West Ham United – Arsenal

Afternoon all, welcome to West Ham v Arsenal in the FA Cup third round. The Hammers are struggling at the wrong end of the Premier League at the moment, while the Gunners are flying high, in excellent form. But anything can happen in the FA Cup. Just ask Sir Alex Ferguson...

I can remember a couple of tasty FA Cup clashes between these sides in the 1998 competition. A 1-1 draw at Highbury was followed by another at Upton Park and the Gunners edged through on penalties, securing the double in the process.

WEST HAM: Green, Faubert, Tomkins, Upson, Daprela, Kovac, Behrami, Stanislas, Diamanti, Jimenez, Nouble Subs: Stech, N?Gala, Da Costa, Payne, Lee, Edgar, Sears

ARSENAL: Fabianski, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Silvestre, Ramsey, Song, Merida, Wilshere, Eduardo, Vela Subs: Mannone, Gilbert, Diaby, Nasri, Traore, Eastmond, Emmanuel-Thomas

So, the players are on the pitch and we're just about ready to get started here. Jiminez given a chance by Gianfranco Zola, he's been disappointing since moving from Inter and has plenty to prove.

Looking forward to seeing Jack Wilsherse and Fran Merida in the Arsenal midfield, they've looked excellent in the Carling Cup.

And we're off...

Or not...

Now we're off, kick-off replayed there!

Excellent atmosphere as always at Upton Park and Arsene Wenger's starting line-up has certainly offered them a chance.

Wilshere, a West Ham fan, suggested earlier this week he would like to go on loan to the Hammers and he's started brightly with a run down the left.

Arsenal passing it around well to start with, Song playing in is last game before the African Nations Cup.

West Ham certainly trying to press Arsenal and Jiminez is quite advanced, playing off Nouble at the moment.

But the Gunners showing their class and keeping possession.

Wilshere draws a foul from fellow teenager Daprela but Merida's free-kick is intercepted.

Stanislas picks up the ball down the left but Sagna is strong in the tackle.

Great power from Nouble and he's sheltered the ball to win a Hammers corner.

The ball comes out to Behrami and he's hit one from the edge but it's blocked.

Nouble is a 6ft 3in English forward, very much in the Carlton Cole mould and it's a big game for him today, the 19 year old is playing up front on his own.

Silvestre puts a cross in from the left and Daprela heads it out for an Arsenal corner.

Merida to take.

Wilshere floats it in for a second time and Green comes to colelct convincingly.

Fast break from West Ham though with Stanislas leading the charge, but he can't thread it in to Nouble.

The young striker Nouble chases down a lost cause and wins it back for the Hammers.

Shot from Diamanti from 25 yards and it's gone out for a throw-in. That's right a throw-in. Shocking effort. Sliced.

West Ham definitely coming into the match more now.

West Ham throw to be taken by Daprela. Sagna was confused there. He shepherded it out thinking he'd won the throw.

Nice play from Eduardo on the left and he's played in Merida to the by-line but he can't quite pull it back to Vela.

Crisp strike from Merida from outside the box. Bounces just in front of Green but it's central enough for the England goalkeeper to gather it.

Nice inter-play between Wilshere and Sagna but the French full back's cross is weak.

Scott Parker missing today, is it because he is going to be heading out the exit door and he doesn't want to be cup-tied?

No, he is properly injured.

Arsenal streaming forward with Silvestre. Wilshere, switching flanks makes half a yard and forces a corner.

It comes to Alex Song and it's deflected out for another corner.

Ramsey and Vela exchange passes on the edge and Behrami gets the block in.

Booted out by Faubert with loads of time. Extremely uncomposed by the former Real Madrid player.

But he's made a great last-ditch challenge to stop Eduardo and it's an Arsenal corner.

Great save by Green. Shocking play by Tomkins, he gives it straight to Eduardo and his shot is heading into the bottom corner until the keeper tipped it wide.

Poor delivery again from Merida. He hasn't really got it past the first man yet.

