Baggies Beaten As Gunners Go Back To Third
Apr 21st, 2016 by 'holic
As suggested in the preview Arsene Wenger opted to make three changes to the side that started against Crystal Palace. Per Mertesacker, Aaron Ramsey, and Olivier Giroud came in for Gabriel, Francis Coquelin, and Danny Welbeck in what looked a very attack-minded set-up.
The expected sparse crowd were in quiet mood until the sixth minute when Mohamed Elneny and Aaron Ramsey combined to feed Alexis thirty yards out. The Chilean spun out of a challenge and unleashed a fizzing right footer past Ben Foster from the edge of the box. The mood was instantly lifted.
Arsenal 1-0 WBA
Three minutes later Mesut Ozil saw his effort from Nacho Monreal’s cross blocked and Ramsey struck the follow-up wide. Alexis produced another moment of magic, controlling a ball on his chest and bursting forward only to overhit the pass to Elneny by a fraction.
Again Alexis attempted to turn provider with a lofted ball that just cleared Giroud in the inside-left channel. The Alexis masterclass was continued with a back heel to Hector Bellerin, the PFA right-back of the year, who charged into the box and fired just beyond the angle of post and bar.
The Baggies attempts to claw their way back into the contest were restricted to set pieces which the Gunners were dealing with comfortably enoughΒ until McAuley’s 29th minute header from a corner crashed off the crossbar and back into play.
At the other end Giroud put Bellerin through again but the young full-back missed the target once more. Then came an incredible string of opportunities in one concerted attack, the closest of which was Ozil’s shot which went through Foster’s legs but was cleared off the line by Dawson.
In the 38th minute Ramsey was brought down on the edge of the box. Alexis drove a wonderful free-kick through a gap in the wall created by Mertesacker and Giroud peeling away and the Gunners had the second goal they needed to calm the nerves.
Arsenal 2-0 WBA
A correct offside flag denied Giroud a much-needed goal and moments later McAuley picked up the first yellow card for grappling with the Frenchman. I will return to the topic of Jon Moss. Monreal was inches away from converting Ozil’s chipped crossfield pass as the hosts kicked into overdrive at the end of the half.
Giroud fired straight at Foster at the start of the second-half, then was denied a penalty when he was the meat in a central defenders’ sandwich but to be fair only he was appealing for the spot-kick. McClean’s header at the end of a rare Baggies break was comfortably saved by the alert Petr Cech. Back came Arsenal with Ozil just unable to reach a lofted ball from Alexis.
In the 59th minute Alex Iwobi was released by Ozil and went tumbling in the box. It looked a foul but the slow motion replay showed that contact was minimal and the lad had slipped. To be fair the only appeals came from the crowd. Next came an Elneny tumble in the box. Clearly Yacob had a piece of his shoulder, but the delayed fall probably didn’t help him.
Twice in a minute Ozil found himself clear at the far post only to be denied by the busy Foster. The ‘keeper then had to be on his toes to save from Iwobi from Giroud’s chest down. Then Alexis found Ramsey in the inside-right channel and the Welshman’s attempted cross almost turned into a chip in at the far post when he slipped as he played it. Arsenal survived a scare when Berahino prevented Cech from claiming a corner and Rondon missed the opportunity behind them both.
The much-vaunted walk-out on 75 minutes didn’t appear to materialise. Strangely the television coverage caught shots of people coming into the arena!
Arsene sent on Francis Coquelin to allow Iwobi to get a round of applause and a break, then Theo Walcott and Joel Campbell for the match winner Alexis and Ozil. Campbell set out to impress immediately, and was involved in an intricate move that ended with Foster making an instinctive save from an excellent Giroud effort. A minute later the striker again went close at full stretch. He cannot buy a goal at the moment.
A word for Jon Moss, much-maligned for his performance in the Leicester v West Ham match. You know I am not enamoured with the current clutch of PGMOL officials but I’ll be the first to admit I don’t think he got any decisions clearly wrong tonight. It made for a refreshing change so I’ll call the good performances as well as the stinkers.
