Thierry Henry struck his second hat-trick of the season to restore Arsenal's five-point Barclaycard Premiership lead - but West Ham still left Highbury with grievances aplenty after an incident-packed 3-1 derby defeat. Henry put The Gunners ahead on 14 minutes with a penalty after Steve Lomas had been harshly sent-off for a foul on Robert Pires and the Frenchman restored his side's lead in the 71st minute after Jermain Defoe had earlier levelled.
The Hammers were enraged that an apparent elbow by Dennis Bergkamp on Lee Bowyer in the build-up to that goal had gone unnoticed - but their efforts were in vain as Henry rounded off Arsenal's victory in the closing stages. The defeat meant the Hammers slipped back to the bottom of the table, below West Bromwich Albion on goal difference, while Arsenal stretch their lead at the top with 52 points from 24 games, five clear of Manchester United.
The game started badly for West Ham when Lomas pulled back Pires in the penalty area with the Frenchman bearing down on the visitors' goal. The Hammers disputed the decision but Lomas was sent-off, and Henry calmly converted the spot kick.
Arsenal created numerous chances after that but an air of complacency set in and, when Brazilian Edu carelessly left his pass back short, Defoe pounced to shoot low past David Seaman five minutes before half-time. After the break West Ham defended manfully until 19 minutes from time when Bergkamp crossed from the right and Henry scored his first headed Premiership goal to make it 2-1. West Ham claimed the Dutch forward had struck Lee Bowyer in the face with his hand before crossing, but their protests were in vain.
Henry, who reached his century of Arsenal goals last Sunday, then wrapped up the victory four minutes from the end when he converted a Pires pass as West Ham were caught on the break. It was the Frenchman's second hat-trick of the season following his Champions League treble against AS Roma in November and his third in all for Arsene Wenger's team.
Filed by Shane Murray
