinand deny Henry the chance to shoot from close range.

There will be plenty of soul-searching required by Arsenal over the next couple of days; they have not played well at all tonight, and this defeat leaves them really struggling in the Premiership.

West Ham win a corner and the chance to waste a little more time as Etherington and Harewood combine well down the Hammers left.

Konchesky matches Ljungberg stride-for-stride before showing good strength to hold the winger off the ball and clear the danger on the Hammers left flank.

Henry attempts an audacious over-head kick after controlling a bouncing ball inside the penalty area, but his effort flies narrowly wide of the far post.

It has been a real smash-and-grab by the Hammers, but Arsenal's defending has been attrocious tonight.

GOAL! Etherington slides home from 12 yards after Reo Coker had robbed Larsson on the right. Pires does his best to keep the ball out on the goal-line, but succeeds only in slamming it in to the top corner.

West Ham are doing a good job of wasteing as much time as they can in an effort to see out this match and close in on a great win.

Harewood and Lehmann are then involved in a slight altercation off the ball; the Arsenal goalkeeper appeared to try and step over Harewood, who lay on the ground, but just caught him on the back of the head with his knee. The referee takes no action.

Harewood feels himself unlucky not to win a penalty as he and Senderos chase down a long ball in to the area.

Despite Arsenal having a lot of the ball, Hislop hasn't really been forced in to making many saves in this second half.

WEST HAM SUB: Clarke is replaced by Fletcher; the former Stoke player takes an age to leave the field and is replaced by versatile midfielder Fletcher.

Gilberto makes a rare run in to the penalty area and wins his side their tenth corner.

Bergkamp tries to roll a pass in to the path of Henry, breaking in to the area, but Ferdinand intercepts at the crucial moment.

WEST HAM SUB: Ashton replaces Zamora; the former Norwich striker comes on to make his Hammers debut after signing for the club last week.

Van Persie is annoyed not to win a free-kick after having his shirt pulled by Clarke.

Henry just gets to a Ljungberg through ball before Hislop, but the Gunners skipper can't then find a team-mate with his pass.

More good defending on the edge of their own penalty area denies first Van Persie and then Henry a shooting chance.

ARSENAL SUB: Diaby is replaced by Bergkamp. The veteran striker comes on for the final twenty minutes to try and inspire Arsenal to find a leveller.

Arsenal are preparing another change, with Bergkamp stripped and ready to go on the touchline.

Arsenal are showing a lot of urgency as they search for this equaliser, but their final ball just isn't good enough at the moment.

Senderos plays a good ball over the top for Van Persie to chase, but Konchesky robs him as he tries to cut inside on to his left foot.

WEST HAM SUB: Benayoun is replaced by Newton; a defensive change from Pardew, who brings on the more defensively-minded Newton to replace his playmaker.

HENRY! The French striker beats Etherington inside the penalty area but curls a low shot narrowly wide of the far post, with Hislop beaten.

West Ham win a free-kick when Reo-Coker, on one of his lung-bursting runs, is brought down on the left flank.

Of course, there could be many reasons for Campbell leaving the ground, although he didn't seem to be carrying any injury.

Some news on Campbell; the England centre-back has been spotted walking out of Highbury, suited and showered. He will not be watching the rest of the game.

More good defending from the West Ham back four as they manage to snuff out another Arsenal attack.

JUST WIDE! Van Persie blasts the shot goalwards, but Gabbidon manages to get a boot on the ball and flick it just wide of the far post for a corner.

Van Persie stands over the set-piece...

Henry is brought down on the corner of the penalty area by a clumsy challenge from Ferdinand. No booking, to Henry's disgust, though the home side do have a free-kick in a very dangerous spot...

Larsson is booked for a late challenge on Benayoun in midfield. Just 14 minutes in to his Premiership debut, the young Swede is shown the yellow card.

Zamora chases a hopeful ball down the left, holds off Flamini and sends a low cross in to the middle, but Harewood is forty yards off the pace and nowhere near the ball.

Ljungberg almost slides a superb pass in to the feet of Van Persie, but Konchesky has tracked the run and slides the ball out for a throw.

Reo-Coker brings down Djourou on the half-way line. He is another who has played well this evening. Did you know he is the Premiership's youngest captain?

Diaby links up well, first with Henry and then with Van Persie, though his final ball is a little too strong for the young Dutchman to get on the end of.

Ferdinand and Gabbidon have played very well in the centre of the defence for the visitors; Gabbidon has been brave and determined, and Ferdinand has shown great composure.

