Football: Wilt joy as Glenn's men end up badly drawn boys

ARSENAL came back from the dead to maintain their 23-match unbeaten run in the Premiership at Upton Park.

A goal, two minutes from time by French striker Sylvain Wiltord ensured a share of the points for the Gunners after they trailed their London neighbours by two goals 54 minutes into the game.

In a match of breath-taking attacking football, Arsenal's defence was put to the sword by the combined pace and movement of Jermain Defoe and Frederic Kanoute.

Joe Cole opened the scoring with a minute to spare of the first half, turning his marker and firing home for the edge of the area.

The champions' misery continued after the break and nine minutes into the second-half Kanoute shot home, beating Martin Keown for pace at the near post.

Thierry Henry began the fightback with the best goal of the match, turning his marker and shooting home from the edge of the area in the 65th minute.

But Kanoute should have put the game beyond doubt in the 76th minute when he missed a penalty after Joe Cole was pulled down by his namesake Ashley.

But to their credit Arsenal laid siege in search of an equaliser and when Wiltord linked up with Kanu and took a return ball in the area with two minutes to go, he made no mistake, blasting an unstoppable shot past David James.

The Hammers began at a blistering pace, forcing the champions to defend deep as strikers Frederic Kanoute and Jermain Defoe looked to use considerable pace to carve open their defence.

The home side brought David Seaman into the action as early as the second minute when he was forced to come deep for a corner conceded by Sol Campbell.

But although the Hammers were enjoying far more possession it was Arsenal who issued the first threat of intent when Dennis Bergkamp put last season's leading Premiership scorer, Henry, through on goal.

The Frenchman began the move just inside the home half and when Bergkamp's defence splitting pass sent Henry away, James was caught in two minds as a left- foot shot went flashing past his far post.

Undaunted, West Ham continued on the offensive and Kanoute should have made more of an impressive through ball from Cole but ducked out of a confrontation with Seaman.

On 15 minutes Henry had his second chance of the afternoon and once again Bergkamp was the architect, but this time James saved impressively as Henry unleashed a right-foot drive.

With Arsenal content to contain the Hammers and hit them on the counter-attack West Ham tried desperately hard to make possession count.

Especially England winger Trevor Sinclair who turned on a sixpence and unleashed a half-volley that came flying back off Seaman's post.

Lack of goals didn't make this clash any less pulsating as the action swung from end to end.

But as the game appeared to be heading towards a goalless interval, Cole conjured up one of the many tricks in his armoury to put the home side in front.

Kanoute drifted wide to the edge of the box and when he played the ball across the face of goal, Cole evaded one challenge, pulled the ball back on his right foot and unleashed a low drive into Seaman's far corner.

Arsenal were forced into a change at the break with Bergkamp, showing the effect of a problem calf, being replaced by Kanu.

But tempers began to fray, notably Ashley Cole's who went in late on Sebastien Schemmel and was booked.

The Hammers began to apply pressure on Arsenal and nine minutes into the half they went two goals up.

Defoe managed to keep the ball in play at the far side and sent a telling cross to the far post.

Keown appeared to have it covered but Kanoute was raced in and and shot the ball home.

In the space of two minute Kanoute could easily have grabbed a hat- trick.

Latching onto Cole's through ball he brought a telling save out of Seaman and a minute later turned Campbell and shot inches wide of the far post. Arsenal immediately withdrew the ineffective Ray Parlour and replaced him with the raw talent of Jermaine Pennant.

It was to pay dividends as Patrick Vieira stole forward, played the ball into the feet of Henry who, with one touch, turned his marker Christian Dailly and unleashed a right-foot shot into the top corner of the net.

Yet West Ham should have put the game beyond reach in the 73rd minute when Cole burst pass Vieira and Campbell and was brought down by Ashely Cole.

Referee Neale Barry immediately pointed to the spot but Kanoute's kick was far too lethargic and Seaman dived to save.

The Hammers were to pay a heavy price for it, when with two minutes remaining Wiltord played the ball into Kanu, then took the return and steered the ball home

MAN OF THE MATCH FREDERIC KANOUTE

Left the Gunners rearguard for dead all afternoon and could have added to his single goal tally.

WEST HAM: James 7, Schemmel 8, Cisse 7, Carrick 8, Winterburn 7 (Breen 7), Repka 7, Dailly 7, Sinclair 7, Cole 8, Defoe 8, KANOUTE 9.

ARSENAL: Seaman 8, Cole 7, Vieira 8, Keown 6, Bergkamp 7 (Kanu 7), Wiltord 8, Lauren 7, Henry 8, Parlour 6 (Pennant 7), Edu 7, Campbell 7,

MANAGER RATINGS: Roeder 8; Wenger 8.

REFEREE: N Barry 8.

WEST HAM ARSENAL

4 Shots on target 6

6 Shots off target 4

1 Shots blocked 3

4 Corners 4

19 Fouls conceded 13

3 Offsides 4

0 Yellow cards 5

0 Red cards 0

ATTENDANCE: 35,048

REPRODUCED FROM THE OPTA INDEX

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