Henry's cutting edge missed as Gilberto joins Gunners injury list

West Ham 0 Arsenal 0

The champions have opened up an 11-point lead on their London rivals as the Gunners - who have a game in hand - were held to a 0-0 draw at West Ham.

Arsenal have now not won in three away Barclays Premiership matches this season, and clearly missed the cutting edge of injured striker Thierry Henry once again.

At Upton Park yesterday, the Gunners did have chances to put themselves in control, with Cesc Fabregas missing the best when he stabbed the ball horribly wide midway through the first half.

But while Arsenal may be struggling for consistency as Chelsea have taken command at the top of the table with a 100% record, German international Lehmann reflected on how fortunes can change very quickly.

"We have not got the points on the board we would like to have at this stage, but we have to accept that," the 35-year-old said.

"We are always disappointed when we cannot get three points.

"We have great players and everybody is going through a period where we cannot get the optimum. Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool might face it and that is football."

Lehmann declared: "Of course, Chelsea will face a spell when it does not go right for them.

"We would like to be in front of Chelsea, but right now that is not the situation and we have to fight to get into a better position in the table.

While things may not be going to plan for Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, who yesterday saw midfielder Gilberto added to his injury list with an ankle problem ahead of tomorrow's Champions League match in Amsterdam, West Ham have enjoyed a fine start to the new campaign.

Alan Pardew's men climbed up to fourth in the table on the back of another impressive battling display.

Although both defences kept chances to a minimum, the Hammers could have secured all three points late on had substitute Bobby Zamora not headed wide when picked out in the box by Matthew Etherington.

Teddy Sheringham had sent a 25-yard free-kick just wide in the opening period.

"We really are feeling good about ourselves, and long may that continue," Pardew said. "It was a great defensive display from us, and seeing Arsenal have their two strikers taken off an insight to how well we played."

OPTA stats: West Ham have won just one of their last 17 Premiership games against Arsenal and just one of their 11 home games against them.

West Ham and Arsenal mustered just one shot on target between them.