Match Review: West Brom 1 -1 Arsenal

A good point from a slightly average performance in my opinion. We arrived at the Hawthorns having put together one of the most impressive runs of away wins in our history and as the form side in the league. After successfully negotiating one of the more tricky away fixtures at Swansea, I fully expected us to win, but with the way the game panned out I’m content with a point. Not delighted, just content and there are plenty of reasons to remain positive, not least of which is being top of the table (not joint top, top on our own) going into the international break.

The first half was rather stale to begin with, West Brom set up with a good strong shape and as everyone suspected, Yacob and Mulumbu set about squeezing our midfield. We found it difficult to create anything of note, Arteta had a shot deflected wide by Giroud and Jack fired wide after some nice passing play.

At the other end, Szczesny pulled off a stunning save after a West Brom shot took a large deflection off Flamini’s bum. Gibbs wasted a great chance to put us ahead and overall I think we had the better of the opening exchanges.

We just couldn’t find a killer pass and struggled to find pace with no out and out wingers. It didn’t help that the referee seemed to be happy to let West Brom kick seven shades out of Wilshere. He struggled in the first half, but mainly because he was never more than 30 seconds away from being kicked up in the air or barged over.

I was quite incredulous at points as to how they were getting away with blatantly fouling him time and time again and the referee’s performance reminded me worryingly of the Villa game.

As the half wore on West Brom started to look more threatening and we looked short on ideas and a little lackluster. Eventually, West Brom got the goal they’d been threatening. Jenkinson’s headed clearance fell to Mulumbu, who sent the ball back to the corner taker, Amalfitano. The winger crossed the ball and found Yacob unmarked in the six yard box and the midfielder headed in.

From our side, it was disappointing defending given how solid we’ve been recently. Arteta left Yacob to Jenkinson, but there seemed to be confusion over who should have been marking him. Mertesacker and Koscielny were marking the two centre backs who were still up from the corner, Gibbs was at the front to cut out any poor crosses with Arteta and Jenkinson towards the front post. Having watched a couple of times I think Jenks should have been the one to go with him, but really there seemed a lack of communication between all the defenders. Sloppy all round and it meant we’d conceded first for the first time this season and went into half time 1-0 down.

I was interested to see how we’d react to this unfamiliar scenario and the answer at the start of the second half seemed to be ‘not very well’. We had an early chance, Giroud playing to Wilshere who fired over, but should have had a penalty as he was taken out after he took his shot. It was a clear penalty, he was clattered, but I wasn’t surprised given the referee’s clear ‘anything goes on Wilshere’ stance. But after that we looked a bit sluggish and gave away two massive opportunities to Nicolas Anelka.

First he couldn’t gather a ball played across the six yard box, second he was played onside by Koscielny and ran clear of Mertesacker before bending a shot just wide. Two chances that could have killed us off, because we looked really ropey. Aaron Ramsey was withdrawn early in the second half, where most would have expected Wilshere to be subbed. The welshman got a knock in the first half and didn’t look right for the rest of the time he was on and he was replaced by Rosicky.

It was a slight surprise when we equalised, given how we’d struggled to create chances all game. The goal originated from some brilliant defensive work from Mesut Özil of all players. It was a pleasantly surprising facet of his game throughout and I was impressed with his work rate.

He won a ball he had no right to win, then skipped away from a challenge in midfield. He then played a gorgeous ball up to Giroud, who held up the ball well, turning inside to find Rosicky. Rosicky got a bit lucky, he fluffed the pass to Wilshere a little and it bobbled up in front of him.

Fortunately Jack got on top of the ball superbly and his low drive deflected past Myhill. About 70% quality play, 30% luck, but 100% what we and Jack in particular needed. Wilshere was looking a lot sharper in the second half and he was rewarded with a goal.

The goal changed the complexion of the game and we seemed to wake up a bit. We were the more likely team from there on out and Giroud, like Anelka, failed to convert from two good chances. Mesut Özil chipped a brilliant ball over the top of the Albion defense, but Giroud scuffed the volley well wide. A little while after that, Wilshere produced a quite stunning through ball, which split the defense and sent Giroud through, but the frenchman’s shot was smothered well by Myhill.

The striker will be unhappy not to have done better both times, but he should be just as unhappy that he didn’t have a chance from the spot, as in between the chances we were denied a stonewall penalty. Özil worked his magic down the right and cut the ball back to Wilshere, a couple of yards inside the area.

Just as Wilshere was about to shoot, Mulumbu crashed through the back of him, only taking the ball once he’d destroyed the England midfielder. I genuinely sat for about a minute, open mouthed, completely speechless. I don’t know when it became acceptable tackle from behind, on the wrong side of a player and go all the way through him to get the ball, but clearly Lee Mason had decided he didn’t like Jack and applied a completely new rule.

Frustratingly, that was it for chances, the game got a bit tense and I don’t think either side wanted to lose. We threw on Bendtner for a few minutes, I think he touched the ball once, but it ended in a draw. To be honest, it was a pretty fair result, West Brom had enough chances to think they could have won it and so did we and although it would have been great to go into the break with a win, I’m not at all disheartened.

The team has been magnificent in the face of a remarkable amount of injuries and early negativity from the transfer window and first day defeat. They’ve showed tremendous maturity and resolve to leave us in the best early season position we’ve been in for a long time. Top of the league, maximum points in the toughest Champions League group and one round of the Carling Cup negotiated.

All this and we still have five top quality players to come back; Sagna, Cazorla, Podolski, Chamberlain and Walcott. Hopefully 2 or 3 of those will be available very soon after the break and they’re returns will be important as we have some huge fixtures coming up soon, including two games against Dortmund and fixtures against Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United looming. Things seem to be progressing well and if we can continue this fantastic form, we’ll be in a strong position come January. See you on the other side of the aggressively boring international fixtures!

Stat(s) of the game: Lee Mason penalised Arsenal 11 times, compared to just 6 fouls given against West Brom. Mathieu Flamini picked up his 4th yellow card of the season from one of these fouls and will miss a game when he gets his 5th.

Teams

West Brom (4-2-3-1)Myhill, Ridgewell, Jones, McAuley, Olsson , Mulumbu, Amalfitano (Brunt 89′), Berahino, Yacob, Sessegnon (Morrison 78′), Anelka (Long 69′)

SubsBrunt, Lugano, Rosenberg, Popov, Morrison, Daniels, Long

Arsenal (4-2-3-1)Szczesny, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Flamini , Arteta, Ramsey (Rosicky 59′), Wilshere , Özil, Giroud (Bendtner 85′)

SubsFabianski, Rosicky, Miyaichi, Bendtner, Monreal, Vermaelen, Gnabry

Player Ratings

Szczesny7/10 - Made a stunning save early on, couldn’t do much to stop their goal

Jenkinson6/10 - Maybe at fault for the goal, did ok, but just ok

Mertesacker7/10 - Not giving Vermaelen any chance to get back in

Koscielny7/10 - Ditto

Gibbs7/10 - Ditto but replace Vermaelen with Monreal

Flamini7/10 - Shouted, pointed, tackled, got booked. Solid again

Arteta7/10 - Looked sharper than in midweek, getting back to his best

Wilshere7/10 - 5/10 first half, followed by an 8/10 second. Getting some very unfair stick

Özil8/10 - My man of the match for his hard work and quality for our goal

Ramsey6/10 - Never got into the game and went off after picking up a knock