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Arsenal's Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey (L) vies with West Ham's Swiss striker Fabio Daprela (R) during their FA Cup third round football match against West Ham at Upton Park, London. Arsenal won 2-1.

Arsene Wenger's side were heading out at the first hurdle with 12 minutes to play at Upton Park as they laboured to recover from Alessandro Diamanti's first half strike.

But the Gunners finally found enough rhythm in the closing moments to equalise through Aaron Ramsey before Eduardo capped their fightback by heading in the winner that justified Wenger's decision to make five changes ahead of Wednesday's crucial league game against Bolton.

Wenger said: "We had a very difficult first half against a committed West Ham. They were well organised and won many 50-50s, then we got caught on the break just before half-time.

"In the second half we played at a higher tempo, West Ham dropped a bit physically and we could make the difference in the final 20 minutes."

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola added: "We were very close, I am pleased with the performance of the team. I couldn't ask for anything more.

"The difference was in the first 15 or 20 minutes of the second half we had so many opportunities and we couldn't close the game. Even so their first goal was a little bit lucky."

A victory over Bolton will take Arsenal to within one point of Premier League leaders Chelsea, so Wenger fielded a much-changed team with Fran Merida, Jack Wilshere, Carlos Vela, Mikael Silvestre and Lukasz Fabianski handed rare starts.

Unlike Wenger, Zola had no option but to send out a weakened side. Scott Parker and Carlton Cole were injured, while Mexican striker Guillermo Franco served a suspension, so the Italian gave first starts to England Under-19 forward Frank Nouble and teenage defender Fabio Daprela.

It was Arsenal who made the brighter start and Robert Green was tested when James Tomkins carelessly gifted possession to Eduardo and he rifled in a low snap-shot that the England goalkeeper pushed away for a corner.

Arsenal's dominance was short-lived however as Zola's side, working tirelessly to deny the Gunners time on the ball, took control of midfield.

Diamanti appealed for a penalty when his powerful effort hit Thomas Vermaelen on the arm, but the contact appeared accidental and referee Mark Clattenburg ignored the striker's claims.

Junior Stanislas went close for the Hammers with a dipping free-kick that just cleared Fabianski's crossbar before Diamanti's curling effort drew a good stop from the Polish keeper.

Vermaelen shot wildly over after Green spilled a cross and the Hammers made Arsenal pay for their erratic display in first half stoppage time.

Valon Behrami played a superb defence-splitting pass to Diamanti, who ran clear on goal before sliding a low shot under Fabianski's weak attempted save.

Zola's team are hovering precariously just above the relegation zone, but they were easily matching Arsenal and Stanislas went close to increasing their lead with a fierce long-range effort that Fabianski kept out at full-stretch.

Wenger, searching for a way to reignite his side's fire, sent on Samir Nasri and Abou Diaby for the last 25 minutes.

The changes proved decisive. Diaby almost made an immediate impact as he surged onto Eduardo's backheel and looked certain to score. But Green saved well from close-range and then recovered quickly to make an equally good stop to deny Alex Song from the rebound.

At last Arsenal looked a more formidable proposition. They pushed West Ham back and equalised in the 78th minute when Song and Vela played in Ramsey, who kept his composure to lash a fine finish past Green.

The momentum was with Wenger's team now and Eduardo ensured there would be no need for a replay when he met Vela's cross with a header that looped over Green into the top corner with seven minutes left.