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Premier League, Upton Park – West Ham United 1 (Diame 21) Arsenal 3 (Giroud 41, Walcott 77, Cazorla 83).

Arsenal came from a goal behind to beat West Ham United 3-1 at Upton Park and move up to fifth place in the Premier League.

The Gunners dominated in possession, but Sam Allardyce's side fashioned the better early chances and went in front courtesy of a 21st-minute stunner from Mohamed Diame.

But Olivier Giroud's first Premier League goal levelled things just before the break, and in the second half a strike from substitute Theo Walcott and a rasping goal from Santi Cazorla swung the game their way.

Andy Carroll returned to the starting line-up for West Ham after 20 minutes as a substitute in the Hammers’ victory at QPR, while Per Mertesacker came back for Arsenal, displacing Laurent Koscielny. Up front, Giroud started as the target man, flanked by Lukas Podolski and Gervinho, who have both operated in that role this season.

Arsenal began the stronger, passing the ball around with trademark style and verve, and enjoying over two-thirds of the possession. Giroud called Jussi Jaaskelainen into action early, with Hammers goalkeeper having to tip an early effort from the edge of the area around the post.

But the home side struck first with a flowing move capped off by Diame. It began with Guy Demel controlling an Arsenal cross and knocking the ball forward, and ended when the Senegalese midfielder cut past Aaron Ramsey into the penalty area and curled the ball around Vito Mannone.

Carroll was also a menace for the Hammers, seemingly first to every high ball, and he could have doubled the lead with a header just after the half-hour mark which Mannone grabbed.

The Gunners took their time to rebound from conceding, but made sure they went in all square at the break after Podolski whipped in a devilish low cross from the left that Giroud volleyed home from close range. It meant that the France striker broke his Premier League duck after five hours and six minutes of play in some style.

Kevin Nolan spurned several chances for the home side, including one on the stroke of half time as Carroll nodded down into his path, and from point-blank range he steered the ball beyond the far post.

The game drifted early in the second half, with Arsenal again in charge of possession without converting it into a raft of chances. There were injury worries for both sides - Kieran Gibbs went off with a thigh problem for the visitors, while Ricardo Vaz Te appeared to dislocate his shoulder after a clash with Mannone.

But the introduction of Walcott for Gervinho woke the game up.

The England winger almost played Giroud in for a second with a backheel after 65 minutes, only for Carroll to glance a header wide at the other end moments later with Mannone beaten.

Nolan and Podolski swapped chances as the game opened up, before Walcott put Arsenal in front with 13 minutes to play. Giroud turned provider on the counter-attack, weighting the through ball perfectly, and Walcott showed great composure and accuracy to place a finish beyond Jaaskelainen on his near post.

Nolan had yet another decent chance to level just two minutes later, but lifted it high over the bar, before a moment of magic from Cazorla settled things.

The Spaniard crashed a shot across goal from 25 yards with just seven minutes remaining, reducing Jaaskelainen to a standstill as the ball found the corner.

Taylor tested out Mannone late on with a dipping effort of his own, while Giroud might have capped his performance off with a second goal had he clipped Cazorla’s delicate through ball over Jaaskelainen rather than over him.

But it was nonetheless a victory of substance for Arsenal – this was the sort of fixture they have lost all too easily in recent seasons, but again they came back from a tricky position in the match to record an encouraging win.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) – Scored the equaliser, set up the winner, and put in a performance worthy of Arsene Wenger’s summer investment in him.

Premier League, Emirates Stadium – Arsenal 1 (Gervinho 42) Chelsea 2 (Torres 20, Mata 53).

Chelsea beat Arsenal 2-1 at Emirates Stadium to stay top of the Premier League and maintain their unbeaten start to the domestic season.

John Terry's every touch was booed enthusiastically by the home fans in light of his impending four-match ban for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand, but he ended up on top as Chelsea won a lively London derby.

Goals from Fernando Torres and Juan Mata did the damage, although Arsenal gave them a hand as their inability to defend set pieces was exposed for a second weekend running.

Gervinho was on target for the Gunners, who had lengthy spells of possession but were unable to create enough chances as Petr Cech only made two saves of note all match, although substitute Olivier Giroud hit the woodwork before putting a good opportunity wide in injury time.

It was Arsenal’s first defeat of the campaign, while their Chelsea hoodoo continues: the Blues are the first team to beat Arsene Wenger’s side three times in a row in the Premier League at the Emirates.

