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Arsenal 2-0 West Ham United
Match Reports, 19:37, March 20, 2010 ,
10-man Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League table with a 2-0 win over West Ham that was far from regulation.
The Gunners seemed set for a routine victory when Denilson curled in the opener on five minutes after playing a neat one-two with Nicklas Bendtner. West Ham's poor away form suggested a heavy win was on the cards for the in-form hosts, who set about their opponents with vigour from the outset.
They dominated the rest of the half and should have been further ahead at the break, but instead finished the half on the back foot after Thomas
Vermaelen was sent off for a professional foul on 44 minutes. The Belgian tangled with Guillermo Franco as the pair chased a long ball and the red card was inevitable once referee Martin Atkinson pointed to the spot.
Alessandro Diamanti saw his spot kick well-saved by Manuel Almunia - who perhaps encroached off his line - and West Ham went in at half-time as disappointed as Arsenal having failed to grab their lifeline.
The Hammers gradually gained in confidence and enjoyed a good 20-minute spell of possession at the start of the second period, but a lack of creativity meant they rarely tested the reorganised home defence.
Substitute Carlton Cole had a decent impact and produced the one decent effort for the away side, hitting the post from 20 yards with a firm left-footed drive on 78 minutes. That was as close as the Hammers came and it was Arsenal who finished stronger.
Cesc Fabregas burst into the West Ham box on 83 minutes and saw his progress halted by a Matthew Upson handball. The Arsenal skipper showed Diamanti how it is done from the spot, which gave Arsenal a healthy two goal cushion that never looked like being reduced.
Arsene Wenger will rue the loss to suspension of Vermaelen, but his defensive worries are more than offset by the win that lifts the Gunners back to the summit of the Premier League.