So we are back in third place with much to play for in the final four matches. I wonder though what will be said at the next board meeting about a half-empty stadium tonight. We ‘ll worry about that another day. For tonight, read job well done.
66 Responses to “Baggies Beaten As Gunners Go Back To Third”
I it must be quiet if I get close to top
A win is a win
Dull game, three points, next … season please.
United win 2-0 and so do we. Nice to have a win and nice to see Alexis in a run of goalscoring form. We are in a decent position to push on to third especially if we can win on Sunday.
Best we can hope for is third to Leicester and a Watford Cup win
Ahoy!!
Great report `Holic, sorry for your loss. I know West Brom have nothing to play for but what’s the point of not even trying? I guess that’s Pulis way when relegation is avoided. At least they didn’t kick us too hard, so that’s that.
It’s reassuring to see Sanchez consistently back to his best, we dearly missed his magic in the second half of the season. On the other hand Giroud can’t buy a goal at the moment. Not sure what is happening to Cech but he really doesn’t inspire confidence these days. His misses could have been costly against a luckier team.
Dubs. Good news has reached me π
Now a teary night listening to Prince. The giants who shaped my life of music and entertainment are dropping at an alarming rate this year. π
There have been so many “minor” names to add to the big hitters too this year. People like Guy Hamilton, Douglas Wilmer, Adrienne Corri, Richard Bradford, Larry Drake.. the list goes on and on if you’re into your films, tv and music.
Well done Arsenal.
Just win the rest.
It looked like there were many empty seats, but then Thursday isn’t a proper night for football.
It’s exactly the same as Wednesday and Tuesday for football.
It looked like we played with some vim and vigor this evening. Had we got in the habit of doing that all season, we might also have got into the habit of garnering more than two goals a game from such dominance.
Still, four games left and 12 points to secure.
Cheers ‘holic.
Alexis bags brace to bash baggies and gives us a very welcome result in the current circumstances. A decent performance against dis-interested opponents but still concerning how we defend corners and remain profligate in front of goal.
Hopefully this will give us the impetus to push on for the last four games to cement 3rd place.
Goodbye, Uncle Mike.
RIP Prince. Another genius musician departs far too early. Was fortunate enough to see him in concert at Earls Court back yonder – he was just as brilliant live. No doubt up there with the greatest of them all.
It didn’t matter about scoring tonight, Uncle Mike? If he hadn’t we still be 4th with Manure breathing down our necks. Of course it fucking mattered. It was great to see Electrics Sanchez switched on again!
Once again Theo gets sent on with just minutes to go. If that isn’t a message nothing is. Expect to see him playing for the Hammers next season.
RIP the artist formerly known as Prince. A truly original musician loved by many.
Very dull second half. You’d think they were happy with a two-goal lead. I mean they couldn’t lose the points from there, right? Er…
Chris
If we get Β£25 million- ish for him I hope he is. Apart from the money I think he needs a fresh start for his own sake
Guess Alexis’ goal in the cup final didn’t matter then???
Parallel universe of Uncle Mike.
RIP PRINCE, ONE AND ONLY.
Cynic knows π
Chris – I think OX is much more West Ham material than Theo is.
Only because Theo is far the better player, Cynic. I still think he could have been Arsenal material with greater faith, but I fear it’s too late for both of them now.
Prince genius?!
Muddy and Rory are turning in their graves.
Level 3.
Lemmy too.
A big fan of both of them, but we do need to find ways to defend set-pieces and crosses better without Per and Giroud as next season they shouldn’t be automatic starters if we are to improve upon our current standings in PL and in Europe.
Iwobi and Giroud had quiet first halves but contributed to a few good moves in the second. Until we have a genuine update on Giroud — and we really should next season — I think he provides a better structure (primarily due to his hold-up play) to our attack compared to Danny against teams that are simply set up to frustrate us.
Rambo, despite a few typical delay in possession had one of his better matches in a very long time.
We really should have scored a few more. Monreal and Bellerin had otherwise excellent seasons but the quality of their final balls from the flanks have deteriorated alarmingly in recent months. The attack looked fluent and eye-catching, but the tentativeness and profligacy in front of the goal that had blighted our season was very much in evidence.