A frantic first half finished even as both sides attacked with vigour, Chelsea getting the better of the opening exchanges as Torres netted his 75th career Premier League goal at the expense of Laurent Koscielny and co.

Last weekend the Gunners’ zonal marking was criticised as they conceded to Manchester City at a set-piece, but their failure to attack the ball was at fault then as it was now, although their man-marking was exposed this time.

A superbly weighted Mata free-kick saw Koscielny fail in his task as a man-marker, allowing Torres to hook a leg around his torso and flick an improvised finish past Vito Mannone.

It was not all Koscielny’s fault as the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – who had just entered play following another injury to poor Abou Diaby – allowed David Luiz and John Terry the freedom of the box before Torres’s intervention.

While a lapse in organisation was at play, it was a deserved goal in the sense that Chelsea - with three attacking midfielders - had pressed and harried Arsenal from the off, their style of chasing and clever passing echoing that of Barcelona.

Chelsea should have gone 2-0 up when Koscielny fluffed his lines under pressure from Torres, who went clean through but – in electing to round Mannone instead of finish directly – fell over under pressure from the chasing centre-back.

The Spaniard wanted a penalty but the minimal contact was a result of his swinging boot catching Koscielny’s as opposed to any intent on the defender’s part.

The hosts responded well, using overlapping full-backs Keiran Gibbs and the excellent Carl Jenkinson to great effect as they launched waves of attacks.

Gervinho, leading the line as Giroud watched on, should have done better with a far-post header from Lukas Podolski’s driven cross, the Ivorian’s effort across goal well-fielded by Terry.

Chelsea were dangerous on the break, Torres just offside as he finished from a sweet Mata through ball, but Arsenal’s equaliser was always on the cards.

Jenkinson, who has taken to his attacking right-back role with gusto and surprise given his shaky displays last season, was involved in much of Arsenal’s forward play and it was one of his runs that saw Oxlade-Chamberlain released down the right.

His low ball picked out Gervinho, who turned before firing an unstoppable effort into the top right, a finish out of keeping with the Ivorian’s oft-disappointing end product.

There was still time for Torres to find the side netting after a counter attack that marked Chelsea’s increased tendency to sit deeper into half-time.

The second half continued with the pattern of Arsenal possession and Chelsea counters, with the visitors more effective than the hosts, whose afternoon was typified by Cazorla’s wild finish from a good spot, one of many poor shots from the talented Spaniard.

Chelsea were soon back in front as Mata again showed his quality with the dead ball, this time swinging it beyond everyone bar the lunging Koscielny, who got a touch as it flew past Mannone to the bottom left. The ball was on target so Mata was credited with the goal, but ball-watching Arsenal again should have dealt with it.

Arsenal responded with possession-driven attacks but it was worth nothing that Cech made his first proper save just before the hour mark, tipping a Lukas Podolski header over.

Jenkinson and Gibbs were leading the charge at will but, despite some dangerous crosses, Arsenal were second to the ball in the vital areas.

Giroud and Theo Walcott were brought into the fold but the former, for all his undoubted effort, looks short of the quality required to be a main striker at this level.

He inadvertently came close to a leveller when his low shot took a huge deflection off David Luiz, but Cech palmed it wide for a corner, while a flicked header from a corner touched the woodwork, although a flag went up in the melee.

Chelsea had men behind the ball but still countered with intent, sub Victor Moses close to a spectacular half-volleyed goal that dipped just over.

Arsenal were throwing everything at the Blues, who tried to run it into the corner at every opportunity, although the hosts still carved out enough chances to grab a point. Cazorla smacked one high and wide when he should have at least made Cech work, while in stoppage time Giroud showed poor composure when put through by the aforementioned Spain midfielder, taking an extra touch wide before hammering his finish into the side netting.

Chelsea’s win – their first in 33 against Arsenal without Didier Drogba in the team – cements their claim to being the form side in England, while Arsenal must look to bounce back from disappointment, an inability to do so having marked recent seasons.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Juan Mata (Chelsea) – His dead-ball delivery is second-to-none and the Spaniard was on song today, creating the first and scoring the second as he exploited Arsenal’s hesitancy at set pieces.

Premier League, Etihad Stadium - Manchester City 1 (Lescott 40) Arsenal 1 (Koscielny 82).

Laurent Koscielny struck with eight minutes remaining as Manchester City and Arsenal drew 1-1 at the Etihad Stadium in the Premier League.

