Noble joins Hammers

West Ham have signed midfielder David Noble from Arsenal on a short-term contract until the end of the season.

Noble, who turns 21 on Sunday, will aim to impress Hammers boss Glenn Roeder with a view to securing a long-term contract in the summer.

Roeder told the club’s official website, www.whufc.co.uk: "We are going to know an awful lot more about him, and he is going to know more about us, come the end of the season.

"We are very positive about a young player that spent two years at Lilleshall with Joe Cole; they were partners in the midfield and David chose the Arsenal route while Joe chose West Ham, as everyone knows.

"He is a very good footballer, as we have seen in the two days training he has had with us and the friendly against Reading, he is comfortable on the ball, he knows his next pass before he receives the ball, and we just hope that we can get him up to the athletic side of the game, which is a must in the Premiership."

Noble has trained at the Hammers’ Chadwell Heath HQ this week.

He failed to make a first-team appearance after signing professional terms with the Gunners in August 1999 and spent most of last season on loan at Watford, making 15 league appearances and scoring one goal.