It really is a very cold night tonight in north London; think Siberian labour-camp, and you'd be somewhere close to the conditions the players are working under.

Van Persie curls the ball in dangerously, and Hislop needs to get a desperate fist on the ball to punch it out from under his crossbar.

Van Persie's quick feet win his side their sixth corner of the night.

Gabbidon is booked for a little hack at the legs of Henry, 30 yards out. He takes the decision with good grace, and has a little chuckle with Henry about it afterwards. How pleasant. Like a tea-party.

Benayoun sends the corner in, but Lehmann collects easily at the near post.

Etherington out-paces Flamini down the West Ham left, but his cross in to the near post is put behind for a corner by Djourou.

Van Persie's first-time pass releases Pires down the left, but his low cross is cut out inside the six-yard box.

SHOT! Diaby fires in a shot from the edge of the penalty area, but Gabbidon is again out quickly to block.

The average age of Arsenal's current back four is just....20. Remarkable, no?

The news from the Arsenal bench is that Campbell picked up an injury in the first half, though the club could not reveal what it was. How mysterious.

Larsson seems to have taken up the left-back slot, with Senderos moving in to the middle of defence, alongside Djourou.

West Ham kick off the second period.

ARSENAL SUB: Larsson replaces Campbell. Interesting change from Wenger. Campbell has had a shocker, but he now only has two defenders on the pitch.

HALF-TIME: Arsenal manage to cut the difference to a single goal after an entertaining first half at Highbury. We should be set for a pulsating second 45 minutes. STAY HERE WITH US!

GOAL! Henry steals a goal back just before half-time, deflecting Pires' shot past three defenders on the goal-line.

OFF THE LINE! Benayoun makes a crucial block on the line after a scramble in the box following Van Persie's corner.

Ljungberg wins his side their fifth corner of the evening when his attempted cross is deflected behind by Konchesky.

Hammers' new signing Dean Ashton is watching from the bench; I wonder what he is making of it all. If things stay as they are, he might get his debut later in the evening.

There is a lot of frustration around Highbury at the moment; the fans clearly don't like what they see from this young Arsenal side.

Pires clips the free-kick in to the crowded penalty area, but Ferdinand rises highest to head clear.

Arsenal win a free-kick, out on the left touchline. Campbell and Djourou trot forward from the back...

Van Persie attempts to trick Gabbidon by flicking the ball past him on the corner of the box, but the Welsh defender is having none of it and makes a strong challenge.

West Ham, in truth, have defended quite well, after initially making a nervy start.

It will be a very difficult half-time for Wenger if his side go in two goals down; West Ham will surely try to shut-up in the second half, in an effort to close the game out.

Henry almost manages to dance through three challenges on the edge of the penalty area, though Gabbidon eventually puts a crucial tackle in.

And the Arsenal fans aren't very impressed with this performance either; the voices of discontent are audible at the moment.

Campbell is having a nightmare; Zamora just shoved him off the ball in the lead up to West Ham's second goal. He looks a shadow of the player he once was.

Well, well, well. An ex-Tottenham player has put West Ham in to a two-goal lead. They took an age to get going but are now in control of this game.

GOAL! Zamora does superbly to out-muscle Campbell and curl a left-foot shot in to the top corner of Lehmann's goal.

There is a big shout from the Arsenal fans behind the goal as the ball strikes Konchesky on the arm as he deals with a cross inside the penalty area, though Referee Halsey rules 'no penalty'.

Konchesky is again alert enough to stop the threat of Ljungberg from the Arsenal left as the Swede attempted to take Pires' pass in his stride.

ARSENAL SUB: Gilbert is replaced by Flamini. The young defender twisted his back in that challenge with Zamora, and is replaced by French midfielder Flamini.

West Ham have become only the fourth club this season to score a Premiership goal at Highbury. Arsene Wenger looks disgusted on the touchline.

Captain Reo-Coker's second Premiership goal came out-of-the-blue and has really shocked the home side, who were completely in control of the match.

GOAL! Skipper Reo-Coker capitalises on a mis-kick by Campbell to race clear and slide a low shot under the body of Lehmann.

SHOT! Benayoun gets in a shot from the edge of the area, but Lehmann is down easily to save on his six-yard box.

Ljungberg brilliantly chips a pass in to the path of Van Persie, but Ferdinand tracks back to rob the Dutchman as he was about to pull the trigger. Great defending.

