Arsenal 0 West Ham United 1: Jubilant Hammers fans go one louder at the Emirates

Alan Curbishley, West Ham United manager and hard-rock fan, knows all about Spinal Tap and amplifiers that go up to 11. On Saturday, West Ham had a goalkeeper who went up even higher.

"Robert Green was great," Curbishley said. "He was 10 out of 10, or 11 out of 10 - or perhaps 12 out of 10." Like West Ham, Spinal Tap's Nigel Tufnell and David St Hubbins are of London's East End - in their case the imaginary tower blocks of "Squatney". After a win built on superb goalkeeping, a determined team performance and a lot of luck, West Ham now have a chance of remaining amid the towering heights of the Premiership.

In this 100th League game between the two teams, West Ham became the first team to beat Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. Arsène Wenger thought Arsenal "should have scored 10", while the West Ham support sang: "We've only had one shot." This was not quite true, but West Ham were hugely fortunate in broadening their niche as the Arsenal bogey team. The Hammers fans also sang "Last win at Highbury, first win at the Emirates" - a reference to their 3-2 victory at Highbury in February last year.

West Ham's next game is at Sheffield United, the team now directly above them. After a visit to Newcastle United, Arsenal host Bolton, the team breathing up their rear. That Arsenal are only stumbling hopefully to the fourth Champions League place is down to a familiar conundrum.

With Thierry Henry out for the season and Robin van Persie absent with a foot injury, Arsenal again demonstrated their tendency to present the most sumptuous menu and still end up with nothing in their belly. They had at least 10 good chances, with Cesc Fabregas and Gilberto Silva both hitting the woodwork. In a performance that should direct him back toward the England squad, Green made three saves he had no right to.

Green's only fault was not rounding things off with a goal - he did not seem to realise he had a real chance after Jens Lehmann had run up for a corner in the dying minutes. Bobby Zamora had given Green an introductory lesson here. Seizing an excellent long ball from Lucas Neill, he scored the only goal by chipping the stranded Lehmann from outside the area.

This was West Ham's third consecutive win. Curbishley put their improvement down to hard work - something personified by Mark Noble, Nigel Reo-Coker and Lee Bowyer in the West Ham midfield. "Work rate is the first thing with any side," said Curbishley. "The penny has dropped over the past four weeks. One or two other clubs will now be under the pressure ourselves and Charlton have been under. [Sheffield United] is a big, big game."

Wenger was left feeling bemused, but optimistic none the less. "It is very difficult to understand how it [defeat] happened," he said. "I was very unhappy with the performance at Liverpool, but today I give the team credit. I am convinced we will do it [qualify for Europe], but the next game becomes very urgent."

Despite this result, the promise of Wenger's squad and the evidence of financial suitors make these fascinating times for Arsenal. And even if the US businessman Stan Kroenke does expand on his recently acquired 9.9 per cent stake in Arsenal, Wenger must be confident he will not try to invest any US sporting mores. Kroenke's football team Colorado Rapids play at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. His various sports franchises compete against rivals including Red Bull New York, the Anaheim Ducks and Real Salt Lake.

Wenger's astute management indicates that, sooner or later, Arsenal should enjoy the same European centrality as his home town of Strasbourg. For the moment, however, the route to Barcelona and Madrid runs via Newcastle and Bolton. Arsenal will be hoping Van Persie returns as soon as possible, with his scoring boots polished.

Curbishley, meanwhile, will hope his team can avoid the intimations of footballing mortality seen in the film This Is Spinal Tap. Bassist Derek Smalls visits Elvis's grave wearing a West Ham hat and a Shrewsbury top - not a combination West Ham would want to see repeated in League matches.

Goal: Zamora (45) 0-1.

Arsenal (4-4-1-1): Lehmann; Eboué, Touré, Gallas, Clichy; Hleb (Aliadière, 65), Fabregas, Gilberto (Diaby, 85), Rosicky; Ljungberg (Baptista, 75); Adebayor. Substitutes not used: Almunia (gk), Senderos.

West Ham United (4-4-2): Green; Neill, Collins, Ferdinand, McCartney (Spector, h-t); Bowyer, Reo-Coker, Noble, Etherington; Tevez (Blanco, 82), Zamora (Boa Morte, 65). Substitutes not used: Carroll (gk), Mullins.

Referee: G Poll (Hertfordshire).

Booked: West Ham Collins.

Man of the match: Green.

Attendance: 60,098.

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