After a trying last couple of games, Arsenal couldn't have wished for a much easier test than the one West Ham gave them last night. I hesitate to use the word 'test' as the match was tantamount to a light sparring session. West Ham were simply abysmal, their dire display probably bringing the six-month reign of manager Avram Grant to an end.

But Arsenal can only beat what's put in front of them, and for the first time in four games, they managed to do just that. A stodgy opening was broken in the 14th minute by a fine Robin Van Persie goal. That was the spark that both roused Arsenal out of their recent malaise and smothered any belief West Ham may have had of getting a result to ease their relegation worries.

With Scott Parker on the injured list and Mark Noble soon to join him early in the first-half, the Arsenal midfield were given the freedom of the Boleyn Ground to do as they wished. Cesc Fabregas and Jack Wilshere decided that they wished to pass the ball around West Ham for fun. It was like watching a sorcerer and his precocious apprentice at work.

The star of the show however, was Van Persie. Back in 2009, Van Persie was looking like a perfect fit to lead the line in Arsenal's 4-3-3 formation. However, he then ran into the foreboding Giorgio Chiellini while playing for Holland and was out of action for almost a year. Since then, he's looked a shadow of himself, desperately chasing the form of his past self from the early part of last season. Yesterday, it looked as if he may have finally caught up with it. Not only were his two goals taken with aplomb, but his movement and link-up play were the pivot upon which Arsenal's attacks were based. If the Dutchman can stay this sharp until May, it makes Arsenal an even more potent attacking threat than they already are.

A win like this is unlikely to determine whether the Gunners end the season as champions or not. But after receiving a pair of bloody noses from Leeds & Ipswich in the past week, a win was paramount to stop their season falling off the rails.

But West Ham were so moribund, no Arsenal fan should approach Wednesday night's FA Cup replay with overconfidence. Leeds will give Arsenal a much tougher test than the Hammers did. Ignore the fact that they're in different divisions. There's a good chance they won't be in the same league next season either, although it may be the team from Yorkshire rather than East London that will be hosting Premier League football in August.

ARSENAL (4-3-3)

Szczesny - 6, Eboue - 6, Djourou - 5, Koscielny - 6, Clichy - 7, Song - 7, Fabregas - 8 (Denilson - 80 min), Wilshere - 7, Walcott - 6 (Gibbs - 87 min), Van Persie - 8, Nasri - 7 (Arshavin - 87min)

West Ham v Arsenal match highlights