Arsenal still have Spurs in their sights

Arsenal 3 West Brom 1: Arsenal produced a determined display to see off relegation-haunted West Brom 3-1 at Highbury and keep alive their hopes of overhauling Tottenham to finish in the top four of the Premiership.

Following the disappointing midweek draw at Portsmouth, Arsene Wenger knew his side's destiny was no longer in their own hands - and there was certainly no room for error in the last few matches of the season.

But they almost paid for again not making the most of dominant possession, having taken the lead through Alexander Hleb on the stroke of half-time. Nigel Quashie smashed in a dramatic equaliser for the visitors with 18 minutes left.

But substitute Robert Pires stabbed the hosts back ahead before Dennis Bergkamp marked the day which had been dedicated in his honour with a third in stoppage time to ensure an all-or-nothing showdown with Spurs here at Highbury next weekend.

Before that encounter, however, there is the small matter of a Champions League semi-final first leg against Villarreal - a route Wenger will hope proves not the only way back to playing elite European club football again next season.

It had been a positive start by the Gunners, with recalled Robin van Persie playing just behind captain Thierry Henry.

Arsenal finally took the lead with a minute to go to the break. Reyes fed Hleb on the edge of the area. The Belarus international skipped forwards before playing a neat one-two with Henry. The ball drifted wide to the left side of the box, with Hleb firing it back across Kuszczak and into the net.

At the start of the second half, Davies had to be alert to make a timely block to keep the on-rushing Van Persie away from a lose ball in the six-yard box. Kuszczak was fortunate after spilling a deep centre. Senderos looped the ball back into the danger area, but Paul Robinson was on hand to head clear.

Quashie then got in the way of Van Persie's 20-yard drive as Arsenal continued to press for a second goal. Henry robbed Clement on the right by-line, and cut the ball back towards Van Persie - but the Arsenal forward was crowded out.

It proved to be the last contribution of the skipper, who was replaced with 28 minutes left by Emmanuel Adebayor, Wenger clearly mindful of Wednesday night's European tie.

As the match entered the closing stages, you could sense the Highbury faithful were getting anxious, last week's draw with Pompey — when Arsenal had been 1-0 up and well in charge - still fresh in the memory.

Bergkamp was given a run-out for the final 19 minutes, replacing Van Persie, much to the delight of the crowd, many of whom had worn orange to mark the occasion, while Pires came on for Hleb.

It was West Brom, though, who then snatched an equaliser. A long punt forwards was headed down weakly by Senderos. Emmanuel Eboue failed to clear, with the loose ball falling into the path of Quashie.

Although Kolo Toure tried to close him down, the Baggies midfielder promptly drilled a low, 18-yard strike into the bottom right corner. Arsenal immediately went on the offensive, and scrambled themselves back in front with 14 minutes left.

Flamini's long diagonal ball found Adebayor in the right side of the box. His cut-back to Pires was drilled goalwards. The Baggies keeper saved well, only for Bergkamp to nip in and set-up Pires again, with the Frenchman stabbing the ball in at the second attempt.

Eboue looked to have caught Davies in the penalty area, but the referee was unmoved. Then, in stoppage time, Bergkamp produced a vintage strike from the edge of the box to seal victory with a fine chip.