Benayoun opts to try and slide a cute pass in to Zamora on the edge of the area when he perhaps might have been better served with a shot.

Etherington does well to rob Gilberto on the touchline. He plays the ball in to Harewood, but his pass is loose and intercepted in midfield.

West Ham will be happy that the score remains 0-0 after being put under a little pressure by the home side in the opening minutes.

Gilbert requires some attention from the Arsenal physio after taking a knock in an earlier challenge with Zamora. It seems to be a problem with his ankle.

Van Persie takes the set-piece, but his shot is easily saved by Carroll.

Arsenal win a free-kick in a dangerous spot when Henry has his ankles clipped as he approached the penalty area.

Zamora manages to get a shot away after showing good strength to hold off Gilbert, but the defender does well to put a block in.

For all Arsenal's recent possession, they haven't created a chance for ten minutes or so, or even got in to a shooting position.

West Ham have got seven Englishmen playing for them tonight; Arsenal have two. FACT.

Good movement sets Zamora in behind the Arsenal centre-backs, but the ball from Mullins is a little too strong and Lehmann collects on the edge of his penalty area.

At least the visitors are closing up the space in midfield now; they are putting much more pressure on the man in possession than they were at the start of the game.

West Ham have forged a reputatation this season for being a very attack-minded side, though they haven't got going at all so far this evening.

Harewood is flagged off-side as he chases down Konchesky's punt forward from the left-back position.

Gilberto's break down the right wins his side a corner off Konchesky. Van Persie curls the corner in, but West Ham defend it well.

Arsenal really need a result tonight; they have slipped so far behind Chelsea, and are even looking like perhaps missing out on a Champions League spot.

In contrast, West Ham can't quite get their passing going in midfield and are giving the ball back to the home side with alarming ease.

West Ham could be in for a long night; everything Arsenal are trying is coming off at the moment; they look really sharp.

Pires curls the ball in to the back post, but all of Arsenal's big-guns had made a run to the near and the ball drifts out of play for a goal-kick.

Van Persie wins his side a corner with a brilliant turn inside the area.

SO CLOSE! Diaby gets to the by-line and pulls a cross back to Henry; the skipper places a volley goalwards, but it deflects of team-mate Ljungberg and bobbles just wide.

Our referee tonight is Mark Halsey, a pleasant looking, middle-aged fellow who looks like he should be a celebrity chef.

Van Persie's shot on the edge of the area is blocked by Gabbidon. Arsenal have started very brightly.

Konchesky does well in a strong tackle on Ljunberg just inside the box after a ricochet had put him in a spot of bother.

Van Persie is brought down by Clarke on the edge of the penalty area, but Henry culrs the free-kick over the crossbar.

This is, of course, a London derby tonight; Arsenal are based in the north of the capital, with the Hammers residing at the Bolyn Ground away in the east of the city.

Arsenal kick off on a cold, dry night in north London.

Hello, welcome to Soccernet's coverage of West Ham's trip to Highbury for tonight's Premiership match. I'm Alex; think of me as a friend, guiding you through the comings and goings out on the pitch.

WEST HAM SUB: Ashton replaces Zamora; the former Norwich striker comes on to make his Hammers debut after signing for the club last week.

Van Persie is annoyed not to win a free-kick after having his shirt pulled by Clarke.

Henry just gets to a Ljungberg through ball before Hislop, but the Gunners skipper can't then find a team-mate with his pass.

More good defending on the edge of their own penalty area denies first Van Persie and then Henry a shooting chance.

ARSENAL SUB: Diaby is replaced by Bergkamp. The veteran striker comes on for the final twenty minutes to try and inspire Arsenal to find a leveller.

Arsenal are preparing another change, with Bergkamp stripped and ready to go on the touchline.

Arsenal are showing a lot of urgency as they search for this equaliser, but their final ball just isn't good enough at the moment.

Senderos plays a good ball over the top for Van Persie to chase, but Konchesky robs him as he tries to cut inside on to his left foot.

WEST HAM SUB: Benayoun is replaced by Newton; a defensive change from Pardew, who brings on the more defensively-minded Newton to replace his playmaker.

HENRY! The French striker beats Etherington inside the penalty area but curls a low shot narrowly wide of the far post, with Hislop beaten.

West Ham win a free-kick when Reo-Coker, on one of his lung-bursting runs, is brought down on the left flank.

Of course, there could be many reasons for Campbell leaving the ground, although he didn't seem to be carrying any injury.