I thought Joel showed a lot of hunger and confidence in the seven odd minutes. It is obvious that Arsene doesn’t rate him that much but he has shown consistency and consistent improvement throughout the season, and has demonstrated not only abilities but great attitude to deserve a chance in the squad next year. Someone to learn from the sidelines and step in whenever needed.
Stan can’t even organise a walk-out with 75 minutes to plan it!
Now he’s got people moving in the wrong flaffin’ direction. Dodgy hair and a moustache that’s not worth a sniff. We need a real fan, not an owner who keeps the income stream rising through the roof so that we can buy megastars, but can’t organise a flaffin’ walk out.
Stan out. Wenger out. Everybody out. (NOT fuckin’ in). Boo Hoo.
Joel did indeed look energetic, Dr F, but couldn’t shoot straight or pass accurately enough in his admittedly short cameo to suggest he’s improved one iota since flattering to deceive earlier in the campaign. Another waste of space, imo, who should be preparing himself for the summer clear-out.
Dunno about the walk-out, but there seemed to be huge numbers of empty seats from the beginning of the match – the ‘official’ attendance only recognising seats sold, not how many actually attend.
Maybe we should make Totti an offer, Dr F? π
Chris, you’re aware that every team needs squad players, aren’t you?
I didn’t think he had what it takes at the beginning of the season and I’m still on the fence but objectively Campbell showed a lot of promise this season. Calling him a waste of space is both disrespectful and excessive.
Chris — Joel over the season has been one of the more probing passers in the opposition 3rd in his limited opportunity. Today he miscued one shot but otherwise was tidy, imaginative and very good at the one-twos around the box.
In his first full season for the club he has 4 goals and 6 assists, some of which are of top-class quality. He is tactically disciplined, puts in a tremendous effort and work-rate and evidently is hungry to prove himself. But most importantly he has shown consistent progress through the season. He is just 23 and unlike many of Arsenal home-growns has a surprising ability to stay fit. That is a very useful squad player with very interesting potential for growth. We are not going to have all 23 world-beaters in the team.
About Totti, he again scored two goals as a late sub to rescue a 3-2 victory for Roma. He is treating his beloved Roma fans to a farewell worthy of the legend he is. He is approaching 40, I won’t be surprised if he doesn’t hang up his boots altogether instead of going for a last paycheck in America. Both him and De Rossi at their promp would have looked great in Arsenal colors.
Matt @ 31: Many Arsenal fans were not and still are not convinced of Joel, but I always thought he has a very promising combination of qualities for someone so young: pace, skills on the ball, but more surprisingly tactical discipline and a very encouraging work-rate. As this season has amply demonstrated, in absence of the latter two a top-level career in football no longer is sustainable.
@32… I meant “I won’t be surprised if he hangs up his boots…” π
Doctor Faustus, I share your analysis and from browsing other forums it seems a lot of fans are wondering why he is not given more playing opportunity. Certainly deserves a second season to prove his worth and a better squad player than many we’ve had in the past, if only for his resilience to injury.
Matt @ 35: Thanks. We often overlook for a young player how important resilience, work-rate and consistent progress is compared to erratic flashes of brilliance. Alexis and his first two full seasons for Udinese was a great example. Initially he wasn’t very convincing in the highly tactical serie-A even though he arrived with lot of promise from his success in Argentina, but he progressed steadily and that attitude and work-rate meant even when he was missing sitters and misplacing passes one could see that the potential is much greater…before he burst onto the scene in his third season in tandem with Di Natale.
I imagine a number of teams in the Prem could find room for JC, Matt, but I don’t see him as the answer to any of the questions we have currently. I know we can do better.
I wasn’t serious about Totti, Dr F. A great player in his prime and I hope he retires with dignity rather than making a twat of himself at Leicester.
Better for Totti to take the American money, Dr F, or better still to follow Alessandro Del Piero to Australia where the latter played 2012-2014 at about the age Totti is now. Del Piero was a huge success, often a class above the opposition. The local Italian community treated him like royalty and he was an immediate favourite with the fans, even though he rarely played a full game due to his legs not up to it.
