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.
Can we actually defend?!
— ♥️ S A D I A H ♥️ (@TheGoonerette) December 31, 2017
It's great how we're all discussing the kit and not the utterly shit defensive performance so far
— Anita (@arsenaloFka) December 31, 2017
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.
Iwobi should have hit that straight away. Poor finish.
— MJ (@mj_afc) December 31, 2017
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.
Nice intricate passing from Arsenal, loads of huge crosses, booming long balls and headers from Perfidious Albion. It's working for them: 5 shots to 2.
— 7amkickoff (@7amkickoff) December 31, 2017
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.
The 3-4-3 just doesn't work without Ozil and Ramsey.
— I bomb atomically, Socrates philosophies and hypot (@LeutrimRexhaj) December 31, 2017
— Arsenal Related ™ (@ArsenalsRelated) December 31, 2017
Minutes later, Iwobi tried a cheeky shot from range but it was saved with relative ease.
CHANCE! Alex Iwobi's strike is stopped by a very awkward-looking save from Ben Foster.
Watch live on Sky Sports Premier League! https://t.co/iTMem652ww
— Sky Sports PL (@SkySportsPL) December 31, 2017
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.
Absolute thriller this
— Andy Hug (@MightyGooner81) December 31, 2017
Amazing how quickly AFC have lost their muscle memory for more than one game a week.
This is so lethargic.
— Le Grove (@LeGrove) December 31, 2017
Something, something, handbrake
— Terje (@ArsenalTerje) December 31, 2017
Sideways, Sideways, lose the ball, sideways, sideways, sideways, poor cross, sideways, sideways, 15ft high cross, lose ball, sideways.
— Darren (@DarrenArsenal1) December 31, 2017
We're level at the break#WBAvAFC pic.twitter.com/tTFEW5WjvL
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) December 31, 2017
Second half gets underway as Arsenal look to ensure us fans don't get ideas above our station heading into 2018
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) December 31, 2017
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.
Christ our set pieces have been poor.
— Terje (@ArsenalTerje) December 31, 2017
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.
WATCH: Super play from Alexandre Lacazette but again Ben Foster keeps it out!
Live on Sky Sports Premier League! https://t.co/ID5Tt9sgRS
— Sky Sports PL (@SkySportsPL) December 31, 2017
Sooner after, Laurent Koscielny had had enough and Per Mertesacker was brought on.
Koscielny must be dead. He could barely walk the other day.
— MJ (@mj_afc) December 31, 2017
https://twitter.com/HarryShotta/status/947526680859566082
Mertesacker up front lads, it's happening
— Lewis (@LGAmbrose) December 31, 2017
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.
Welbeck on the right, where he's not good, instead of Walcott again. Another awful change.
— Lewis (@LGAmbrose) December 31, 2017
Really, I can’t tear myself away from this Pardew-Wenger masterclass #WBAARS
— Phil West ⚽️ (@philwest) December 31, 2017
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.
Mike Dean you absolute melt. How is that a penalty!
— AFCAMDEN (@AFCAMDEN) December 31, 2017
Mike Dean couldn't resist making the last game of 2017 all about him, the prat #afc #WBAvAFC
— Sean Ferguson (@seanfergusonuk) December 31, 2017
Blatant cheating. Disgraceful pic.twitter.com/rmabMKiy2o
— Arsenal FC (@FFArsenal) December 31, 2017
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.