Some news on Campbell; the England centre-back has been spotted walking out of Highbury, suited and showered. He will not be watching the rest of the game.

More good defending from the West Ham back four as they manage to snuff out another Arsenal attack.

JUST WIDE! Van Persie blasts the shot goalwards, but Gabbidon manages to get a boot on the ball and flick it just wide of the far post for a corner.

Van Persie stands over the set-piece...

Henry is brought down on the corner of the penalty area by a clumsy challenge from Ferdinand. No booking, to Henry's disgust, though the home side do have a free-kick in a very dangerous spot...

Larsson is booked for a late challenge on Benayoun in midfield. Just 14 minutes in to his Premiership debut, the young Swede is shown the yellow card.

Zamora chases a hopeful ball down the left, holds off Flamini and sends a low cross in to the middle, but Harewood is forty yards off the pace and nowhere near the ball.

Ljungberg almost slides a superb pass in to the feet of Van Persie, but Konchesky has tracked the run and slides the ball out for a throw.

Reo-Coker brings down Djourou on the half-way line. He is another who has played well this evening. Did you know he is the Premiership's youngest captain?

Diaby links up well, first with Henry and then with Van Persie, though his final ball is a little too strong for the young Dutchman to get on the end of.

Ferdinand and Gabbidon have played very well in the centre of the defence for the visitors; Gabbidon has been brave and determined, and Ferdinand has shown great composure.

It really is a very cold night tonight in north London; think Siberian labour-camp, and you'd be somewhere close to the conditions the players are working under.

Van Persie curls the ball in dangerously, and Hislop needs to get a desperate fist on the ball to punch it out from under his crossbar.

Van Persie's quick feet win his side their sixth corner of the night.

Gabbidon is booked for a little hack at the legs of Henry, 30 yards out. He takes the decision with good grace, and has a little chuckle with Henry about it afterwards. How pleasant. Like a tea-party.

Benayoun sends the corner in, but Lehmann collects easily at the near post.

Etherington out-paces Flamini down the West Ham left, but his cross in to the near post is put behind for a corner by Djourou.

Van Persie's first-time pass releases Pires down the left, but his low cross is cut out inside the six-yard box.

SHOT! Diaby fires in a shot from the edge of the penalty area, but Gabbidon is again out quickly to block.

The average age of Arsenal's current back four is just....20. Remarkable, no?

The news from the Arsenal bench is that Campbell picked up an injury in the first half, though the club could not reveal what it was. How mysterious.

Larsson seems to have taken up the left-back slot, with Senderos moving in to the middle of defence, alongside Djourou.

West Ham kick off the second period.

ARSENAL SUB: Larsson replaces Campbell. Interesting change from Wenger. Campbell has had a shocker, but he now only has two defenders on the pitch.

HALF-TIME: Arsenal manage to cut the difference to a single goal after an entertaining first half at Highbury. We should be set for a pulsating second 45 minutes. STAY HERE WITH US!

GOAL! Henry steals a goal back just before half-time, deflecting Pires' shot past three defenders on the goal-line.

OFF THE LINE! Benayoun makes a crucial block on the line after a scramble in the box following Van Persie's corner.

Ljungberg wins his side their fifth corner of the evening when his attempted cross is deflected behind by Konchesky.

Hammers' new signing Dean Ashton is watching from the bench; I wonder what he is making of it all. If things stay as they are, he might get his debut later in the evening.

There is a lot of frustration around Highbury at the moment; the fans clearly don't like what they see from this young Arsenal side.

Pires clips the free-kick in to the crowded penalty area, but Ferdinand rises highest to head clear.

Arsenal win a free-kick, out on the left touchline. Campbell and Djourou trot forward from the back...

Van Persie attempts to trick Gabbidon by flicking the ball past him on the corner of the box, but the Welsh defender is having none of it and makes a strong challenge.

West Ham, in truth, have defended quite well, after initially making a nervy start.

It will be a very difficult half-time for Wenger if his side go in two goals down; West Ham will surely try to shut-up in the second half, in an effort to close the game out.

Henry almost manages to dance through three challenges on the edge of the penalty area, though Gabbidon eventually puts a crucial tackle in.

And the Arsenal fans aren't very impressed with this performance either; the voices of discontent are audible at the moment.

Campbell is having a nightmare; Zamora just shoved him off the ball in the lead up to West Ham's second goal. He looks a shadow of the player he once was.

