West Ham 1 Arsenal 2

WEST HAM had begged fans to fill the stands for this FA Cup third round tie against their capital rivals, but anyone who did heed the club's advice and bought a ticket may have wished they watched it from the comfort of their own living room.

In truth, the Hammers were more than a match for Arsenal on the day, only to run out of puff and allow the Gunners to score twice late on and secure their passage into the fourth round.

Alessandro Diamanti had given the hosts a surprise lead when he finished coolly on the stroke of half-time but, after a largely disappointing performance, Arsenal managed to drag themselves off the canvas and land two sucker punches to floor the home side.

The magnificent Aaron Ramsey demonstrated why he is so highly rated at the Emirates with a fine left-footed strike to cap a superb individual display, before striker Eduardo rose to head home the decisive second goal seven minutes from time.

The game started in somewhat predictable fashion, with both sides clearly demonstrating where their priorities lie.

West Ham were hit by several injuries to Scott Parker and Herita Ilunga and a suspension for Guillermo Franco, were out of the blocks sluggishly, their attention focused on the relegation dogfight they find themselves embroiled in. Meanwhile, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger chose to rest a number of his first team stars, giving the likes of Fran Merida, Jack Wilshere and Carlos Vela the chance to impress, with their Premier League game in hand over Chelsea and Manchester United against Bolton in midweek evidently on their mind.

There was little to write home about during the opening 18 minutes, but then a moment of madness from James Tomkins gave Arsenal a chance to test Robert Green. The defender chipped the ball straight to Eduardo, and the Croatia international fired towards goal, with Green diving to turn the ball round the post.

Fabio Daprela, starting at left back, was given time and space top drive forward from his own half, before he was eventually brought down by Alex Song. Junior Stanislas' attempt curled just wide of the upright.

Lukasz Fabianski then denied Diamanti with a smart diving save.

Carlos Vela latched on to a ball over the top from Bacary Sagna but his half volley was easily dealt with by Green.

Jack Wilshere was then guilty of overplaying on the edge of his own area, and after Behrami had nicked the ball off him, Luis Jiminez shot wide.

Then, after very little action at either end all half, Diamanti made Arsenal pay for a sloppy piece of defending. Behrami picked out the Italian, who was being marked by Mikael Silvestre, but the Frenchman inexplicably tried to play the forward offside, and Diamanti was allowed a free run at goal, steering his shot past Fabianski, who couldn't get firm enough contact on the ball.

West Ham were content to sit back after the break, although young striker Frank Nouble did threaten early on, seeing one shot head wide of the post.

West Ham succeeded in frustrating Arsenal as the visitors tried to impose themselves with some intricate passes along the box, but they never looked like threatening.

Abou Diaby and Samir Nasri were thrown on for young Wilshere and the ineffective Merida.

Slowly, they began to work the openings and they eventually breached the Hammers' backline with 12 minutes to go. Alex Song wandered along the 18 yard line before playing in Vela, who manged to stab the ball through for Aaron Ramsey to smash the ball into the far corner from a tight angle.

Gianfranco Zola had prepared returning loanee Freddie Sears before the goal, but the young striker still received a warm welcome from the home faithful when he was brought on for Nouble.

One goal was always likely to trigger a further onslaught, and that proved to be the case, as just five minutes later it was 2-1.

Song fed Vela on the right and his pinpoint cross found the diminutive Eduardo, who remarkably rose above Matthew Upson to plant his header into the top corner, via Green's hand.

The game had swung entirely in Arsenal's favour, and they would have extended their lead but for the last ditch efforts of Upson. Vela's mazey run past Julien Faubert ended when he fed the excellent Ramsey, and the Welshman cleverly returned the compliment, only for the Mexican's low shot to find the Hammers' skipper on the line.