My Reactions After : WBA vs Arsenal (EPL)

For the last match before the international break, Arsenal travelled to the hawthorns again, this time for a premier league fixture. Not more than two weeks ago, we had travelled to the same stadium for a league cup tie where our young guns came out smiling with a hard fought victory after penalties.

Being a Premier league fixture, this trip had the regular first team players in action. Having defeated the defending champions Manchester United at Old Trafford after 29 years, West Bromwich were not short of confidence by any means. We have also been having a good run and this was a contest between 2 teams which were confident, and in form.

First half kicked off. It seemed a better start than their previous meeting in the cup tie and both the teams were going at each other. Arsenal's fatigue was noticeable and they were torpid. We spent the first quarter of the game trying to win the battle of the crowded midfield than creating chances to score a goal.

First shot at goal was from the Baggies and it was taken by supposed Arsenal target Saido Berahino. The shot took a deflection, but Wojo was alert and made a good save. Flamini got yet another yellow for an untimely tackle on Amalfitano, leaving him one card away from a game suspension.

The first goal came in the 42^nd minute when the baggies won back-to-back corners attacking through gunners’ left flank. All the pressure built by West Bromwich paid off with a header guided into the goal by Yacob. Initially the corner was defended with a short clearance which didn't give enough time for the defenders to regroup. Amalfitano put in a cross which found unmarked Yacob, and punished arsenal for some sloppy defending with a well guided header. West Brom led the game at halftime by a goal to nil.

Wilshere had a very poor first half. Looked weak at times out on the left and didn't offer enough width. Many mistimed tackles and lost possession very often. Everyone expected Wenger to take him off after a bizarre first half by the English lad.

Starting the second half with a goal behind, Arsenal had a lot of work to do to go past the resilient Baggies. Arsenal’s defence was exposed a couple of times, but the baggies couldn't capitalise, Anelka being the culprit on both occasions. For the first one, Berahino's fancy footwork took him past the defenders and he passed to Anelka who missed the easiest of chances. The second one was a shot curled outside of the post by Le Sulk again.

For Arsenal, Wilshere had a chance inside the box, but it was stolen by a good tackle from behind. Though it looked like a penalty at first, replays showed that the referee got that one right in a day of bizarre decisions against us. Our talisman Rambo had an off-day and when he went down with a troubled knee, all gooners around the world had their hearts in their mouths. It didn't look bad and he was up and playing before being replaced by Rosicky. 

As mentioned earlier, Jack had a very poor game, but his determination was evident in the second half and he got us the much needed equalizer.  Ozil, was the one who started the move by getting possession back from the baggies and fed the ball to Giroud. Now, Giroud this amazing ability to hold off defenders and provide delicate first touches and he threaded a good ball to Rosicky. Rosicky's job was simple - pass the ball to Jack who stuck a low volley, much to the joy of the travelling fans at Hawthorns and millions of gooners watching around the world.  Though Myhill’s foot helped deflecting Wilshere’s shot towards goal, the strike was venomous and on target.

Wilshere's goal against WBA

The game was far from over, with both teams missing chances at either end. Berahino continued to trouble Arsenal and Wojo was forced to make a save by Billy Jones’ screamer. At the other end, Giroud had a very good chance when he was fed with a superb chipped through ball by Wilshere, only to be saved by the keeper in the end. Last quarter of the game could have led either of the teams to victory, but was destined to end at 1-1 and that's how it did.

Both teams had contrasting approaches with the baggies creating goal scoring opportunities from set pieces while the gunners mostly relied on counter attacks. Poor finishing meant that a decent game finished with a decent point a piece. 

Berahino was the best player on the pitch for West Brom whereas Ozil was brilliant in the second half for Arsenal. Jack had a game of completely different halves. Le Sulk and Jenkinson were the flops of the match, the former for missing easy chances and the latter for some poor defending and Yacob's goal.

We still remain at the top of the table going into the break and all that we can do now is pray that none of our lads get injured and wait for the return of Santi, Theo and Poldi. A midfield of Rambo, Flamini, Santi, Ozil and Theo should strike fear in all the other teams and is a mouthwatering prospect for purists and gooners all around. 

Come on You Gunners!