West Brom 2-1 ArsenalHome team scorersJames Morrison 35
Mikel Arteta 40 o.g.
Away team scorersOlivier Giroud 28
Arsenal have grown used to suffering away to Tony Pulis’s teams and this trip to the Hawthorns proved to be as chastening as their visits to Pulis’ Stoke tended to be. Things started deceptively well for Arsène Wenger’s team, who went in front thanks to Olivier Giroud, but James Morrison quickly equalised for the hosts before Mikel Arteta sent the decisive strike into his own goal. Santi Cazorla fell over as he attempted to secure a draw for Arsenal with a late penalty.
The callous chill around the Hawthorns confirmed the arrival of winter, while the vigorous security checks on the way into the ground spoke of a sad new reality following the terrorist attacks in France.
As for the entertainment, there was no sign of Pulis turning over a new leaf. Some Albion fans had grumbled about the no-frills football served up so far this season but omitting Saido Berahino was evidence that the hosts were not about to start erring on the side of adventure as they sought their first home win over Arsenal in a decade.
Albion adopted their familiar posture from the start, immediately filing backwards and allowing Arsenal possession. Arsenal’s challenge was to plot a path through the massed defence and to guard against quick counter-attacks. The visitors failed in both parts. There was an early indication of their vulnerability to counter-attacks when the impressive James McClean, starting as he would continue, darted between Alexis Sánchez and Héctor Bellerín in the seventh minute before curling a dangerous pass across the face of goal. No Albion player was near enough to goal to take the chance.
Pulis’s plan looked to be undone by nothing more cunning than a well-flighted set-piece. Sánchez had gone close from a free-kick in the 15th minute – Boaz Myhill saving the Chilean’s 20-yard drive – and then, in the 28th, another free-kick led to Giroud nodding Arsenal into the lead. Albion defenders were conspicuous by their inertia as the striker met Mesut Özil’s delivery from 10 yards.
Now the onus was on Albion to conjure something special. Or retort through a free-kick of their own, which is what they did just seven minutes later. Chris Brunt curled in one every bit as sweet as Özil’s and Arsenal defended every bit as badly as Albion, allowing Morrison to fire first-time into the far corner from 10 yards.
The creation of Albion’s second goal was more artful even if it started with Özil being pestered into surrendering possession near half-way. Salomón Rondón and McClean then combined neatly before the Irishman pinged a cross from the byline to the near post and Arteta inadvertently bundled it into his own goal.
Arteta had been introduced as an early substitute for the injured Francis Coquelin. However, a more significant factor as Arsenal sought a way back into the game was the enforced absences of several fast and creative players, such as Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Aaron Ramsey. Arteta, meanwhile, lasted a little more than half an hour, being replaced by Mathieu Flamini early in the second half.
Arsenal had almost equalised just prior to that, Özil latching on to a breaking ball in the box before unleashing a shot that bounced back off the post.
Arsenal’s injury problems have precluded Wenger from resting Sánchez but the Chilean was making light of his heavy workload and a brilliant run by him in the 53rd minute created a chance for Kieran Gibbs. But Craig Dawson blocked superbly.
Albion did more than merely defend, with Rondón and McClean causing occasional panic in the Arsenal rearguard.
Wenger’s last throw of the dice was to cast on Joel Campbell after an hour, and the winger was soon presented with an ideal opportunity to make an impact. A slip by Brunt allowed a pass by Santi Cazorla to land at the feet of the Costa Rican six yards from goal – but Campbell stuck out his foot with all the conviction of a shopper unsure about tripping a fleeing thief, and he wafted the ball away from goal.
Jonas Olsson almost added a third for Albion but his header from a corner hit the underside of the crossbar. Arsenal were then given another chance to salvage a point, the referee pointing to spot after Sánchez tumbled under a challenge by brunt. Cazorla’s slipped as he about to connect with the penalty, sending the ball high over the bar and summing up Arsenal’s woes.
Guardian
