LAST week Arsenal announced that Dennis Bergkamp's testimonial match - against his former club Ajax -is set to be the first game played at their new Emirates Stadium in July.

They also dedicated yesterday's Premiership game against West Bromich Albion to the veteran Dutchman who turns 37 in May and has played more than 400 times for the club.

But while the stadium was awash with orange as the home fans donned the colour of Bergkamp's native Holland to pay tribute to the Dutchman's 11-year spell at Highbury, the man himself was determined to prove that he is not just yesterday's man, and gave a stirring performance when he came off the bench late in the second half to rescue the game and keep alive Arsenal's hopes of securing fourth place in league and a coveted Champions' League spot.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger maintained his rotation policy for the visit of West Brom. Philippe Senderos, Emmanuel Eboue, Gilberto, Alexander Hleb and Robin van Persie - in place of misfiring Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor - all returned to the starting line-up following the midweek draw at Portsmouth. Sol Campbell was out again following surgery on his broken nose, but there was a place on the bench for Bergkamp on the bench. West Brom were captained by former Gunners striker Kanu, who came into the side along with Martin Albrechtsen as they looked to pull off a shock result and move out of the bottom three.

With victory imperative to their hopes of a top-four finish, it was a positive start by the home side - with Van Persie playing just behind captain Thierry Henry. On four minutes, the Dutchman released midfielder Abou Diaby into the right side of the area. But he elected to cut the ball back rather than shoot, and the ball was easily cleared. Senderos put Mathieu Flamini away down the left flank. The stand-in full-back took a touch inside before driving a low shot goalwards from 20 yards, which Tomasz Kuszczak saved comfortably. Arsenal were well in control, though, and it looked only a matter of time before the home side made their dominance count.

After 22 minutes, Van Persie and Henry combined to set up Reyes from 14 yards.

His goal-bound strike, however, was deflected behind by Neil Clement. A precision pass from Gilberto put Henry in on 29 minutes. The Arsenal captain held off the attentions of Curtis Davies, and drew the keeper before slotting the ball past him, but also agonisingly just the wrong side of the post.

Arsenal finally took the lead with a minute left in the half. Reyes fed Hleb on the edge of the area and the Belarus international skipped forwards before playing a neat one-two with Henry. The ball drifted wide to the left side of the box but Hleb hammered it high into the net at the near post.

Arsenal continued where they had left off after the break, and Wenger felt confident enough to take Henry off ahead of this week's Champions' League semifinal against Villarreal. He was replaced by Adebayor.

Bergkamp was also given a run-out for the final 19 minutes, replacing Van Persie, while Robert Pires came on for Hleb.

And then West Brom then snatched an unlikely equaliser. A long punt forwards was headed down weakly by Senderos. Eboue failed to clear, with the loose ball falling into the path of Nigel Quashie. Although Kolo Toure tried to close him down, the midfielder promptly drilled a low, 18-yard strike into the bottom right corner.

Arsenal immediately went on the offensive, and scrambled back in front with 14 minutes left. Flamini's long diagonal ball found Adebayor in the right side of the box. His cut-back to Pires was drilled goalwards. The West Brom keeper saved well, only for Bergkamp to nip in and setup Pires again, with the Frenchman stabbing the ball in at the second attempt.

But the day belonged to Bergkamp and he sealed the win with a trademark curling shot from just outside the area at the end.

Next up in the league is an all-or-nothing showdown with Spurs here at Highbury next weekend.Before that encounter, however, there is the small matter of a Champions' League match against Villarreal in - a route Wenger will hope proves not the only way back to playing elite European club football again next season.