Old guns back in the groove

ARSENAL 3 WEST HAM UNITED 1
By Ricky Butler at the Emirates

Lukas Podolski seals the points against West Ham

ARSENAL moved back into the top four last night as two goals from Lukas Podolski and a superb strike from Olivier Giroud saw off the challenge of West Ham United at the Emirates.

Without a league win for almost a month, a run which had seen Everton move ahead of them in the race for a Champions League place, the last thing Arsene Wenger's side needed was to go behind again.

But after Matt Jarvis headed the Hammers in front five minutes before the break, the finishing power of Podolski and Giroud finally gave Arsenal the points.

A delighted Wenger said: "The mental aspect of the team was tested but I felt we were disciplined, determined, played well and overall we had a very convincing win tonight.

"You could see that the fact we won on Saturday had an impact on the morale of the team, so hopefully we can keep that high now until the end of the season."

After the physical and mental strain of Saturday's penalty shoot success in the FA Cup, Wenger made five changes in a bid to freshen up his side.

So in came Wojczcesh Szcezsny, Laurent Koscielny, Kim Kallstrom, Tomas Rosicky and Giroud, with Thomas Veramelen moving to left back in absence of injured pair Kieran Gibbs and Nacho Monreal. It was the oldest side Wenger had selected for a Premier League match in over 10 years.

But it appeared the rigours of Wembley had taken its toll in a first half performance devoid of energy and ideas.

Giroud did have a golden opportunity to give Arsenal the lead after half an hour. A lovely ball from the impressive Santi Cazorla sent the Frenchman clear, but he tried to finish with his favoured left foot instead of his right and it was a simple save for Adrian.

That looked even more costly when West Ham, still in need of the points themselves in their bid to avoid the drop, went in front five minutes before the break. Szcezsny did well initially to deny Antonio Nocherino but the ball fell invitingly for Jarvis to nod home from close range.

You could feel the tension all around the Emirates but Arsenal dug deep and pulled themselves level just before half time.

Again it was Cazorla at the heart of its creation with a neat ball through to Podolski in the inside left channel, and the German drilled a shot on the turn across the West Ham 'keeper into the far corner of the net. Crisis averted.

The mood was now very different as Arsenal began to find their old fluency in the second half, and they completed the turn around ten minutes after the restart.

West Ham thought they had cleared their lines following a Cazorla corner, but when Vermaelen recycled the ball back into the penalty area, Giroud controlled instantly with his left foot before drilling home with his right; a goal of the highest quality and a 20th of the season for the much-maligned Frenchman.

Olivier Giroud puts Arsenal ahead last night

Wenger's men could now relax and it was simply a case of how many more they might get. A Podolski free kick brought a sprawling save from Adrian before Cazorla almost capped his fine night's work with a magnificent solo effort.

But Arsenal did grab a third, 11 minutes from time. Giroud's cross from the left was nodded into the path of Podolski by substitute Aaron Ramsey, and the German smashed a left-footed shot into the roof of Adrian's net.

On Podolski, Wenger said: "He is a natural finisher and that is why it is always difficult to position him on the pitch. You want him in the box, in front of goal, as well as wide. But I think tonight he moved better, more, and got into some very interesting positions.

"West Ham defended well so we had to be patient, intelligent and resilient. Our picture is quite clear now. We have to win every single game, that is the only way we can manage to do what we want to do."

West Ham manager Sam Alladyce, who still requires another three points to guarantee Premier League survival, said: "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."

Next up for Arsenal is a trip to Hull City on Sunday in a dress rehearsal for the forthcoming FA Cup final, while the Hammers face a relegation six-pointer against Crystal Palace.

ARSENAL - Szczesny, Sagna, Metersaker, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Arteta, Kallstrom, Rosicky (Ramsey, 71), Cazorla (Jenkinson, 87), Podolski, Giroud.

WEST HAM UNITED - Adrian, Demel, Tomkins, Armero, Reid, Diame, Noble, Jarvis (Vaz Te, 78), Nocerino, Downing (Cole (J), 78), Carroll (Cole (C), 84).

REFEREE - K. Friend.

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