Post-Match Report

West Brom 1-1 Arsenal - Report

13/14: West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Arsenal - Jack Wilshere
Jack Wilshere

West Bromwich Albion -

The Hawthorns
Barclays Premier League
Barclays Premier League
  West Bromwich Albion
      
              Claudio Yacob (42)
          
   crest
West Bromwich Albion
Claudio Yacob (42)
1 1
  Arsenal
      
                  Jack Wilshere (63)
            
   crest
Arsenal
Jack Wilshere (63)

THE OVERVIEW

Arsenal returned to the top of the Premier League with a 1-1 draw at West Brom on Sunday.

The stalemate sees the end of a record-breaking run of 12 straight away wins but, on the day, the point was hard-earned.

Claudio Yacob headed the hosts in front three minutes before half-time from Morgan Amalfitano’s cross.

West Brom might have added to their advantage just after the interval but, on 63 minutes, Arsenal leveled when substitute Tomas Rosicky's touchback was battered into the net by Jack Wilshere from 25 yards.

Both sides had chances to grab all three points but, in the end, one apiece was fair.

TEAM NEWS

Arsène Wenger made two changes from the side that had beaten Napoli so comprehensively on Tuesday. Bacary Sagna dropped out with a hamstring injury so Carl Jenkinson replaced him at right back.

Elsewhere, Wilshere came in for Rosicky.

FIRST HALF

The opening stages were cagey. Neither side had much to show for their efforts in the first 15 minutes.

Mikel Arteta’s shot deflected wide off Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey blazed a free-kick high over the bar.

On 16 minutes, Saido Berahino’s effort from distance glanced off Mathieu Flamini and looked likely to beat the wrong-footed Wojciech Szczesny. However the Polish keeper recovered wonderfully well to tip the ball away.

Gradually Arsenal turned the screw and began to exert a measure of control in this open, entertaining game.

Gareth McAuley tipped the ball away as the onrushing Giroud burst through.

Wilshere fired wide and then, on the half-hour, Ramsey drilled a low shot through a crowded area. Myhill made a fine reaction save and the West Brom defence cleared away the danger.

After Stephane Sessegnon’s goalbound shot was blocked both sides began to look for the sanctuary of half- time.

Then came the goal.

Amalfitano’s corner was returned out wide. The Frenchman tossed his cross to the near post where Yacob headed home.

On the balance of play it was hard on Arsenal but now they had to respond.

SECOND HALF

Both sides carved out clear opportunities at the start of the second half.

Within seconds of the whistle, Berahino’s excellent low cross hit Nicolas Anelka at the far post when the Frenchman had the goal at his mercy. Szczesny smothered the loose ball.

Seconds later, Wilshere went clear on the left of area and blazed over. He was fouled by Billy Jones as he let fly. On another day it would have been a penalty.

In the 52nd minute, Liam Ridgwell sent Anelka racing down the left. The Frenchman cut inside, steadied himself and curled an effort inches beyond the far post.

West Brom clearly fancied their task and the Arsenal defence was creaking.

Wenger mixed it up by bringing on Rosicky for Ramsey. It made an immediate difference.

Within four minutes the visitors were level. Ozil battled for the ball just outside his own area and fed Giroud in the right-hand channel. The Frenchman returned the ball to Rosicky who then fed Wilshere to leather a shot past Myhill from 25 yards. An astounding strike.

Arsenal were a side transformed. They put pressure on the West Brom goal but the visitors soaked it up and responded themselves.

Billy Jones produced a powerful drive at goal but Szczesny batted it aside. Then Amalfitano was repelled.

In the 76th minute, Wilshere picked out Giroud racing through and the Frenchman looked to have rounded Myhill but the keeper recovered superbly to block. Then the Englishman thought he had been fouled by Youssouf Mulmbu just inside the area but replays proved referee Lee Mason had called it correctly.

In the dying minutes, Nicklas Bendtner came on to make his first Premier League appearance since August 2011.

Arsenal ended the game slightly the better side but the hosts had earned their share of the spoils.

Referee: Lee Mason
Attendance: 24839

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