Arsenal took a belated interest in the Coca-Cola Cup last night and stunned Upton Park with two pieces of sharp opportunism before West Ham United could manage a reply.
After John Hartson, a former Arsenal striker, had missed a penalty, Ian Wright and Marc Overmars scored in each half. Then Samassi Abou came off West Ham's bench to meet a long pass from Keith Rowland, another substitute, and give the home side a glimmer of hope.
Last night, Arsenal could no longer afford to treat the Coca-Cola Cup as an excuse to stretch the legs of their reserves. With Ian Wright back in his attack following a two-match ban, Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, was looking for a revived performance that would also set his team back on course in the Premier League. No simple task this against a West Ham team omnipotent at Upton Park this season and with 10 straight home wins behind them.
Certainly, West Ham began like a side that did not expect to lose. Confidence flowed through their football from the outset, even though the first chance of the game fell to Arsenal when Wright, allowed a free header when he met Dennis Bergkamp's centre at the far post, put the ball over the bar.
The moment was to prove portentous, yet as David Seaman blocked a shot from Frank Lampard at the near post Upton Park's mood remained sanguine. Two minutes past the quarter hour, in fact, West Ham prepared to take the lead their start had demanded. Paul Kitson was brought down by Seaman and John Hartson prepared to punish his old team from the penalty spot.
Instead, he let them off. Faced with a bank of barracking Arsenal support, Hartson's kick was untypically tentative and poorly aimed and Seaman saved it with little fuss.
As the game went on, the renewed partnership of Bergkamp and Wright showed signs of recovering its autumn bloom. After 25 minutes, it bore fruit.
With the West Ham defence spreadeagled and Rio Ferdinand unable to sweep the danger clear, Wright accepted a return pass from Bergkamp, side-stepped David Unsworth, and beat Forrest. West Ham were hardly out of the contest, but they were beginning to look out of luck. As the first half ended, Lampard drove a 25-yard free-kick towards the near corner of the net. Seaman stretched out a foot and managed to thrust the ball against the post from where it flew up and hit him on the forehead before bouncing clear.
A more familiar Seaman re-emerged at the start of the second half. An error by Gilles Grimandi allowed Berkovic to drive in a shot which the England goalkeeper tipped over the bar. In next to no time, the pattern of the first half had been repeated: West Ham might create more chances, but Arsenal were scoring the goals.
In the 51st minute, West Ham failed to react in time as Wright touched on a long ball and Marc Overmars pounced to beat Forrest from close range.
West Ham: Forrest, Impey, Unsworth, Ferdinand, Pearce (Rowland 66), Lazaridis, Potts, Lampard, Berkovic, Hartson, Kitson (Abou 59). Subs not used: Lama. Booked: Ferdinand, Unsworth. Goals: Abou 75.
Arsenal: Seaman, Winterburn, Vieira, Bould, Wright (Wreh 83), Bergkamp, Overmars (Hughes 88), Keown, Parlour, Petit, Grimandi. Subs not used: Manninger. Booked: Vieira, Winterburn, Petit, Grimandi. Goals: Wright 25, Overmars 52. Att: 24,770.
Referee: G P Barber (Pyrford).
