Arsenal beat West Ham and show Everton they will not give up Champions League qualification battle

Arsenal knew this was going to be a tough week. Pretty much everybody is writing them off, and after an extra time (and penalties) battle against Wigan at the weekend, many viewed their Tuesday make-up game against West Ham as a potential banana skin on their path to qualifying for the UEFA Champions League. As their wheels have recently started to fall off, Everton have picked up the pace, and although we don't have a clue how the race will finish, it looks like it's going to be one crazy ride, with both teams battling until the end.

West Ham took an early lead, scoring through Matt Jarvis, but Arsenal quickly replied through Lukas Podolski. He also netted near the end of the game, making it 3-1 to Arsenal, and from that point it looked merely a matter of time until Arsenal collected their 3 points.

West Ham had little to play for, as they're stuck in the midst of the twenty teams. They cannot finish much higher, and it looks incredibly unlikely that they will re-enter the relegation battle, so this encounter gave them the chance to relax and attempt to enjoy their football at long last.

It's been a rocky period for Arsene Wenger's men, but after wins against Wigan and West Ham, he and his team might, might just finish the season in a positive manner. Although Arsenal at one time looked like they could win the Premier League, their hopes faded away, but a positive end may just save Wenger's job, and then they might finally realize they need to invest in quality across the squad.