LONDON: Arsenal came from behind to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League as Lukas Podolski’s double inspired a vital 3-1 win over West Ham United on Tuesday and moved the FA Cup finalists provisionally back into the top four.

Arsene Wenger’s side are in danger of failing to reach Europe’s elite club competition for the first time in 17 years after a miserable run saw them surrender fourth place to Everton.

The Gunners needed a victory over their London rivals to climb back into fourth, but their European bid looked in dire straits when Matthew Jarvis struck for the visitors in the 40th minute at the Emirates Stadium when he nodded home a loose ball in the area.

But Germany international Podolski equalised before the break with a superb low strike and Arsenal, coming off their penalty-shootout win against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday, dominated the second-half.

Olivier Giroud made amends for an earlier miss by showing off a delicate touch in the area to put Arsenal ahead in the 55th.

When Thomas Vermaelen lofted a high ball into the penalty area, Giroud was buffeted by Winston Reid and Andy Carroll, but he was strong enough to hold off his assailants and control the dropping ball expertly before lashing home from close-range.

Podolski finished off the win in the 78th in emphatic fashion, driving home a lethal finish after he was picked out with a header by substitute Aaron Ramsey.

The result takes Arsenal up a spot to fourth on 67 points with four games left, one place and one point ahead of Everton who have a game in hand as the Champions League qualification race hots up.

“It was a hard-fought win, but a very, very important one,” Wenger said. “The key was to score just before half-time. In the second-half we controlled well the game.

“Maybe we could have scored more, I was satisfied with the mental response of the team tonight, the focus tonight of the team was outstanding.”

Having led the Premier League for much of the season, Arsenal’s capitulation since late January has been so drastic they have gone from title contenders to a side struggling to earn a place in Europe’s elite competition.

Before the visit of West Ham they had picked up eight points from 21 while the form of Everton, who have won seven straight games including a 3-0 win over Arsenal earlier this month, means the Gunners face a real scrap to secure qualification.

The win ended a run of four league games without a victory for Arsenal and Podolski immediately turned his attention to the next league game at FA Cup final opponents Hull City on Sunday as they aim for for a 17th straight Champions League campaign.

“The Champions League is very important and we must focus on the next game to ensure that we can qualify,” he told Sky Sports.

“The FA Cup is after the season, we leave it now and we focus on the Premier League because everyone wants to play in the Champions League. The atmosphere is amazing and it is important for the club.”