Cole strike gives Hammers interval lead

West Ham 1, Arsenal 0 (half-time)

Joe Cole’s magnificent strike on the stroke of half-time gave West Ham a surprise 1-0 interval lead against Arsenal at Upton Park today.

David Seaman had already been saved by the woodwork when he thought Trevor Sinclair’s 20-yard thunderbolt was going wide - but the ball smacked the inside of his post.

Kanoute wasted the home side’s best shooting opportunity in the 32nd minute. He almost cleared the Centenary Stand behind Seaman’s goal as he skied a Repka pull-back.

Seaman did very well to block a Kanoute’s awkward point-blank attempt from Edouard Cisse’s dinked delivery into the box two minutes later.

James made a wonderful block from Wiltord - but moments before the half-time whistle, Joe Cole produced a sensational goal for the Hammers.

Kanoute drilled the ball across the 18-yard box and Cole raced in from the right wing to curl a brilliant first-time shot beyond Seaman and into the far corner.