bendtner double secure three points

Nicklas Bendtner scored twice to justify Arsene Wenger's decision to drop Robin van Persie for the Premier League clash at the Hawthorns.
Arsenal boss Wenger dropped van Persie to the bench as his side set out to end their run of four league games without a goal, with Bendtner given a starting role.

And the big Dane netted to give Gunners a victory that closes the gap on fourth-placed Villa to three points.

Bendtner scored his first when he cut inside and sent a miss-hit shot past Scott Carson early in the first half.

Baggies hit back almost immediately as Chris Brunt fired home with a 25-yard free-kick that could have been dealt with better.

But Bendtner scored moments before half-time to make it 3-1 to Gunners, his strike adding to one moments earlier from Kolo Toure.

Toure headed home an Andrei Arshavin free-kick and then Bendtner added a well-taken third, controlling Toure's pass on his knee before rifling the ball into the net.

Arsenal were forced into a change at half-time with Toure not coming back out because of a calf injury. He was replaced by Abou Diaby.

Wenger made four changes - one of them enforced - from the side held to a goalless draw by Fulham.

Johan Djourou replaced injured central defender William Gallas (ankle) while Bendtner, Emmanuel Eboue and Alex Song came into the side at the expense of van Persie, Carlos Vela and Abou Diaby, who were among the substitutes.