West Brom vs. Arsenal review – Tough draw takes Gunners back to top

Arsenal headed to the Hawthorns looking to record a
phenomenal eight straight league wins on the road.
Their opponents West Brom, however, were coming
off the back of a very good performance and win
away to last season's Champions Man United, so this
was always going to be a tough test. Sagna had
joined the lengthy injury list, so Jenkinson came in,
as did Wilshere after a little rest in midweek. Wenget
stuck with the system that worked so well against
Napoli, with both Arteta and Flamini sitting deep and
Ramsey and Jack pushed wider.
It was not the blistering start we are used to,
although Arsenal were controlling the ball for the
most part. West Brom nearly took the lead early on,
when a shot was deflected wickedly, but Szczesny
was alert and made a great save. Ramsey then found
Gibbs making a great run down the left but the
Englishman blazed his shot over. Clear cut chances
were hard to come by though, as West Brom were
well set up and working hard, but we were getting
closer all the time. Wilshere was having a hard time
on the left, both in attack and defence, and he also
picked up a yellow card just before halftime,
probably due to frustration.
Towards the end of the first half, West Brom started
to ramp up the pressure, and a series of free kicks
and corners eventually led to Yakob opening the
scoring with a header. So Wenger had to make an
unfamiliar team talk at the break. He perhaps should
have changed things, but he sent the same XI out for
the second half.
Arsenal were cut apart right at the start and should
have been two down, but Anelka messed it up. Then
straight down the other end, Giroud found Wilshere
who seemed to have scuffed his shot but the replay
suggests he was fouled and should have got a
penalty. We were struggling to make any headway,
though, and Ramsey looked like he had taken a
knock so was replaced by Rosicky just before the
hour mark.
It was not looking good though, and West Brom were
beginning to win every 50-50 ball, but Arsenal have
class. A sweeping counter attack finished on the boot
of Jack Wilshere and the young man put every ounce
of frustration into his shot and drilled the ball past
Myhill.
Wilshere later produced a fantastic pass to set Giroud
free, but the Frenchman was denied by a brilliant
piece of keeping. Szczesny also had to make a few
sharp saves during the match, and we seem to have
the Pole back to his best. Honours even and that was
about right, but Spurs lost and the point was enough
to take Arsenal back to the top of the Premier
League.
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