Arsenal wins to jump back into top four

 

LONDON, April 16 (AP): Lukas Podolski scored twice as Arsenal came from a goal down to beat West Ham 3-1 in the Premier League on Tuesday and provisionally reclaim the last Champions League spot.

Arsenal trailed to Matthew Jarvis' 40th-minute opener, but Podolski equalized before the break and Arsenal dominated the second half. Olivier Giroud made amends for an earlier miss by showing off a delicate touch in the area to put Arsenal ahead in the 55th and Podolski finished off the win with another clinical strike in the 78th.

Arsenal leapfrogged Everton into fourth place, although the Merseyside club is only one point behind with a game in hand. "It was a hard-fought win, but a very, very important one," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "The key was (to score) just before halftime. In the second half we controlled well the game."

Coming off their penalty-shootout win against Wigan in the FA Cup semifinals on Saturday, Arsenal looked sluggish at the start. West Ham was the better team for the first 30 minutes, but when the opening goal came it was against the run of play following a period of sustained Arsenal pressure.

Kim Kallstrom, making his first start for Arsenal since joining on loan in January, lost track of Antonio Nocerino down the right flank as the West Ham player broke into the area. Nocerino's shot was stopped by Wojciech Szczesny, but Jarvis was there to head in the rebound in a goalmouth scramble.

Jarvis then could have earned a penalty shortly afterward when Bacary Sagna clearly clipped his legs in the area, but he stayed on his feet and the referee waved play on. "I'm grateful for that," Wenger said about Jarvis staying on his feet. "I don't think it was a penalty, but he touched him. Can you be too honest? I'll leave you that judgement."

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce certainly thought so. "The facts are that when you stay on your feet the referees don't give penalties," Allardyce said. "When there's contact, you have to go down and make the referee's mind up for him. There's no reward for honesty."

Arsenal responded shortly thereafter as Santi Cazorla found Podolski in the area and the Germany forward took one touch to create space before slotting a clinical finish inside the far post.

Before that, Giroud had wasted Arsenal's two best chances as the France striker couldn't make contact with Podolski's cross in the 14th, and then wasted a one-on-one opportunity in the 30th. Cazorla picked out Giroud that time as well, but the Frenchman went for finesse rather than power, trying to chip the ball with the outside of his boot past Adrian, but the goalkeeper palmed it away.

Giroud made no mistake the next time, however, after Thomas Vermaelen picked him out with a long ball into the area. Giroud downed it with a perfect first touch and then slotted a shot between Adrian's legs to put the hosts up for good.

Arsenal kept pressing and the third goal came after Giroud broke down the left and sent a high pass in toward substitute Aaron Ramsey, who picked out Podolski with a header and the German blasted a high shot into the net. "He's a fantastic finisher," Wenger said of Podolski. "The one you want to have a chance is him."

 

Arsene Wenger gamble on oldies pays off

LONDON, April 16 (Reuters): Arsene Wenger took a risk by picking Arsenal’s old guard against West Ham United on Tuesday but it paid off with a 3-1 win as his weary side regained fourth place in the Premier League. The Frenchman fielded a team with an average age of 29 at the Emirates, with Olivier Giroud their youngest outfield player at 27, as he banked on his golden oldies to get a result.

Wenger, renowned for developing young players, opted for a wealth of experience to overcome stubborn West Ham and wrestle back fourth place, and the last Champions League qualification spot, from Everton who are a point behind with a game in hand.

“It was a gamble,” Wenger told a news conference. “I said before the game it was the oldest team that I have ever played at Arsenal since I’ve been here.” In fact he fielded an Arsenal team with an average age of 30 against Leeds United in 2003 but his point was valid. “I trusted the experience of the players,” said Wenger. “Tonight it was an unusual around 30 (years of age) team and that experience helps when your backs are against the wall.” Arsenal reached the FA Cup final on Saturday on penalties against second-tier holders Wigan Athletic but, without a win in four league games and with the semi-final having taken its toll, Wenger decided older heads were needed against West Ham. Goals from Lukas Podolski either side of a sublime Olivier Giroud finish secured the win for Arsenal, who fell behind to a Matt Jarvis header five minutes before halftime.

 

MENTAL TOUGHNESS

It was Giroud’s strike, his 14th league goal this season, that especially pleased Wenger, who hailed the France striker’s mental toughness after a tame finish in the first half when played through on goal caused uproar amongst the home fans. “Olivier is a great guy with a great mentality,” Wenger said. "At halftime he came in and was very down because he missed a great chance but he responded well in the second because mentally he is a strong guy.” Giroud, who was dropped from the starting lineup against Wigan, held off the challenge of two defenders to deftly bring down Thomas Vermaelen’s long ball and strike his shot between West Ham’s goalkeeper Adrian’s legs. "It was a perfect first touch,” the Arsenal manager said. “What I like is that he used his upper body first to make some space and despite that he managed to have a great first touch, and he finished well. “He’s come through a difficult period. I think it affected his game for a while and his confidence. Tonight you could see that he was refreshed and up for it.” Arsenal now have 67 points and four games left, one ahead of Everton who host Crystal Palace on Wednesday, and they will be confident they can hold off the challenge of their rivals who have more difficult fixtures in their remaining five games.