Podolski double propels Arsenal past West Ham

Arsenal FC once more occupy England's remaining UEFA Champions League slot after rallying from a goal down to beat West Ham United FC 3-1 in north London.

A flurry of early corners augured well for the visitors, who looked in little danger of conceding until Santi Cazorla skewered their back line on the half-hour. Olivier Giroud collected the Spaniard's pass but the cute left-footed finish that resulted was comfortably palmed away by Adrián. The hosts were then stung at the other end when Antonio Nocerino's deflected effort looped up into the path of Matthew Jarvis, who headed in.

Lukas Podolski lifted the pressure on the cusp of half-time, however, arrowing a trademark left-footed shot into the far corner. Giroud then atoned for his earlier miss ten minutes after the interval, sublimely bringing down Thomas Vermaelen's flighted pass and slotting beyond Adrián. The turnaround was complete when Podolski rifled into the roof of the net from close range, lifting the Gunners a point above Everton FC into fourth.