Diamanti with a stinging drive and it deflected into the path of Stanislas but he just can't get past any Gunners' defenders. Vermaelen was just too strong.

Sagna on the gallop again down the right but the ball is just a little strong.

That Diamanti shot deflected off Vermaelen's hand but it was going at some space and would have been pretty impossible to get out of the way. The Italian has scored four spot-kicks this season.

Free-kick to Arsenal, Nouble's challenge on Song a little too robust.

Arsenal pushing again and Jimenez concedes the free-kick. Seconds later after the quick one, BEhrami brings down Wilshere right on the edge of the area. Free-kick in a dangerous position and Eduardo is walking over to it.

Poor effort from Eduardo. Easy for Green.

Daprela sets off at pace, and Song brings him down. Free-kick about 25-30 yards out. Half-chance for West Ham here maybe.

Stanislas fancies it.

Good effort but it's dipped just over the bar. Fabiaski probably had it covered.

Faubert was lucky there, fouled by Eduardo but he was almost embarassed inside his own box trying to turn away instead of just safely knocking it out.

Merida caught by Diamanti in midfield and it's another free-kick. A bit stop-start at the moment.

First yellow of the game, Alex Song in too hard on Behrami and the Cameroon international is in the book.

Cracking save from Fabianski, curling effort from Diamanti pushed round the post.

Poor delivery from Stanislas and the Arsenal keeper colelcts.

Daprela has looked dangerous going forward, he's got plenty of gas.

Arsenal corner now and let's see if Merida can do any better.

It's deeper and Kovac heads it back out.

Second go and Green flaps at it a little, palming it into the path of Vermaelen who blasts it high over the bar.

Saying that, if Green hadn't got anything to it Song was waiting to pounce.

Nouble chasing down again, he's shown an excellent work-rate so far.

Daprela adavnces on the edge but he's tried to take on one to many and now Arsenal break.

Danger cleared in the end and Stanislas was tackled by Sagna as he accelerated away down the left. Great challenge.

Arsenal threading it through midifeld now but, not for the first time, it's too much passing and not enough product for the Gunners.

Awkward ball from Gallas to Vermaelen but he clears it up.

Behrami has been snapping at the heels of the Arsenal midfield, it's been an impressively dogged performance from him so far.

Faubert with some space down the right and the full-back shows why he is no longer plying his trade at the Bernabeu, spooning his cross wide.

Arsenal definitely the better of the two sides but they haven't really produced anything concrete.

Poor from Wilshere twice, first pass is straight to Staislas who has a poor touch of his own and can't manufacture a shot. Seconds later, he's dispossessed just outside the box but the resulting shot from Jimenez is dragged wide.

Shaky period there for Arsenal and particularly the England youngster.

Great touch by Vela to latch onto a long ball and he gets hte right side of Tomkins before firing his left-foot shot into the grateful grasp of Green.

Fabianski plays th eball out but referee Clattenberg orders a re-take, the ball was still moving.

Vela does well to set up Wilshere with a cheeky back heel but he can't get the cross in and has to settle for a corner.

Again cleared away at the near post. Come on Senor Merida.

Acrobatic clearance from Faubert and its a rare break fro West Ham. Jimenez comes forward and it's three-on-three for the Hammers. The ball comes across to Nouble but he dwells on it too long and is dispossessed.

Gallas gallops forward after what looked like a handball. Nothing comes of it. Ramsey has been fairly anonymous this afternoon so far.

Arsenal free-kick. Daprela brings down Wilshere and the Swiss youngster is booked for his troubles.

Merida to deliver. He's had enough chances.

At least he's found an Arsenal head. But Eduardo loops it over the bar from pretty much the edge of the penalty box.

GOAL! Diamanti.

WEST HAM 1-0 ARSENAL. Silvestre steps up to try and play him offside but the Italian has a clean run through and slots a left foot effort underneath Fabianski and in off the right post.

Arsenal corner now down the other end.

It's out and the half-time whistle goes...

