Arsenal 3-1 West Ham: Podolski at the double

Arsenals Lukas Podolski, left, scores his sides third goal during last nights 3-1 victory. Picture: PA Wire

Olivier Giroud’s sublime finish and a double from Lukas Podolski gave FA Cup finalists Arsenal a 3-1 win over West Ham at the Emirates Stadium to move back up into the top four of the Barclays Premier League.

Scorers: Arsenal - Podolski (44, 78); Giroud (55); West Ham United - Jarvis (40)

Arsenal welcomed back defender Laurent Koscielny from injury while Sweden midfielder Kim Kallstrom made his first start since arriving on a deadline-day loan from Spartak Moscow.

West Ham – without captain Kevin Nolan who failed a fitness test – began the game brightly.

After a slow start following their nerve-shredding penalty shoot-out win over Wigan at Wembley on Saturday, the Gunners went behind to a scrappy goal from Matt Jarvis on 40 minutes. However, the German striker Podolski quickly levelled before half-time, with French forward Giroud’s superb take-down and close-range finish putting them in front on 55 minutes.

Another powerful strike from Podolski with 13 minutes left secured all three points which saw Arsene Wenger’s side leapfrog Everton, who host Crystal Palace tonight.

West Ham’s Mohamed Diame fired a good chance over from close range on 18 minutes.

Arsenal’s big chance arrived on the half-hour mark when Spain international Santi Cazorla latched on to a stray pass in midfield and then fed Giroud, who beat the offside trap, but his scuffed finish was saved at full stretch by Adrian.

It proved costly as West Ham went ahead when Jarvis headed in from close range after Antonio Nocerino’s shot was saved at the near post.

Arsenal, though, were level just before half-time as Podolski found the back of the net.