Sylvain service

Arsenal's attempt to set an English record of 15 consecutive victories was thwarted, but this will feel like a win to them. West Ham led a thrilling game 2-0, and at 2-1 squandered a penalty to allow the champions a way back - a path they duly took.

Thierry Henry had pulled a goal back after Joe Cole and Frédéric Kanouté had set up West Ham for what seemed redemption after their 4-0 opening defeat at Newcastle. David Seaman then saved Kanouté's penalty before Sylvain Wiltord struck late to rescue a point for Arsenal.

Yesterday was designated FIFA Fair Play Day and the players dutifully exchanged handshakes before the match. It offered the thought that it was sad that a day had to be set aside for it - every day should be fair play day.

It was also hostage to fortune, given the traditionally tetchy nature of the fixture, which a few years ago saw Patrick Vieira spit at a provocative Neil Ruddock. He was banned, ridiculously, for six matches as a result. Vieira, now Arsenal's captain, says he has calmed down since then, though, so that was all right.

Perhaps Vieira is coming to see that involvement in needless confrontation only undermines the flow of what has become a liquid Arsenal, devastating when in full flight. It should certainly have been obvious to him in the first half yesterday.

Early on, Arsenal threatened to score with every incisive attack. But West Ham came back strongly in a quick, slick and exciting opening period.

Arsenal came close to opening the scoring when Dennis Bergkamp played a delightful one-two with Henry that ended with the Frenchman shooting left-footed wide of the far post. Then, when Vieira sent him cutting in from the left, again past the floundering Tomas Repka, he tried a typical right-footed shot only to find that David James had been studying the videos.

Out of the blue, Trevor Sinclair stunned Arsenal with a dipping shot from 25 yards that David Seaman seemed to think was going wide before seeing it thump off his left post.

Now Michael Carrick and Edouard Cissé got to grips with Vieira and the impressive Edu in central midfield, so that Arsenal, Bergkamp in particular, no longer had the freedom to ping through-balls. Suddenly, West Ham posed the greater goal threat, though Kanouté's blaze over the bar from Sebastien Schemmel was a waste.

The Frenchman made amends just before half-time, however. His low cross along the top of the Arsenal penalty area found Cole racing in, and his precise low drive sped into Seaman's right corner to give the game the only thing it had lacked.

Worse followed for Arsenal early in the second half. Martin Keown's wayward pass out of defence was seized upon by Cole, who fed Jermain Defoe wide on the right. He crossed low for Kanouté to turn the ball home at Seaman's near post and double West Ham's lead. And more should have followed, West Ham now rampant. Cole played a wondrous ball inside Keown for Kanouté, but Seaman, at last, saved splendidly.

You sensed that West Ham needed to score again in this spell. But Arsenal duly came back at them. Vieira played the ball up to Henry and after turning Christian Dailly out of nothing, the Frenchman struck a marvellous 25-yard shot into David James's top right corner. Two-one.

But West Ham found new reserves. Cole went past Edu into the Arsenal penalty area and Ashley Cole - highly debatably - was adjudged to have up-ended him. In the protests (what was that about his new attitude and Fair Play Day?) Vieira was booked, while Lauren squared up to Joe Cole, who pushed him back.

Arsenal need not have worried. Kanouté's low penalty kick was feeble and Seaman saved comfortably to keep the champions in with the shout that changed to home groans and away cheers when Wiltord curled home after Kanu had played him in.