HALF-TIME: West Ham 1-0 Arsenal. Zola's got his tactics spot-on really. The Hammers soaked up the pressure and looked to hit the Gunners on the break. It's exactly what they did and Silvestre was massively to blame. The Arsenal defence of old, Messrs Adams, Bould et al would have been ashamed of that offside claim.

Hope you enjoyed a well-earned cup of tea, the start of the second half is imminent. Can the Hammers hold out for a second FA Cup shock in one day. If you didn't know, Leeds United, leaders of League One, beat reigning Premier League champions Manchester Untited 1-0 at Old Trafford earlier today.

Of course, West Ham's biggest underdog victory over Arsenal was in 1980 when they beat the Gunners in the FA Cup final. The Hammers were in the second tier at the time but a goal from Trevor Brooking surprised Arsenal side managed by Terry Neill.

The players are back out and no changes as yet.

And we're off...

Arsenal unbeaten in five games against West Ham since Bobby Zamora scored a surprise winner at the Emirates in 2007.

Song with a boisterous tackle iun midfield to release Merida. But West Ham break up the attack and launch one of their own with the pace of Stanislas. He passes it to Nouble who has some space on the edge. But his shot is wide of the target.

Nouble almost went all the way, he's been excellent with his pressure. He twinkletoed his way through but his shot was weak in the end.

Wow, it's end to end stuff. Arsenal straight up the other end but West Ham again win it back. Stanislas advances and unleashes a great effort from twenty yards. Stunning save from Fabianski.

He palmed it out for a corner but nothing comes of it as Arsenal try to break again.

Fantastic energy at the start of the second half from both sides. A couple of good early chances for the Hammers and will they live to regret not converting.

Merida comes through the middle with space in front of him but he makes a poor decision to try to play it in to Eduardo. Poor ball.

Cross comes in from Vela and Merida goes down with Daprela close by. But there was minimal contact.

Arsenal have won 50 of the 121 competitive matches they have played against West Ham.

Diamanti walking gingerly at the moment. That's got to be a worry for Zola.

It's a young subs bench for West Ham and while Wenger can bring on Diaby and Nasri, the Hammers options are considerably more limited.

Shot at goal from Eduardo inside the box but it's over the bar. Apparently deflected.

Surprisingly a decent ball from Merida but Eduardo can't direct the header goalwards.

Behrami with some excellent defensive work again, outmuscling Alex Song (which takes snome doing) and shadowing the ball out for a goal kick.

Good work from Wilshere down the right to turn a couple of players inside out. But the final ball is again lacking.

Great through ball from Diamanti to an onrushing Faubert down the right. But the former galactico can't find Nouble in the box.

Shot over the bar from Ramsey.

Arsenal still looking composed when they have the ball but when it comes to the final ball they have been seriously lacking. Another stray pass from Vela finds space but no Gunners team-mate.

West Ham spring forward with Jimenez but with Stanislas sprinting down the right he undersells the pass.

Tomkins almost gave it away with Eduardo and Vela looming over him but he just manages to scrape it away.

Daprela and Stanislas are really causing Arsenal trouble down the left.

Wenger has never lost a third round tie as Arsenal boss.

Jimenez with space ont he edge of the box but again a poor last ball and it's intercepted by Gallas.

Here comes the claret and blue wave again. Nouble escapes the offside flag to fins himself in space down the right.

Ramsey fould Behrami and it's a West Ham free-kick out on the left.

Diamanti's delivery is scooped up by Fabianski.

Jimenez the man again coming forward but his shot is deflected away to safety.

Arsenal about to call on the cavalry.

Ramsey and Sagna combine down the right and Sagna goes down but it's no free-kick. Merida fouls Jimenez and it's a Hammers free-kick.

ARSENAL SUB: Nasri and Diaby on for Merida and Wilshere.

Nasri with an early touch and he and Diaby look to link up before Eduardo messes up on the edge.

Kovac gives it straight back to Sagna who overhits the cross out for a goal kick.

Diaby opens up some space and shoots though Kovac blocks it away.

This is the ninth time these sides are clashing in the FA Cup. West Ham have had the better of the exchanges, progressing in five of the previous eight occasions.