3 Points a welcome relief after a shit week,I was also blessed to have an Elwood Blues (Still the greatest film and soundtrack ever made) epiphany as Sanchezs second goal hit the back of the night – Thank Fuck Roman never bought the LWCs, you think its unbearable now imagine if that scenario had played out π
Up The Arse!
Nice review, Guvna. A welcome improvement in our performance and the final result but as noted already, too little too late. Had that header gone in rather than hitting the bar at 1-0, I dread to think where our famous mental strength would have taken us.
It’s abundantly clear (and it has been for at least two years) that we desperately need to find a striker who will score a higher proportion of the chances we create if we are going to take a step forward next season. Unless Danny has an epiphany that means that we have to identify that man and make him and his current team an offer that they cannot refuse. Anyone have a spare horse’s head?
I know ‘all the top strikers are already at big clubs’ and we are unlikely to lure them away but the next generation of top strikers have to be identifiable in South America, Croatia or wherever and the best prospect signed this summer.
Nor should we ignore the need for a dominant CB with leadership and organisational skills and more muscle in midfield.
I do hope the scouting has been done and the plans (if not the discussions) are afoot. At least we know there will be plenty of interesting rumours being generated by the PR department in the weeks leading up to ST renewals.
@39
Now we’re talking.
Have you seeeen the light?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lX5tfRdkoY0
Wenger still banging on about the quality football that gets served up by Arsenal. It is tedium on a stick watching this team and has been all season.
N7,
And don’t even get me started on them Illinois Nazis – May have to dust the old DVD off later after watching that link – Timeless Film π
N7 & Chippy – thanks for the link. One of my favourite films of all time, the musical performers are some of the greats of that ilk. Just a shame that the title has shit football associations π
Elwood: It’s 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it’s dark… and we’re wearing sunglasses.
Jake: Hit it.
Classic.
Illnois Nazis? I hate Illnois Nazis.
One of my top 5 films of all time – it was the only VHS we owned when I was a nipper, and I consequently watched it about a million times.
For any fellow fans, this article on how it was made is a must-read:
http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2013/01/making-of-blues-brothers-budget-for-cocaine
n7 great call on the blues brothers. my second favorite film after “cinema paradiso”. that scene is one of its best. thanks for the second link; I think I’ll have four fried chickens, and a Coke!
Interesting link N7. Makes the football business seem less problematical.
Co-incidentally Blues Brothers is showing on Dave channel tonight @ 9pm.
Ow you fat Penguin,.. Glad we are all on the same page,Top Top Film and such a shame John Belushi died so young would have become an acting legend then again I’m not sure he could have ever surpassed that role it was tailor made for him !!
N7,We must be of similar vintage think I was about 6 when I first saw the movie was hooked from that moment on – Don’t make em like that anymore π
One more for old times sake https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JzzE6XLbC8M
Dave it is π
chippy, after starting with n7’s link, i watched that one too. “how much for the little girl? your women, i must have them….sell them to me.”
love it.
and while we’re on it, i think arsene is a bit like this keyboard…people don’t think he’s got any action left: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cnzuI4fsMs
Infantino proposes a new committee to monitor the Qatar World Cup but no official name has been confirmed.
Bribe Acceptance Board? π
Oh, we got both kinds. We got country *and* western.
They broke my watch.
Could quote it all night. Total masterpiece.
Great music in that movie, the Blues Brothers. Very revesling quotes by Ted Mann the owner of Mann Theaters in that Vanity Fair article. No wonder it is a racist country with people like that pulling the strings.
Burnley, Boro & Brighton. Only two of the three will get automatic promotion to the riches of next year’s Premier League but Burnley just scored to move temporarily into top spot.
Cheers, Holic !
All very fair –
unlike Chris. Joel was a “waste of space” ?
He was very direct, very positive and, in a very short cameo, was unlucky with a shot to the far post through traffic. He certainly contributed more than your “far better player” Theo, whose first effort when he came on on Sunday was to drag the ball back under his own feet and fall over.
There was a huge number of empty seats at kick-off last night but there were also problems on both British Rail and the underground. The stadium did fill up more than expected during the first 15 minutes although it did empty substantially before the final whistle. It was not, though, the stupid 75 minute walk out that the hard of thinking had been suggesting.
