Post Match Comments
Audio Match ReportSaturday 21st October 2000
FA PREMIER LEAGUE
Upton Park
Attendance:26,034
Referee: D Gallacher WEST HAM1S Pearce 56 ARSENAL2Pires 12, Ferdinand og 21HISLOP S PEARCE MONCUR FERDINAND WINTERBURN SINCLAIR LOMAS COLE KANOUTE DI CANIO LAMPARD Subs: BYWATER I. PEARCE CARRICK DIAWARA SUKER 75 SEAMAN LUZHNY GRIMANDI KEOWN SILVINHO LAUREN VIEIRA LJUNDBERG PIRES WILTORD BERGKAMP Subs: KANU DIXON HENRY 77 PARLOUR 63 LUKIC
Arsenal claimed their eighth win in 11 visits to Upton Park to go joint-top of the Premiership and add to Harry Redknapp's woes.
But for the Hammers, it is just one league win in 14 games stretching back to last season, and it means that West Ham remain third from bottom in the Premiership without a home win since April.
Robert Pires, who secured Arsenal's Champions League point in Rome five days earlier, crowned a spectacular week with another crucial strike, netting the Gunners first after 12 minutes of play, following an under hit back pass by Trevor Sinclair.
And a Rio Ferdinand own-goal secured the three-point haul after the England man headed a Silvinho cross past Shaka Hislop into his own net.
"We started sloppy and on the back foot today," said Harry Redknapp, "we gave away 2 terrible goals. It's bad enough going one behind let alone two behind.
"They're one of the best teams in Europe and it's giving you an impossible task. In the second half we worked our socks off. Suker had a great chance as did Paolo Di Canio.
"In the first ten minutes we passed the ball back three times and I was screaming at the players to get forward.
"Trevor gave away a sloppy back pass and both their goals were bad.
"They've got different class players, and let's be honest - they are different gear. They had one player on the bench who cost more than our team and that is a fact.
"They've got European Cup winners on their bench."
"I'm still very confident that we'll finish in the top half. At 2-1 I could see us getting a goal back."
Stuart Pearce gave the Hammers a brief spell of hope when he equalised with a free-kick in the 56th minute, but Arsenal always looked to have enough in reserve to guarantee another morale boosting win.
Arsene Wenger made five changes to the team that gallantly drew against Lazio in midweek. Wiltord and Pires replced Thierry Henry and Kanu in the Arsenal attack and David Seaman returned in goal.
West Ham, still battling to escape the bottom three, included a trio of former Gunners in their squad. Nigel Winterburn started against the club he served for 14 years and Davor Suker and Kaba Diawara were on the bench. John Moncur started for the first time this season in place of the injured Igor Stimac.
West Ham launched their first attack with Pearce striking powerfully from 25 yards. Seaman showed he was equal to the task and saved confidently as the Gunners managed to keep their hosts at arms length.
In the 44th minute John Moncur was booked for testing the self-control of Vieira, who was returning to the scene of his shameful sending-off last season. Moncur pulled the Frenchman to the ground and referee Dermot Gallagher took his name.
The Hammers started the second-half in much better shape. Joe Cole saw a long-range effort charged down and then found Frederik Kanoute with a clipped centre from the left, which the French striker could only head wide.
A handball from Pires in the 56th minute gave Pearce a chance to line-up a free-kick special and he stirred the memory when he curled home his first goal for the Hammers.
The 38 year-old drove the set-piece into the crowded goal-mouth and watched as it sailed into the far corner of the net.
The goal cranked up the atmosphere at Upton Park as the home fans sensed a dramatic comeback, just as in the 2-2 draw with Manchester United earlier in the season.
Both sides had further chances, with the best falling to Davor Suker who came on for John Moncur with 16 minutes to go.
Right at the death, Martin Keown grabbed Stuart Pearce by the throat and the two veterans had to be separated.