Gunners put three past sorry Baggies

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 Barclays 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.

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

After four minutes, the Dutchman released midfielder Abou Diaby into the right side of the area, but he elected to cut the ball back rather than shoot and the ball was easily cleared.

Philippe Senderos put Mathieu Flamini away down the left flank. The stand-in full-back took a touch inside before driving a low shot goalwards from 20 yards, which Tomasz Kuszczak saved comfortably.

There was a warning, though, on 10 minutes when Quashie latched onto a loose ball and fired in a 25-yard strike which flew just wide of Jens Lehmann's left-hand post.

After 22 minutes, Van Persie and Henry combined, albeit after a comical moment of misunderstanding between the Arsenal pair, to set up Jose Antonio Reyes from 14 yards.

His goal-bound strike, however, was deflected behind by Neil Clement.

A precision throughball from Gilberto put Henry in on 29 minutes.

The Arsenal captain held off the attentions of Curtis Davies, and drew the keeper before slotting the ball past him - but also agonisingly just the wrong side of the left-hand post.

A sweeping left-wing cross from Van Persie was met on the half-volley by Gilberto at the far post - but the ball cannoned into the ground and took the pace off his shot as Kuszczak saved.

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.