Arsenal impressed for much of the first half, but Joleon Lescott’s header turned the game the way of the hosts, and gave them the advantage at half time.

City had chances to put the game beyond the match in the sort of encounter Arsenal have often lost in recent seasons, but the Gunners held on and found their equaliser through Koscielny's clinical shot following a corner late on.

Both sides preserve their unbeaten starts to the season, with identical records of two wins and three draws, but Arsenal remain in front of City in fifth place by virtue of goal difference.

Koscielny, not a first choice this season for the Gunners, only started the match because Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen had been laid low by flu in the build-up to the match.

City, meanwhile, left both Carlos Tevez and Mario Balotelli on the substitutes' bench, with Roberto Mancini pairing Sergio Aguero and Edin Dzeko up front.

Arsenal made a very solid start, passing the ball around with confidence and class, even if chances were thin on the ground.

The first real test for either goalkeeper came when Aguero fired a snap shot from the edge of the area - Vito Mannone, standing in for the injured Wojciech Szczesny, could only parry it.

Two minutes later Gervinho had the first of several chances for the Gunners, played through by a weighted pass from Aaron Ramsey, only for a clunky touch to deny him so much as a shot on goal.

Lukas Podolski should also have done better when Carl Jenkinson robbed Lescott on the wing, drove to the byline and cut back, only for the German to sky his shot.

Santi Cazorla also did a great job playing Gervinho in, as did Ramsey once more, but the Ivorian got no closer than the side netting.

And Manchester City, who came into the match on the back of a 31-match unbeaten streak at home, took their chance when they got upfield.

Mannone came out to gather David Silva’s corner with no conviction, and nobody was able to prevent Lescott nodding firmly in at the far post.

The lead could have doubled moments later after Dzeko’s first-time shot from range, but this time Mannone managed a crucial fingertip save.

In the second half, the defending Premier League champions looked set to flex their muscles, with Aguero close from a tight angle, then seeing a shout for a penalty turned down with Koscielny beaten.

Gervinho, who got into excellent spaces time and again, continued to spurn half-chances and clear-cut ones alike, flashing wide at the near post with 24 minutes remaining.

But Arsenal did not give up on the game, and Arsene Wenger’s double-change, bringing on Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott for Abu Diaby and Podolski, kept the momentum up.

It might have cost them when City broke with Yaya Toure charging down the middle with 10 minutes remaining, but he held on to the ball a fraction too long and left Aguero to snatch at his shot.

And after Cazorla had tested Hart at the other end with a powerful shot from range, Koscielny was on hand to drill in an equaliser from the resulting corner.

At 1-1 both sides had opportunities to win. Aguero spurned the clearest one after Vincent Kompany had seen a spectacular overhead kick parried by Mannone, firing wide of the far post.

Then, as the game entered stoppage time, Gervinho compounded a frustrating afternoon by blazing through the middle with panache, only to splash the ball high and wide with panic.

Both sides are four points off the league leaders Chelsea in the title race, but it is the visitors who will probably be happier with the character they showed to take something from the match.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Santi Cazorla (Arsenal) - Even when the Gunners were behind, the accuracy and variety of Cazorla's passing made him the stand-out player on the pitch.

Arsenal ended their goal scoring duck in impressive fashion as they outclassed Liverpool to secure an impressive 2-0 win at Anfield.

New boys Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla both opened their accounts for Arsenal either side of half-time while Liverpool's transfer deadline day inactivity came back to haunt them as they had limited options to try and change things.

Nuri Sahin made his debut in midfield for the Reds but it was Arsenal's midfield that bossed proceedings with a fit-again Abou Diaby putting in a man of the match performance.

Liverpool meanwhile had no clear-cut attacking options on the bench, with Stewart Downing and the admittedly impressive Jonjo Shelvey the best they could do in the way of attacking substitutions.

Brendan Rodgers has tried to implement a passing policy at Liverpool, but just as last week when Martin Skrtel was guilty of an error that led to a goal, it was a misplaced pass that led to the Arsenal opener on the half hour.

An uncharacteristically off-colour Steven Gerrard was the guilty party this time as he gave the ball away cheaply while Liverpool were attacking, allowing Arsenal to burst forward on the counter.

Cazorla dribbled impressively to the edge of the area and with a dummy run from Oliver Giroud to his right creating space, the Spaniard was able to slip the ball to Podolski on the left instead and the German finished impressively after making a fantastic run.

