A Podolski brace and a superb goal from Giroud meant that West Ham would stay 11th in the Premier League, 7 points off the relegation zone, and that Arsenal would climb back up to 4th place, overtaking rivals Everton.
The first goal of the match came from Englishman Matt Jarvis, as his header gave West Ham an unlikely lead. On-loan midfielder Nocerino was played through down Arsenal’s left flank as he easily lost his marker Kim Kallstrom. The Italian international had a shot parried at the near post by Szczesny before an attempt at a cross found its way to Jarvis in the 40th minute. The left sided midfielder calmly nodded down the ball to give Allardyce’s men a surprising lead.
West Ham’s goal was a massive wakeup call to the Gunners however Arsenal responded positively to it as in the 44th minute, Arsenal had their equalizer through Lukas Podolski. Stewart Downing’s failed clearance from West Ham’s right hand side fell to Santi Cazorla 25 yards away from goal. The Spaniard skilfuly found Podolski before the German international sprinted to the near post of the goal. Arsenal’s number 9 then fired home Arsenal’s equalizer to the bottom far corner to make it 1-1.
Wenger’s half time team talk must have been inspiring as it looked like a different Arsenal team after the 15 minute break, and it wasn’t long before Arsenal had their lead. After a short corner not working for Arsenal, the Gunners had many players pushed high up the pitch. Captain Tomas Vermaelen, today filling in at left back, played a superb and inviting ball forward from near the halfway line. Recently criticized, Olivier Giroud impressively controlled the long ball at Adrian’s near post after shoving off West Ham’s Winston Reid and Andy Carroll. The French striker then drove the ball into the back of the net using his right and significantly weaker foot in the 55th minute to put Arsenal ahead.
Arsenal then extended their lead when Lukas Podolski got his second of the night in the 78th minute. Substitute Aaron Ramsey nodded a high pass forward from Giroud straight into the path of the German international who then powered the ball into the roof of the net. This was Podolski’s 6th Premier League goal of the campaign and made it 3-1 to the Gunners.
The game finished 3-1 to Arsenal and sees them regain 4th place as they sit a point above Everton, who have a game in hand. With Giroud and Podolski gaining confidence from their goals; Cazorla giving a man of the match performance; Ramsey getting his first assist since returning and Kallstrom completing his first 90 minutes for the Gunners, things look on the up for Arsenal's top four challenge.
Match Ratings:
Szczesny 7
Sagna 7
Koscielny 7
Mertesacker 8
Vermaelen(C) 8
Kallstrom 7
Arteta 7
Rosicky 7 (Ramsey 8)
Cazorla 9 (Jenkinson 7)
Podolski 9
Giroud 8