Arsenal 3-1 West Ham: Podolski double and Giroud strike keeps top four dream alive

Job done: Lukas Podolski fires home the third goal of Arsenal's 3-1 victory over West Ham

Back of the net: Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud powers home the Gunners second

On the scoresheet: Giroud kisses the Arsenal badge after giving his side the lead in the second half

All smiles: Podolski and Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny celebrate the important victory

So what are we to make of that? At times, Giroud looks like he would just about make fourth choice at Chelsea; at others he could walk into any team in the land. Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger remains convinced that Podolski cannot play in a central forward role.

The manager’s call on his strikers may yet decide whether Arsenal return to the Champions League next season. They have the easier run-in than Everton, but are expected to be pushed back to fifth after Crystal Palace visit Goodison Park on Wednesday night.

Arsenal must win their remaining games against Hull City, Newcastle United, West Brom-wich Albion and Norwich City and hope Everton slip. Their strikers are the key to it from here.

Certainly they got Arsenal back in the game after a quite disastrous start against West Ham. Sluggish, sloppy, and as far removed from Champions League material as they have been at any stage this season, they were harried out of it for much of the first half, particularly in midfield.

An average outfield age above 29 - the oldest Arsenal team in 11 years - may have had an influence, as might two hours of FA Cup football at Wembley on Saturday.

Sam Allardyce has suspected his team are safe for a while now, yet it was West Ham who went at the game with greater purpose, culminating in a 40th-minute lead afforded from an unlikely angle - a header from winger Matt Jarvis.

Antonio Nocerino broke down the right, cut inside and forced a save from Wojciech Szczesny in the Arsenal goal. The ball bounced up, Nocerino reacted faster than any defender and the ball found its way to Jarvis, who scored the most surprising header in a fixture between these teams since Trevor Brooking at the FA Cup final in 1980.

Leveller: Podoslki fires the ball past Winston Reid to equalise for Arsenal just before half-time

Sweet connection: Podolski watches his shot rocket past Reid and sail into the corner of the net

Brave: Wideman Matt Jarvis heads West Ham into a shock lead following Antonio Nocerino's initial effort

Brave: Matt Jarvis beats the high foot of Laurent Koscielny to score for West Ham

Opener: Nocerino (left) celebrates with Jarvis after the Hammers took the lead against Arsene Wenger's side

Hot pursuit: Arsenal defender Bacary Sagna attempts to catch up with West Ham midfielder Mohamed Diame

Midfield battle: Arsenal's Mikel Arteta (right)tries to muscle Diame out of the way

West Ham might also have had an early penalty when Jarvis was tripped by Bacary Sagna, but the winger did not fall and, sadly, Premier League referees are no longer brave enough to give a foul without the tumble.

Yet Arsenal could also have been a goal up. They didn’t create much early on, but the one chance they did get was laid on a plate for Giroud. Here was the case against the striker. Santi Cazorla played a neat through-pass to the Frenchman with one leg in an offside position. The linesman, Harry Lennard, missed this but Giroud failed to capitalise on his good fortune.

Left one on one with goalkeeper Adrian, he tried the most self-indulgent of finishes, the little dink chip, Lionel Messi style. Messi carries it off with a precision bordering on genius; Giroud drew only the anger and ridicule of the crowd.

His chip was soft, under-hit and probably misdirected. Even if Adrian’s hand had not patted it out of the air with the ease of a swatter flooring a crane fly, it would probably have missed the target. The home fans despaired. They want Giroud to answer his critics, not load their ammunition.

Yet, once West Ham scored,  Arsenal were fired into action. Within minutes Kim Kallstrom had forced a save from Adrian and shortly before half-time the home side were level. Stewart Downing, hemmed in by the right corner flag, struck a poor clearance which was cut out by a long Arsenal leg, the ball falling to Cazorla. He played a good pass to Podolski, whose low shot left Adrian no chance. 

Here's Olivier Giroud's heat map from Arsenal's 3-1 victory over West Ham - Click here to find out more from our brilliant Match Zone service

Tussle: Podolski does his best to evade the challenge of West Ham centre back James Tomkins

Control: West Ham's Mark Noble moves forward with the ball under pressure from Santi Cazorla

Head over heels: West Ham left back Pablo Armero, on loan from Napoli, attempts to dispossess Giroud

Full stretch: West Ham goalkeeper looks on as Tomas Rosicky's effort flies past the post in the second half

Ready: Aaron Ramsey waits to be introduced before replacing Rosicky with twenty minutes to go

DISTANCE COVERED STATS

                                  MINS PLD    KM     MILES

Arsenal - total                             110.8    68.8

Kim Kallstrom                 90          12.3         7.7
Mikel Arteta                    90          11.4         7.1
Olivier Giroud                 90          10.9        6.8

West Ham - total                        113.1     70.2 

Mark Noble                    90            12.4       7.7
Antonio Nocerino           90            11.7       7.3
Mohamed Diame           90            11.6       7.2

• Data courtesy of EA SPORTS, Official Sports Technology Partner of the Premier League

From there, really, Arsenal did not look back. West Ham were a pale imitation of their first-half presence and once Giroud got his side’s noses in front there was only ever going to be one winner.

It was a better goal than the pass deserved. If, before half-time, Giroud’s critics groaned their I-told-you-sos, as his champions shuffled awkwardly and looked at the floor, so in the 55th minute the roles reversed. Giroud supporters buoyant, the denigrators embarrassed.

Had Henry or Dennis Bergkamp scored this, we wouldn’t hear the last of it. As it came from the boot of Giroud, division raged. Some took it as proof a world-class striker exists within the No 12 shirt, others cried fluke and percentages.  Arsenal’s striker is always going to score goals, was the counter.

Think of the chances he gets. True, but even so Giroud now has 20 goals this season. That is none too shabby, no matter the service. After another poor West Ham clearance, Thomas Vermaelen pumped a high ball back into the penalty area.  Giroud had Andy Carroll and  Winston Reid around him, but somehow fought the burly pair off, and shaped to receive what in the loosest sense was now a through- pass. He killed it and finished in two deft movements, using both feet and leaving goalkeeper Adrian powerless.

It really was magnificent stuff. Those who recalled the miss in the first half would not have reconciled it with the same player.

Confirmation of an important  victory came with 13 minutes remaining, Giroud involved in the build-up there, too. It was his cross that was headed back into the area by substitute Aaron Ramsey, falling at the feet of Podolski.

His finish was expert and West Ham were done.

Skills: Arteta looks on as Diame moves forward with the ball at his feet

Winner: Podolski acknowledges the crowd after scoring Arsenal's third goal of the night

Strength: Noble keeps the pace with Giroud as the Frenchman races forward with the ball

Heads up: Arsenal's Swedish midfielder Kim Kallstrom climbs above Nocerino to head the ball clear of danger

Runaway: Substitute Ramsey gets the better of West Ham defender Armero