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BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom: Arsenal sealed third place in thePremier League and a guaranteed spot in next season's ChampionsLeague as a pair of blunders by goalkeeper Marton Fulop sealed a3-2 victory at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. A mistake from Fulop, only in the side because of an injury to BenFoster, allowed Yossi Benayoun to hand the Gunners an early leadbut the Baggies responded with goals from Shane Long and GrahamDorrans. Andre Santos' strike shortly before half-time pulled ArseneWenger's side level and Laurent Koscielny capitalised on anotherFulop error to earn the most slender of victories in a pulsatingfinal-day encounter. The win ensured Arsenal held onto third, a place and a point abovenorth London rivals Tottenham, who now face a tense wait to see ifChelsea win next weekend's Champions League final against BayernMunich -- which would rob Spurs of a spot in Europe's elite clubcompetition. It was a disappointing end to a superb 16-month spell with theBaggies for boss Roy Hodgson, who expressed his gratitude to fansin his programme notes as he now turns his attention to leadingEngland into Euro 2012. There was no place in the Albion line-up for Foster in what was thefinal game of his loan spell from Birmingham after the goalkeeperpicked up a suspected groin injury in training on Saturday. It meant a Baggies Premier League debut for understudy Fulop andhis worst nightmares were realised within four minutes. In an attempt to dispossess Robin van Persie, James Morrisonstabbed the ball back towards his own goal, however Fulop'sattempts to usher it into his area ended in disaster as he stumbledto leave Benayoun with goal at his mercy. Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was more solid and did well toturn away a vicious low drive from Marc-Antoine Fortune whichthreatened to creep inside his near post away for a corner. However, the Baggies only had to wait until the 12th minute fortheir leveller. Morrison dissected the Gunners defence with a threaded through passand Long, who appeared to be left onside by Carl Jenkinson, strodethrough to steer a precise shot low into the left corner. Then, three minutes later the game was turned upside down, as theBaggies moved ahead. Morrison was responsible for another fine assist as Dorrans headedhis Scotland team-mate's clipped pass to his right to evadeJenkinson and Koscielny before planting a superb half-volley lowbeyond Szczesny. Wenger struggled to hide his frustration on the touchline but theGunners levelled on the half-hour mark. Youssouf Mulumbu was dispossessed by Alex Song midway in theBaggies half and he fed Santos, who outfoxed Simon Cox beforeunleashing a stinging low shot which Fulop's outstretched hand wasunable to prevent creeping inside his right post. Theo Walcott was introduced in place of Tomas Rosicky upon theresumption and within 10 minutes the Gunners were ahead againcourtesy of another calamitous error from Fulop. Van Persie's corner looked routine enough for the Baggiesgoalkeeper, yet he somehow managed to punch the ball behind him toallow Koscielny to scramble home the Gunners' third - much to thefrustration of his Albion team-mates. Wenger will desperately hope this was not Van Persie's finalappearance in a Gunners shirt, yet although the skipper did not addanother goal to his tally for the season he did make a tellingcontribution when he hooked a Jonas Olsson header off the line asWest Brom sought another equaliser. -AFP/ac. The e-commerce company in China offers quality products such as China Manual Ice Crushers , Whipped Cream Dispenser Manufacturer, and more. For more , please visit Stainless Steel Pepper Mill today!
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