ARSENAL/English Premier League/Arsenal 2 West Ham Utd 0:A memorable season requires its sprinkling of forgettable days. If a team are to win the Premier League there must be afternoons such as this when there is no stress to leave the players feeling depleted as they depart the field. Neither side were in the mood to give all that much of themselves. Each had arrived pre-fatigued.

With the 2-0 lead in place there was virtually a truce in the second half.

"We were in control without pushing it to score more," Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger admitted. "We just didn't want to concede a goal."

His opposite number was frank, too, about the perfunctory tone.

"The Manchester United game took a lot out of us . . . It was probably one game too many for us over the Christmas period," said Alan Curbishley. "I've not really had the opportunity to change [ the line-up]."

West Ham were still in a daze after their defeat of United and another effort of that magnitude was barely contemplated. The visitors were a peculiar amalgam of defensive incompetence and spasmodic adventure during the spell that determined the outcome.

In the second minute Matthew Upson did not close on Eduardo da Silva as the Croat took a Cesc Fàbregas cross on his chest before swivelling to score impeccably. This was his third Premier League goal, after the double at Everton with which he made his breakthrough. He was otherwise circumscribed in his contribution but the presence of a de-luxe poacher will be gladdening enough for Wenger.

The finishing with which Emmanuel Adebayor added to the lead after 18 minutes was extraordinary. He was sent clear by a pass from Gael Clichy but took possession almost on the byline to the left of the target.

The striker clipped the ball from that position and the spin took it into the net after cannoning off the far post.

Maybe he was hoping for the best and maybe he believed the effort might go in off someone but whatever the interpretation Adebayor, as a member of the guild of strikers, is obliged to insist it was all intended.

The goal's origins had lain in a long ball, just as two of them had at Goodison. This is far from being a re-enactment of the pragmatic George Graham period in Arsenal's history but there is no coincidence about the impact of these direct tactics at the moment.

"Sides who play 4-5-1 come here and mark us very tight, they push up very high," said Wenger.

"Therefore the defenders have to play on the halfway line and with the players we have, that enables us to go behind the central defenders. That gives us naturally a different option. We always have alternative options.

"We have worked on it, because we know Adebayor has so much pace and power and Eduardo is shrewd as well and a clinical finisher. It's a great option for us.

"We had a great start and after that we controlled the game. West Ham were dangerous on set-pieces in the first half, but in the second half we were in control without ever pushing to score more goals.

"We didn't want to concede and West Ham didn't really challenge us so we were quite comfortable."

The alternative to pushing forward would, of course, be for visitors to drop deep, but that would allow space for Fàbregas and Tomas Rosicky in midfield.

It would, however, be misleading to pretend Arsenal held all the cards. There was a first-half period in which the match might have assumed another character. West Ham, for instance, could have pulled level at 1-1 in the 12th minute.

Carlton Cole's effort deflected off Kolo Toure for a corner, Mark Noble took it and Anton Ferdinand's drive ricocheted from Mathieu Flamini before Clichy blocked on the goalline.

Freddie Ljungberg, returning to his old club, drew a save from Manuel Almunia as well. The Swede soon succumbed to a recurrence of his hamstring problem and West Ham had to replace him, but their long injury list had the benefit here of allowing the youngster Jack Collison to debut.

Wenger, resting Bacary Sagna yesterday, must be envied by Curbishley. The Arsenal manager betrays little anxiety about the fact Emmanuel Eboue and Toure will have departed for the African Cup of Nations by the time the Premier League schedule resumes. He also mused that he could give William Gallas and Clichy the afternoon off against Burnley in the FA Cup.

With three wins and a draw over the festive period, Arsenal remain two points ahead of Manchester United, who lost at West Ham last week, and Wenger will feel in control.

"Overall this period has been absolutely great for us," he said. "We have had four difficult games, but we have come away with three wins and a draw, which is terrific. It's been fantastic."

He might have been a bit corny when pledging, as a New Year resolution, "to give every bit of energy I have to make this club successful".

On the other hand, the pursuit of that ambition surely feels most fulfilling these days.