Team news

Arsenal preview
Arsenal will welcome back captain Cesc Fabregas from a hamstring injury for the visit of West Ham.

Czech winger Tomas Rosicky (groin) is also fit again, while Cameroon midfielder Alex Song returns from a two-game suspension.

Song admits he has been going crazy watching from the sidelines and cannot wait to get back into the thick of Arsenal's title challenge.

The race for the Barclays Premier League crown has developed into one of the closest of recent seasons, with only two points now separating the top three, although Chelsea have played a game less.

Should Arsenal beat the struggling Hammers at the Emirates Stadium they would lead the table again, as both their rivals do not play until Sunday when Chelsea head to Blackburn and Manchester United have the small matter of the visit of Liverpool to contend with.

Song admits he has not been the best armchair spectator, having watched his team-mates scrap their way to a crucial three points at Hull with a stoppage-time goal from Nicklas Bendtner.

"I was like a crazy man," said Song. "I jumped everywhere.

"I was watching it with my son and he did not know what was happening - but when Nicklas scored, I just said 'yeeeeeessssssss'." Song added: "It is very difficult to watch your friends when you don't play, but I had confidence in my team. We have the players to come in and do well.

"Now we are in a strong position and we will fight in the games that are left." Song maintains Arsenal have what it takes to go on and lift a first championship since 2004.

"The mentality has changed for us. Everyone has in their head that we need to do something this year. It is very important for us," he added.

"If the referee says we have four minutes or two minutes left then the boss says 'don't panic, be confident and play'. That means if the opposition team drop we have the chance to score.

"If the game is not finished we know we can score at anytime." William Gallas (calf) remains out. Aaron Ramsey (broken leg), Robin van Persie (ankle) and Johan Djourou (knee) are long-term absentees.

West Ham preview
A leg injury has ruled captain Scott Parker out for West Ham.

Carlton Cole will return up front after being rested for last week's loss against Chelsea while Mark Noble has recovered from an arm injury and could start in midfield in place of Parker.

Manager Gianfranco Zola will be without Kieron Dyer, Danny Gabbidon (both muscle) and Julian Faubert (hamstring), while Manuel Da Costa is suspended.

Arsenal vs West Ham

Last modified 21:29 20/03/10

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Nose bleed time at The Emirates. Bloody nose time at Upton Park.

Arsenal showed the grit and resolve of champions as they went to the top of the Premier League and in doing so condemned West Ham to more concern about retaining their status among the elite.

And Arsenal were deserved and accomplished winners despite playing all but one minute of the first half and all the second with only ten men after the dismissal of Thomas Vermaelen for a foul on Guillermo Franco that was punished with a penalty that West Ham duly missed. It was that kind of day for those of an East End persuasion.

Such was Arsenal's resolve to hang on to the lead that West Ham's numerical advantage was hardly noticeable. The momentum was with Zola's men but they squandered many of the openings that came their way. Almunia, the penalty hero, hardly had a save to make when he might have expected his penalty area to be peppered with crosses.

Zola then refreshed his front line by bringing on Carlton Cole and Benni McCarthy in place of Franco and Mido but still West Ham struggled to show any genuine menace. Indeed it was on the counter-attack that Arsenal looked more dangerous and Arshavin cut inside from the left to test Green with a left foot drive. Finally, West Ham's front men got the message to shoot on sight and Cole was close to snatching an equaliser in the 78th minute with a drive from the edge of the area that beat Almunia but hit the outside of the post.

West Ham were lifted by the near miss and suddenly Alex Song - back as an emergency centre back in place of Vermaelen - was called into action. But with eight minutes left, Arsenal scored the second goal they had always threatened. Matthew Upson handled a through ball from Fabregas and referee Atkinson had no choice but to award a penalty. Fabregas proved as lethal for Arsenal as Diamanti had been ineffective for West Ham as he planted the ball into the net.