Diamanti outmuscled by Diaby and Ramsey and the Welshman brings Arsenal forward.

Lovely ball by Song down the right to Sagna but he dwells on it and rather than crossing first time, delays to give the Hammers chance to regroup and clear it away.

Arsenal corner and Nasri takes. It's cleared away and Wenger's side hav not once looked like scoring from a set-piece.

Nouble is down for West Ham and Arsenal stop playing much to the frustration of Wenger.

The Frenchman is gesticulating wildly, who said sportsmanship is dead.

Vermaelen on the march for now and Diaby is free in the box. He finds himself clean through but it's smothered by Green, who bounces back up and saves the rebound effort from Song too. Excellent play by the keeper.

Arsenal corner and Green collects.

Diaby's arrival has seen Arsenal look more incisive.

Handbags between Diamanti and Vela. A little retaliation from the Mexican not spotted by the ref.

Nasri's delivery flicked on by Diaby but Green has it in his hands.

It's all Arsenal now as they push hard for an equaliser that would earn a replay.

Jimenez springs forward and he feeds Diamanti. Daprela accelerates down the left but he bites off a little more than he can chew, not for the first time in this game.

Ramsey releases Sagna down the right and his ball is teed up for Nasri by Eduardo. High over the bar by the Frenchman.

West Ham fans increasing the noise now as "I'm forever blowing bubbles" echoes around Upton Park.

GOAL! Ramsey

West Ham 1-1 Arsenal. Nasri down the right gave it to Song, it's incredibly tight down the middle but Song's pass is turned into the path of Ramsey by Vela. The Welshman swings a left foot at it and it was a fanstatsic finish.

WEST HAM SUB: Sears on for Nouble

The goal was coming and Arsenal's momentum could see them grab a winner here.

Zola looks devastated on the touchline.

High foot from Jimenez on Diaby, a painful looking one at that. He's caught him right in the face with his boot. No mean feat as Diaby is 6ft 2 in!

GOAL! Eduardo.

West Ham 1-2 Arsenal. In the blink of an eye the Gunners have taken the league. Great cross from Vela down the left. Eduardo's header loops over Green. It was a cracking header at that.

Zola looking decidedly more devastated now.

Desperation for West Ham whve fought bravely. But they're on the back foot still as Arsenal press for a third. Upson concedes a corner.

Alex Song has it in some space in the box but he fires a left-foot effort over the bar.

Arsenal's lead is a deserved one, they've undoubtedly been the better side, especially in the second half.

Vela whips it in towards Eduardo but Tomkins turns it away. Corner to be taken by Nasri.

Eduardo jumps higher than Upson and his header is just wide.

Jermain Defoe's cousin is about to replace Junior Stanislas.

Daprela stops it on the line after Vela's shot looked to be destined to find the net.

WEST HAM SUB: Edgar on for Stainslas.

West Ham have not had a sniff since the second Arsenal goal. Ruthless form the Gunners.

Diamanti falls over his own feet in midfield. Comical. He looks knackered.

Five minutes of stoppage time to be played.

West Ham trying to conjure an attack but Wenger's side are allowing them nothing.

Free-kick for West Ham. Green to launch it.

Tomkins flicks it on but Vermaelen heads it away and Arsenal are streaming forward.

Ramsey's shot saved by Green. Low strike from the right side of the penalty area.

Eduardo brought down by Diamanti in a central position, thirty yards from goal. The Italian has looked an increasingly frustrated figure.

Veermaelen to hit it. But Faubert breaks after it hits the wall, he's still got some gas left.

Green pumps it long now but Arsenal have it again. Must be game over.

Arsenal free-kick just inside the West Ham half.

It's all over...

West Ham 1-2 Arsenal. A deserved win for a young Arsenal side, inspired by the introduction of older hands Diaby and Nasri. Diamanti gave the Hammers the lead after a break just before half-time but Arsenal dominated from there on. Goals from Ramsey and Eduardo secured Wenger's team a place in the fourth round. Thanks for reading folks...