West Ham United defender Matthew Upson says yesterday's draw with Arsenal is proof the players are behind manager Gianfranco Zola.

Zola has been under fire owing to West Ham's failure to win a League match since the opening day of the season but Upson believes the Italian will survive his most testing period in charge.

"Everyone is behind the manager," the 30-year-old told the London Evening Standard. "We have been penalised for every mistake we have made this season and it has cost us.

"It was nice to get back in there against a class team like Arsenal - and we possibly could have won it.

"Criticism is going to come your way, especially as a manager, and I am sure he is used to dealing with it. We'll take the criticism on the chin, do something about it and come back in a positive way for him."