Arsenal really should have doubled their advantage in the 41st minute in similar fashion when Diaby powered forward magnificently from deep in his own half before playing in Giroud. But the French striker made a woeful hash of his shot, slicing wide of the left post and earning an earful from Podolski as a result.

Liverpool were doing just as much attacking as Arsenal but did not have nearly the same fluidity in the final third.

The one exception to that rule was the livewire teenager Raheem Sterling, who was Liverpool's best performer. He hit the outside of the post with Liverpool's best first-half effort after slickly spinning inside the box to create the chance for himself.

The second-half followed a similar script to the first. Arsenal didn't dominate possession, but used the ball so much better than their hosts with Arteta and Diaby conducting proceedings from deep.

Even their full-backs were getting forward with Kieran Gibbs and Carl Jenkinson both forcing Pepe Reina into saves.

To be fair to Liverpool they did have a decent shout for a penalty when Per Mertesacker seemed to man-handle Luis Suarez inside the box early in the second-half, but the Uruguayan's reputation and willingness to drop to the floor theatrically clearly did him no favours as referee Howard Webb waved play on.

Arsenal deservedly doubled their advantage in the 68th minute after a lovely passing move but after his spill against Hearts in midweek, questions will again be asked about Pepe Reina.

Cazorla finished a one-two with Podolski with a shot from the left half of the box that Reina seemed to have got down to save, but the Spanish keeper only managed to deflect the ball goalward with his left hand and the ball went in at the near post.

Shelvey, who had just come on for Sahin, was also guilty of not tracking Cazorla's run, but to be fair to the substitute, he did at least try and make up for it at the other end, twice forcing Vito Mannone into good saves before the end.

Arsenal never really looked like conceding though as they kept their third consecutive clean sheet of the season, with new defensive coach Steve Bould clearly having made an impact.

On the other hand, Liverpool could have desperately done with a plan B but will now need to unearth a free agent from somewhere if they want to expand their attacking options with the transfer window shut until January.

Arsenal drew 0-0 for the second game in succession at the start of the Premier League season as they were unable to break down Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium.

In an attritional game that witnessed few genuine chances, and became ever more rancorous as one of the Premier League's real grudge matches progressed, Arsenal almost stole a win in the closing minutes through an audacious long-range effort from Olivier Giroud.

However, their new recruit brushed the top of the net with his shot, ensuring Arsenal's new attack was left frustrated again after drawing a second blank.

Having once angered Stoke by branding them a rugby team, largely due to their obvious aerial threat and brute physical presence, it was no doubt with some trepidation that Arsene Wenger was forced to name the unconvincing Vito Mannone as his goalkeeper following injuries to Wojciech Szczesny and Lukas Fabianski. The only other change from a 0-0 draw with Sunderland on the opening day saw Giroud come in for his first start, Podolski pushed out wide and Theo Walcott dropped to the bench.

Stoke had lost Matthew Etherington to injury and Dean Whitehead to suspension but, on a day when American midfielder Geoff Cameron also made his debut in midfield, it was the presence of Ryan Shawcross on the home team sheet that spoke to previous bad blood between the two clubs, the serious injury suffered by Aaron Ramsey in March 2010 never far from the surface when these two teams meet.

But while the stands witnessed some verbal sparring between the two sets of supporters, with Stoke fans in provocative mood when donning Wenger masks in an attempt to make fun of the Arsenal boss, the first half at least had little of the animosity that has characterised previous meetings between the two sides.

The game did at least initially follow one established narrative strand as Arsenal quickly found themselves exposed in the air. Peter Crouch rose above Thomas Vermaelen to nod the ball down to Jon Walters, who thumped the ball into the roof of the net before being rightly ruled offside. It had the shape of a warning shot for Arsenal, but unexpectedly the visitors defended superbly for the remainder of the half.

Stoke's best chance came when Michael Kightly turned sharply 25 yards from goal and tested Mannone with a firm drive, but otherwise Arsenal dealt with set-pieces and long throws admirably, the influence of new assistant manager Steve Bould perhaps coming into play as they shed the kind of nervous energy that has caused them to lose three of their five Premier League games at the Britannia Stadium.