In what way does booing the manager, team or individuals, or making a point of walking out, ever help to support ?
Sky Sports did their best to fan the flames by showing all the moments of frustration at missed chances, accompanired by some song about being old and going nowhere “until I die”. They also,gave plenty of exposure to the banner waving prats that I didn’t actually notice. I presume the footage was actually taken at last night’s game.
Before I’m accused of being an AKB, I do think the manager has had a very poor season. Last summer’s transfer dealings were almost wholly inadequate, there have been some strange selections this season and some stranger substitutions. Our defending of set pieces gives me the heebie-jeebies and our strikers often can’t hit a cow’s arse with a banjo.
But while the team is playing and the season is alive (just) there is no point in booing and slagging people off.
There are plenty of journalists and pundits to do that.
Trev
Your attitude is absolutely right. No Arsenal supporter, in the true sense, would harm the club and affect the side. I’ve walked out once in my life , ar Wembley in 1991, but that was because I just couldn’t stand the S***s celebrations.
I was moving my car last night and heard that infantile prat, Durham, abuse the Invincibles by saying it was an overrated feat. I really would love to tip a vat of steaming excrement over him, to equal the shit he spews out.
You are also right about Wenger. I think Clive and Steve T were very critical of him after the window closed and I think he failed the previous summer to buy back- up at centre back which lost us the very slim chance we had of the league. He has to do better this summer yet I await the first indications of a rethink when he starts talking about buying players not being the only answer. I have faith in him but he needs to shake up the coaching staff and ensure we have the budget we need to challenge. If he did leave, as I think N7 said recently, it might be an opportune time but I think he will do one more year at least
My calling Theo a βfar better playerβ was in comparison with Ox, Trev, nothing to do with JC. My criticism of the latter was in response to Dr F suggesting he’d shown ‘consistent improvement’ through the season when I believe the opposite is the case. He looked quite ueful early on, but faded to the extent AW rarely uses him now. That doesn’t suggest improvement to me.
As for ‘a waste of space’, ffs, it’s a common enough exaggeration which shouldn’t be taken verbatim. If you believe JC is the answer to our present problems that is your prerogative, I don’t. I think we can do better and he’s one of several current squad members I hope we upgrade in the summer.
Chris,
With twenty minutes to go when you need a goal to win a game I always looked at Theo on the bench and felt he was a high impact sub. I would have gone to him before Campbell. He did fantastically well against Zbarcelona a few years ago, changing the game with his pace. Now, the Theo that entered the fray against Palace is a pale imitation of that player. That is partly because I don’t think Wenger has handled him optimally but he also seems to lack desire . Campbell is at the moment a more likely option. There was consternation against Swansea when he was our best player and was taken off ( and we went on to lose) and since then he hasn’t figured much. I guess Theo will fetch a much higher figure than Joel in the market and that may determine which, if any, he releases, and I don’t see wholesale changes as there is the likelihood that Ox will go too.
The emergence of Iwobi has indicated how Theo has stood still ( a strange analogy for a player of his pace ) but true nevertheless.
I’m off egg chasing today at Bath v Sale , a game with less on it than most of the games we have left!
Ttg@56: AW has one more season left on his contract. I agree with you that he will at least see that out. If he does start significant squad restructuring that might suggest he has it in mind to stay on longer (unless his successor is secretly in place and they do it together).
Ned
As a Wengerite ( or someone with respect and affection for him) I hope this managed succession is the way Arsenal choose to go. I want his reign to end well for his sake( and for ours!)
Amen to that, Ttg.
We’ve thrown enough years away on the guy so one more season won’t make any difference I suppose.
Unless fan boycotts continue and gather strength from his continued presence. Which I doubt they will.
So Wenger has one more season left on his contract, how do we go about buying players and start tying players to new contracts. I don’t know how players will feel about their future if they don’t have an idea what the club is doing in regards to a getting a new manager. I won’t be shocked if Wenger extends his contract one more year. Personally, I think this year should be it for him. Most likely won’t happen though, the club is really in a cross road.
Pookaku
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>