Arsenal move in to the Champions league slot after convincing win

Lukas Podolski struck twice as Arsenal came from behind to beat West Ham and move back above Everton in the race for a Champions League place. 

Matt Jarvis headed the Hammers in front as they threatened to extend Arsenal's winless league run to five games.

But Podolski levelled with a shot on the turn two minutes later for the impressive FA Cup finalists.

Olivier Giroud's classy finish and Podolski's driven second sealed the win as Arsenal moved up to fourth.
Fresh from sealing a place in the Cup final courtesy of their penalty shoot-out win over Wigan, the result was just what Arsene Wenger's side needed to enhance their chance of qualifying for the Champions League for a 17th successive season.

With Everton playing against Crystal Palace at Goodison Park on Wednesday night, the Gunners could ill afford another slip-up following their recent poor league run. 

And they showed all the resilience - and quality - needed to stay the pace and hold off the determined challenge of Roberto Martinez's in-form side.

Podolski took his goal tally for the season into double figures, while Giroud's crucial strike, early in the second half, was his 20th of the campaign.

After their efforts expended in ending Wigan's reign as Cup holders, Arsenal, despite making five changes to their starting line-up, actually made a sluggish start to offer West Ham early encouragement.

The Hammers, still seeking points to guarantee their Premier League safety, could have taken advantage with Mohamed Diame lifting their best chance over the top from Andy Carroll's low cross.

Giroud could not claim tiredness as an excuse after starting on the bench at Wembley but Arsenal's leading scorer was guilty of a terrible miss with almost half an hour gone as Wenger's side improved.

The Frenchman was sent clear by Santi Cazorla's fine pass but elected to try to flick the ball past Adrian with the outside of his left foot and failed to generate the power to trouble the West Ham keeper.

And the visitors made Giroud and Arsenal pay five minutes before half-time when they went in front through Jarvis.

Antonio Nocerino's persistence bursting in from the right-hand side created the chance and when the ball popped up in the six-yard box, Jarvis nodded in only his second league goal of the season.

Arsenal would have felt the pressure had they gone in behind at the break but they were quickly level as they found a way through a West Ham defence that had previously kept 13 clean sheets this season.

Again Cazorla was the creator following a poor clearance from Stewart Downing and this time his pass was not wasted as Podolski swivelled to drill a left-foot shot across Adrian and into the bottom corner.

The goal lifted the mood around the Emirates Stadium and 10 minutes into the second half Arsenal went ahead thanks to a touch of class from Giroud.

The striker displayed a brilliant first touch from Thomas Vermaelen's long ball back into the box following a corner and with his second drove the ball through the legs of Adrian from just inside the corner of the six-yard box.

The goal sent further confidence soaring through the home side and rather than sit on their lead they went for a third goal to completely kill the game off.

Podolski saw a fierce free-kick beaten away by Adrian and the outstanding Cazorla was only inches wide with a swerving left-foot shot.

But Arsenal's pressure finally paid off 12 minutes from the end when substitute Aaron Ramsey headed down for Podolski to fire past Adrian and keep the Gunners firing on two fronts.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger: 
 
"When the team went through a bad patch with a lack of confidence because of goals going against us, you need to repair that with results and resilience.

"It was a gamble to rest players but I said before the game that it was the oldest team I had played at Arsenal, so I trusted the experience of the players.

"That experience always helps when your backs are against the wall."

"I liked that Giroud used his upper body and got a great first touch to score the goal. He is a great guy and he has gone through a difficult period, but tonight you could see that he is refreshed and he is up for it."

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce: 
 
"After doing so much to get ahead, not going in 1-0 up at half-time was a big disappointment. The second goal sickened me because the performance meant nothing after that. We didn't create enough.

"We've fallen behind in pre-season planning - contracts to new players, along with players in and players out. As soon as you're safe, the planning has to start. That way I don't get shouted at by the wife when I'm on the phone for six hours a day on my holidays."