Albion 2 Arsenal 3

A horror-show from stand-in keeper Marton Fulop ensured a losing end to Roy Hodgson's Albion reign.

The Hungary international committed two howlers and made another error as Arsenal claimed the win they needed to clinch third place in the Premier League.

But a spirited effort from Albion's players gave Hodgson hope of a winning end to his 16 month reign – which now ends as he takes on the England manager's job.

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Shane Long cancelled out Yossi Benayoun's early opener for the Gunners before a fabulous goal by Graham Dorrans put the Baggies ahead.

But Andre Santos equalised for the visitors before the interval and Fulop's horrible error allowed Laurent Koscielny to grab the Arsenal winner from close-range.

Albion were behind on four minutes when Fulop misjudged a backpass on the edge of the area and Benajoun stole in to find the empty net for Arsenal.

But it took just seven minutes for the hosts to draw level as Long raced clear of the Arsenal defence to collect James Morrison's through-ball and plant a low shot past Wojciech Szczesny.

And it got better for Hodgson's men just four minutes later as Morrison lifted a pass over the Gunners' backline and Dorrans produced two exquisite touches to beat Szczesny and make it 2-1.

The visitors were level on the half-hour, however, as Youssouf Mulumbu was robbed 30 yards from goal and Alex Song's pass found Santos, whose curling shot beat a disappointed Fulop at his near post.

And another howler from the keeper gifted a third goal to Arsenal 10 minutes after the interval when he fluffed a punch from a corner and Koscielny forced in the loose ball.

Albion twice went close to another equaliser, first when Robin van Persie cleared Jonas Olsson's goalbound header off the line and then when Szczesny saved smartly from substitute Keith Andrews' 20-yard drive.

And in stoppage time they had a clear sight of goal when Jonas Olsson released Billy Jones but the full-back was denied by a fabulous challenge by Kieran Gibbs.