Hammers Gun down Arsenal

A FIVE-goal thriller at Arsenal saw West Ham take all the points and the plaudits in a pulsating London derby, writes Laura Burkin.

Goals from Nigel Reo-Coker, Bobby Zamora and Matty Etherington ensured Hammers left their last game at Highbury - with the Gunners moving grounds at the end of the season - on a high note.

And while Arsenal hit back with two goals, one from Thierry Henry and another late on through Robert Pires, Hammers got stuck in to record a well-fought win.

Hammers boss Alan Pardew described the victory as " one of the best", saying "In terms of prestige, this is one of my best-ever results as manager. We might have ridden our luck at times, but once we got a foothold on the game, we threatened. As well as always looking like we would score, our defence was fantastic."

Clive Clarke was given the right back role and Marlon Harewood was back in the starting line-up with Dean Ashton on the bench.

It was Arsenal who came out of the starting blocks looking on fire on in the first few minutes as Henry sent a volley towards the West Ham goal only for it to be deflected wide by Freddie Ljungberg. And then Robin Van Persie hit a post.

But it was the Hammers who, against the run of play opened the scoring. The lively Etherington got the ball to Reo-Coker, who managed to get away from England defender Sol Campbell with ease before looking up and striking home.

And goal number two for West Ham came just seven minutes later. Paul Konchesky ran down the flank to deliver the ball to Zamora, who was able to cut inside of Campbell and with time and space, curl the ball into the net.

Soon after, at the other end, it was time for Hammers to defend their lead, and Israeli midfielder Yossi Benayoun was in the right place to hook Djourou's effort off the line.

The Gunners did get a goal back just before half-time. The ball was half-scambled clear and fell to Pires whose shot hit Henry, who directed it into the net.

Arsenal replaced Campbell at half-time, but despite the hosts starting the second half much like the first, Hammers stood firm to soak up the attacks Henry went close again, before Hammers made three substitutions; Shaun Newton, Carl Fletcher and Ashton, on for Benayoun, Zamora and Clarke.

Arsenal were looking for an equaliser but Hammers, urged by Pardew in his half-time talk to get a third goal, did just that.

Ashton won his battle with Senderos and the ball went out to the exhuberant Reo-Coker, who ran goal-bound into the box.

He sent over a cross, which was picked up by the on-running Etherington, who fired in from the far post for his second goal in two games.

With the little bit of daylight the extra goal gave, Hammers continued to stand their ground as the Gunners threw on one of their last options for attack in veteran Dutchman Dennis Bergkamp.

And he was involved in getting Arsenal's second goal two minutes before the end. His volley was blocked by Shaka Hislop, but Pires pounced on the rebound to shoot home.

With four minutes of extra time added on, action went from end to end and West Ham had to defend strongly as Arsenal pushed forward in search of another goal.

But Hammers were able to send their fans home happy for the last time at Highbury with their fifth straight win in a row.