Another Arsenal match down; another complete bore-fest except for the final five minutes.

Despite a semi-strong start, Arsenal clash away to West Brom didn’t take long to become another boring game of pass-pass-pass-lose the ball. Of course, it had to be our want-a-way forward that scored in the 84th minute… only for us to concede minutes later.

Arsenal got the first corner of the match in the third minute, which Alexis Sanchez took poorly, followed by another from Alex Iwobi two minutes later. Iwobi’s was just as bad as the Chilean’s. However, the Gunners were on the front foot.

West Brom went close in the seventh minute, no thanks to Petr Cech who was a little clumsy when trying to save it. Thankfully, the Gunners cleared the ball. Although the goalkeeper hurt himself in the process.

At the other end, Alexandre Lacazette twisted away from a couple of West Brom players but failed to get a shot away. With not even 10 minutes played, it was end to end football with Arsenal attacking well but completely flustered whenever the Baggies got into our box.

In the 16th minute, after some build-up play from Alexis and Sead Kolasinac, Iwobi got the chance to get a shot away. However, the 21-year-old lacked composure, stuttered and shot over the bar. Story of his life.

Arsene Wenger’s men continued to try and tap the ball around to each other while West Brom did everything they could to hoof the ball up into Arsenal’s area. And it was working.

In the 26th minute, Mustafi gave away a free-kick right on the edge of the area. However, Brunt completely skied what could have been an excellent chance for the Baggies to go 1-0 ahead before the half-hour mark.

The Gunners tried to hit Alan Pardew’s men on the break but there was such a disconnect between our midfield and forwards that Alexis, Laca and Iwobi all arrived a few seconds before Jack Wilshere and Granit Xhaka could even get up the pitch. The ball eventually fell to the Swiss international who got off a lacklustre shot directly at West Brom’s goalkeeper.

We were really struggling without Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil there to at least attempt to bridge the gap in midfield.

Minutes later, Iwobi tried a cheeky shot from range but it was saved with relative ease.

Unfortunately, Arsenal’s first sub came way earlier than anticipated with Kolasinac appearing to suffer an ankle problem. Ainsley Maitland-Niles came on in his place. Not that most Gooners were complaining. The Bosnia international had been poor again.

Other than this, the match had descended into a complete bore-fest. Again.

Arsenal’s wastefulness in the box continued into the second half. They got a free-kick from a foul on Lacazette, which Alexis took and kicked into the wall. The ball then bounced around with the Gunners seemingly reluctant to actually have a shot. The chance was cleared.

Minutes after West Brom had a penalty shout waved away by referee Mike Dean, Lacazette got another chance to score in the 60th minute. Seconds later, as Arsenal began to turn the screw – and I use that term loosely – the France international had another shot.

Sooner after, Laurent Koscielny had had enough and Per Mertesacker was brought on.

https://twitter.com/HarryShotta/status/947526680859566082

As you can tell, it was thrilling stuff.

In the 73rd minute, Danny Welbeck was brought on for Iwobi to try and inject some freshness into Arsenal’s account. Presumably.

Finally, in the 84th minute, Alexis broke the deadlock to earn Arsenal three points.

https://twitter.com/TheRealGunner/status/947530965257277440

Soon after, Mike Dean awarded a penalty to West Brom, which Jay Rodriguez slotted home.

Of all people, it was former Gunner Kieran Gibbs to win it for his new team after the ball was said to have hit Chambers on the arm. It wasn’t a penalty.

I wish I could say something that I’ve not said a dozen times before this season but that performance at the Hawthorns was the exact same one we’ve seen time and time again. We barely created anything or looked dangerous at any point.

We won by a goal to nil and we all know how badly we need the three points but still. Not good enough.