LONDON - Arsenal comfortably saw off West Ham to maintain their two-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.

Eduardo put the Gunners ahead in the second minute, finding space in the box to smash home into the bottom corner.

Anton Ferdinand had a shot cleared off the line as West Ham responded well but Emmanuel Adebayor made it 2-0, slotting home from the narrowest of angles.

The Hammers' attacking threat faded as the game wore on and they ran out of ideas well before the final whistle.

Alan Curbishley's side, whose victory over Manchester United on Saturday had allowed Arsenal to reclaim top spot, came to the Emirates Stadium on the back of a productive festive period that has seen them move back into the top half of the table.

But they were chasing this game from the start thanks to Eduardo's latest strike, his fifth in his last three starts.

l Preston striker Patrick Agyemang is set to join championship rivals QPR.

Preston have received an offer from Rangers and boss Alan Irvine expects Agyemang, 27, to complete a move.

"We can't match what QPR are prepared to offer Patrick and it's a chance for him to move back down to London," Irvine wrote on his club website.

Striker Andy Carroll has also returned to Newcastle after his loan spell ended at North End Preston. - BBC