A brilliant cross from Gael Clichy in the final minutes of the game met by Alex Song made sure for Arsenal to keep the pressure on leaders Chelsea with manager Arsene Wenger relieved to get all three points from the game.

Speaking after the game, the Frenchman explained how his players needed to be patient, intelligent and focused against a well-organised West Ham side. The visitors looked set to cause an upset at the Emirates also thanks to a phenomenal display from goalkeeper Robert Green but the Cameroonian had other ideas.

On the 23-year old, Wenger explained how what the midfielder is bringing when pushing forward is important but how ultimately his job is to hold the midfield.

The Gunners stay second in the table on 20 points, five from leaders Chelsea and three from 4th-placed Manchester City which were shocked by Wolverhampton Wanderers.

On the West Ham win, Wenger said:

When you win with two minutes to go it is always a relief. We needed to be patient, intelligent and not make a mistake at the back against a West Ham team who had a strong spirit and were well-organised.

We showed patience because in the first half it was difficult to get into the flow of our passing so we had to wait until they got a bit fatigued. West Ham kept going and we did as well. We kept the structure of our game right, we didn’t do anything stupid, we kept trying to be intelligent and that in the end got us the goal with two minutes to go.

[Alex Song] is [adding that to his game] because when you sum up his game today he had three good chances: the goal he scored, the one on his right boot and the header in the first half that touched the bar.

He has got the taste to go forward, even if I think a little too much sometimes for a holding midfielder! But that is part of our game as well.