Well, well, well. An ex-Tottenham player has put West Ham in to a two-goal lead. They took an age to get going but are now in control of this game.

GOAL! Zamora does superbly to out-muscle Campbell and curl a left-foot shot in to the top corner of Lehmann's goal.

There is a big shout from the Arsenal fans behind the goal as the ball strikes Konchesky on the arm as he deals with a cross inside the penalty area, though Referee Halsey rules 'no penalty'.

Konchesky is again alert enough to stop the threat of Ljungberg from the Arsenal left as the Swede attempted to take Pires' pass in his stride.

ARSENAL SUB: Gilbert is replaced by Flamini. The young defender twisted his back in that challenge with Zamora, and is replaced by French midfielder Flamini.

West Ham have become only the fourth club this season to score a Premiership goal at Highbury. Arsene Wenger looks disgusted on the touchline.

Captain Reo-Coker's second Premiership goal came out-of-the-blue and has really shocked the home side, who were completely in control of the match.

GOAL! Skipper Reo-Coker capitalises on a mis-kick by Campbell to race clear and slide a low shot under the body of Lehmann.

SHOT! Benayoun gets in a shot from the edge of the area, but Lehmann is down easily to save on his six-yard box.

Ljungberg brilliantly chips a pass in to the path of Van Persie, but Ferdinand tracks back to rob the Dutchman as he was about to pull the trigger. Great defending.

Benayoun opts to try and slide a cute pass in to Zamora on the edge of the area when he perhaps might have been better served with a shot.

Etherington does well to rob Gilberto on the touchline. He plays the ball in to Harewood, but his pass is loose and intercepted in midfield.

West Ham will be happy that the score remains 0-0 after being put under a little pressure by the home side in the opening minutes.

Gilbert requires some attention from the Arsenal physio after taking a knock in an earlier challenge with Zamora. It seems to be a problem with his ankle.

Van Persie takes the set-piece, but his shot is easily saved by Carroll.

Arsenal win a free-kick in a dangerous spot when Henry has his ankles clipped as he approached the penalty area.

Zamora manages to get a shot away after showing good strength to hold off Gilbert, but the defender does well to put a block in.

For all Arsenal's recent possession, they haven't created a chance for ten minutes or so, or even got in to a shooting position.

West Ham have got seven Englishmen playing for them tonight; Arsenal have two. FACT.

Good movement sets Zamora in behind the Arsenal centre-backs, but the ball from Mullins is a little too strong and Lehmann collects on the edge of his penalty area.

At least the visitors are closing up the space in midfield now; they are putting much more pressure on the man in possession than they were at the start of the game.

West Ham have forged a reputatation this season for being a very attack-minded side, though they haven't got going at all so far this evening.

Harewood is flagged off-side as he chases down Konchesky's punt forward from the left-back position.

Gilberto's break down the right wins his side a corner off Konchesky. Van Persie curls the corner in, but West Ham defend it well.

Arsenal really need a result tonight; they have slipped so far behind Chelsea, and are even looking like perhaps missing out on a Champions League spot.

In contrast, West Ham can't quite get their passing going in midfield and are giving the ball back to the home side with alarming ease.

West Ham could be in for a long night; everything Arsenal are trying is coming off at the moment; they look really sharp.

Pires curls the ball in to the back post, but all of Arsenal's big-guns had made a run to the near and the ball drifts out of play for a goal-kick.

Van Persie wins his side a corner with a brilliant turn inside the area.

SO CLOSE! Diaby gets to the by-line and pulls a cross back to Henry; the skipper places a volley goalwards, but it deflects of team-mate Ljungberg and bobbles just wide.

Our referee tonight is Mark Halsey, a pleasant looking, middle-aged fellow who looks like he should be a celebrity chef.

Van Persie's shot on the edge of the area is blocked by Gabbidon. Arsenal have started very brightly.

Konchesky does well in a strong tackle on Ljunberg just inside the box after a ricochet had put him in a spot of bother.

Van Persie is brought down by Clarke on the edge of the penalty area, but Henry culrs the free-kick over the crossbar.

This is, of course, a London derby tonight; Arsenal are based in the north of the capital, with the Hammers residing at the Bolyn Ground away in the east of the city.

Arsenal kick off on a cold, dry night in north London.

Hello, welcome to Soccernet's coverage of West Ham's trip to Highbury for tonight's Premiership match. I'm Alex; think of me as a friend, guiding you through the comings and goings out on the pitch.