Fielding their three big summer signings simultaneously for the first time, Arsenal showed plenty of invention approaching the box with Podolski lively cutting in from the left and the tiny figure of Cazorla a joy to watch as he dictated proceedings from a central role in more considered fashion. The Spaniard tested Asmir Begovic with one stinging drive from long range but his best work came in his manipulation of the ball, teeing up Podolski for a firm shot over the bar.

Having produced a lethargic debut against Sunderland, the Germany international was far more influential at the Britannia Stadium though he found his route to goal frustrated. One fine run was halted by a foul from Robert Huth, while his best chance was blocked by the diving Andy Wilkinson, who should have conceded a penalty when placing his arm in the way of the ball.

Arsenal lost their way somewhat after half time and were a touch fortunate not to concede a penalty after 58 minutes when Jermaine Pennant got round the wrong side of Kieran Gibbs and went down under contact just inside the box. The Stoke winger was furious when referee Lee Mason waved play on.

As any quality seeped out of the game, Stoke served up a reminder of the darker side to their game when Andy Wilkinson was guilty of a pretty disgraceful tackle on Podolski as he steamed into the German from behind on the edge of the box. He saw yellow, but such was the reckless nature of the challenge a red was hardly beyond the bounds of possibility.

And once again the Ramsey-Shawcross incident spilled to the forefront when the former was introduced as a substitute after 82 minutes and was booed by the home crowd.

In search of poetic justice, the Wales international flashed one shot wide of the upright and, soon after Jon Walters wasted a good chance by poking the ball at Mannone, Ramsey hared forward late on, only to be ignored by Giroud as the striker went for a spectacular long-range shot from out on the left flank.

For Arsenal, it was another tale of minor frustration at the start of a season that has witnessed real upheaval in their attack.

Arsenal began life after Robin van Persie with a frustrating 0-0 draw against Sunderland in their opening match of the new Premier League season at the Emirates Stadium.

Santi Cazorla had an impressive debut for the London side but another recent arrival, striker Olivier Giroud, missed a great chance to score his first goal for the club and seal the victory with 10 minutes remaining.

The stalemate was the third time in as many years that the Gunners have begun their campaign by only picking up one point, and it is also the third goalless draw in the last five Premier League games at the Emirates.

With their departed captain and top scorer preparing to make his Manchester United debut on Monday, Arsenal fans were given their first competitive glimpse of the future of their attack. New signings Lukas Podolski and Cazorla both started with their third summer acquisition, Giroud, on the bench.

The presence of those new star names on the teamsheet was cause for optimism among Arsenal fans, but that was more than offset by the absence of midfielder Alex Song from the matchday squad amid reports that a move to Barcelona is in the offing.

For their part, Sunderland gave a debut to Carlos Cuellar at right-back, while striker Louis Saha was only named on the bench having completed his move to Wearside earlier in the week.

Arsenal completely controlled the first half, enjoying 70 per cent of the possession, but it was Sunderland who had the first chance of the game after five minutes. James McClean was played into the box on the left and his shot from an angle was blocked by Wojciech Szczesny. Arsenal immediately countered, and Cazorla galloped forward before firing in a shot from 20 yards that Simon Mignolet parried with an outstretched arm.

That was the first significant action of a highly influential debut for Cazorla. The Spaniard struck a low shot just wide after both he and Podolski went to meet Gervinho's cross, crossed for Theo Walcott to head over the bar and generally provided a good link between midfield and the front three.

Abou Diaby, starting in the missing Song's stead, forced a good low save from Mignolet with an effort from range, but they ended the half with just two shots on target, the same as Sunderland.

The second half followed much the same pattern as the first, with most of the action in the Sunderland half as the visitors did their best to keep Arsenal at bay.

Cazorla volleyed wide after one of many searing runs into the box from Gervinho saw a deflected shot fall for him, before Theo Walcott hit the side-netting at the end of another promising move.

Midway through the second half Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger replaced Podolski – who had been tightly marked throughout – with Giroud. The French striker, who finished joint top-scorer in Ligue 1 last season as Montpellier won the title, did well to connect with Karl Jenkinson's cross with a side-footed volley on the turn, but he could not guide it on target.

If he could have been forgiven for that miss, then his next chance will have made the realisation of life without Van Persie all the more sobering. With 81 minutes on the clock, Giroud timed his run well to meet Cazorla's through ball, but with only Mignolet to beat he fired wide of the target.

That miss was to prove costly, as the final whistle came without any more opportunities as clear as that, and Arsenal finished the day having not won any of their last four home games.