Kanoute strikes chord as Arsenal flounder up front   By Colin Malam at Upton Park Last Updated: 8:46PM GMT 15 Dec 2001 Cole the goal: Ashley Cole (left) is congratulated by Robert Pires and Thierry Henry West Ham (1) 1 Arsenal (1) 1 WEST HAM are developing into right party poopers. Having upset the applecart at Old Trafford a week earlier, the East Enders threw a bit of a spanner into Arsenal's works yesterday. Although Ashley Cole earned the Gunners a draw, and preserved their unbeaten away record, with his first goal of the season, an earlier strike by West Ham's Frederic Kanoute hampered Arsenal's bid to close the gap on Liverpool at the top of the Premiership.   Related Articles FA Barclaycard Premiership Steven Gerrard: Top 10 season-defining momentsArsenal v Manchester United preview: Champions League semi-finalHow Arsenal can beat Manchester UnitedChelsea's Frank Lampard fed up with treble talkRio Ferdinand the key for Manchester United Both sides had other chances to win a full-blooded London derby in which seven players were booked, four from West Ham, but Arsenal will be kicking themselves for missing the better ones and the chance to cut Liverpool's lead to one point instead of three. All-in-all, though, the quality of the entertainment, especially in the first half, helped Upton Park's record, all-seated crowd of 34,523 keep warm on a bitter afternoon. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was within his rights to argue that his team deserved to win. Gilles Grimandi and Dennis Bergkamp hit the bar and other inviting opportunities were allowed to go begging. Much less justifiable was Wenger's curious claim that having an "interruption", the Worthington Cup quarter-final against Blackburn, in midweek had cost them their rhythm. Needless to say, seven of the first-choice players Wenger omitted from that 4-0 thrashing returned yesterday. But at least Wenger had the good grace to compliment West Ham for making it hard for them. "In the first half, we were a bit cautious and timid. We didn't get going and they pinned us in our own half. Overall, we des