Olivier Giroud celebrates scoring their second goal of the game by highlighting his black armband in memory of those affected by the Hillsborough Disaster. David Davies/PA Wire/Press Association Images
Euro Vision
Arsenal keep their Euro hopes alive with West Ham comeback
ARSENAL HAD TO come from behind to beat West Ham and keep their Champions League hopes alive this evening.
A poor run of form since the turn of the year has seen the Gunners fall from genuine title contenders to being in real danger of missing out on Europe’s elite club competition for the first time in 17 years.
However, a Lukas Podolski brace inspired Arsene Wenger’s side to a much needed 3-1 win and they leapfrog Everton to move into fourth place in the Premier League table. The Toffees — just one point behind — do have a game in hand though.
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Arsenal looked anything but a Champions League team when Matthew Jarvis struck for the visitors late in the first half at the Emirates Stadium but the goal sprung the home side into life and Podolski grabbed his first of the game minutes later.
Jarvis’ goal:
https://vine.co/v/MJQE562IJlO
Olivier Giroud put them into the lead shortly after the break with a sublime touch — although there was more than a hint of a push in the back in the build up — and Podolski’s second in the closing stages guaranteed Arsenal their first win in five league games.
Podolski’s second:
https://vine.co/v/MJ2ezUY9UB2
Wenger had made five changes from the team that just barely got past Wigan on penalties in Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final, with Swedish midfielder Kim Kallstrom making his first start and Laurent Koscielny returning from injury.
But the Gunners had been underwhelming for long periods of that Wembley win over Championship opposition, prompting Wenger to suggest his team were guilty of complacency at times, and there were few signs of any improvement in the early stages against the Hammers.
However, the result was all that was important tonight and an eighth win in a row against West Ham sets them up for an FA Cup final appetiser when they travel to Hull next Sunday.
Arsenal keep their Euro hopes alive with West Ham comeback
ARSENAL HAD TO come from behind to beat West Ham and keep their Champions League hopes alive this evening.
A poor run of form since the turn of the year has seen the Gunners fall from genuine title contenders to being in real danger of missing out on Europe’s elite club competition for the first time in 17 years.
However, a Lukas Podolski brace inspired Arsene Wenger’s side to a much needed 3-1 win and they leapfrog Everton to move into fourth place in the Premier League table. The Toffees — just one point behind — do have a game in hand though.
Arsenal looked anything but a Champions League team when Matthew Jarvis struck for the visitors late in the first half at the Emirates Stadium but the goal sprung the home side into life and Podolski grabbed his first of the game minutes later.
Jarvis’ goal:
https://vine.co/v/MJQE562IJlO
Olivier Giroud put them into the lead shortly after the break with a sublime touch — although there was more than a hint of a push in the back in the build up — and Podolski’s second in the closing stages guaranteed Arsenal their first win in five league games.
Podolski’s second:
https://vine.co/v/MJ2ezUY9UB2
Wenger had made five changes from the team that just barely got past Wigan on penalties in Saturday’s FA Cup semi-final, with Swedish midfielder Kim Kallstrom making his first start and Laurent Koscielny returning from injury.
But the Gunners had been underwhelming for long periods of that Wembley win over Championship opposition, prompting Wenger to suggest his team were guilty of complacency at times, and there were few signs of any improvement in the early stages against the Hammers.
However, the result was all that was important tonight and an eighth win in a row against West Ham sets them up for an FA Cup final appetiser when they travel to Hull next Sunday.
Additional reporting from AFP.
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