LONDON — Oliver Giroud netted a double, Lukas Podolski scored and set up three more as rampant Arsenal closed the gap on the Champions League positions by thumping West Ham United 5-1 in their rearranged Premier League match Wednesday. Arsenal, finding a spark and much-needed self-belief after successive league defeats by title-chasing Manchester City and Chelsea, ran riot with four goals in 12 mad minutes after the break having fallen behind in the first half to Jack Collison's goal. Podolski, recalled after illness, quickly leveled with a superb strike from 25 meters. Giroud's volley made it 2-1 soon after the restart before German international Podolski, causing mayhem on the left flank, set up Santi Cazorla, Theo Walcott and Giroud to leave shell-shocked West Ham 5-1 down before the hour. West Ham was forced to play with 10 men for the final 18 minutes after substitute Daniel Potts was carried off on a stretcher with a serious-looking leg injury following lengthy treatment on the pitch. Arsenal stays sixth but is now one point behind Everton and four behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur after 23 games. West Ham, with one league win in its last eight, remains 12th. Swansea in Cup final Swansea City reached its first major English final after holding Chelsea at bay in the second leg of their League Cup semifinal to win 2-0 on aggregate Wednesday. After securing a shock 2-0 win at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago, the Welsh club put in a resilient rearguard display to draw 0-0 in front of their jubilant fans. Swansea will face fourth tier Bradford City in the final at Wembley Stadium on Feb. 24. Chelsea probed throughout but struggled to create clear-cut chances while Swansea had a great opportunity to put the tie to bed early in the first half when Michu raced through on goal but could not beat Chelsea keeper Petr Cech. Chelsea's unhappy evening was compounded late on when playmaker Eden Hazard was sent off for trying to kick the ball away from a ballboy who was lying on top of it. Television replays showed the ballboy being led off along the edge of the pitch, clutching his ribs. It isn't thought that he resumed his duties. — Agencies
