Against all odds, Arsenal suffered a shocking 3-1 loss to West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns on Matchday 29. We teamed up with Jeffrey Russel, a true gooner and expert tipster at FootballPredictions.com.
According to Jeffrey, the Gunners desperately needed a win in Saturday’s football game, but they failed to get one and, as a result, they dropped to sixth place in the Premier League standings.
The Baggies opened the scoring after just 12 minutes, with centre-back Craig Dawson finding the net for the hosts after Nacer Chadli’s cross. However, WBA’s lead did not last long and three minutes later Alexis Sanchez scored the equalizing goal for Arsene Wenger’s troops. Arsenal were struggling to create a descent goal-scoring opportunity and, to make things even worse for the capital club Robson-Kanu restored the home side’s lead ten minutes into the second half. The Wales international scored WBA’s second a minute after coming on as a substitute.
West Bromwich Albion were defending well and they had a lot of chances to attack their rivals on the break, but it has to be noted that Danny Wellbeck missed a golden opportunity to level things up ten minutes after Robson-Kanu’s goal. The former Manchester United man hit the crossbar in the 66th minute of the match from a close range and that eventually proved to be the main reason why Arsenal failed to grab something from the game.
15 minutes before the final whistle Craig Dawson scored his second goal of the match as he met the corner and planted a bullet header into the middle of the net. The lack of communication and responsibility in Arsenal defence was obvious and it is no surprise the Gunners suffered their seventh defeat of the season at the Hawthorns. In the 89th minute Aaron Ramsey unleashed a long-range strike, but the opposition back-line blocked his shoot. That was the last thing Arsene Wenger’s men did in the game that should be forgotten as soon as possible.
Speaking of yellow cards, WBA winger James McClean is the only footballer who booked in Saturday’s Premier League game, but he is available for selection for the Manchester United clash. Arsenal enjoyed nearly 80% possession, but the Baggies looked solid at the back and the opposition attackers did not have enough space to prove their worth. The Baggies had 12 goal attempts (8 on target), whilst the Gunners unleashed 11 shots (2 on target) in the 3-1 defeat to WBA.
Anyhow, Arsenal suffered yet another disappointing loss and, as a result, coach Arsene Wenger is likely to leave the club in the near future. Fresh blood is needed at Emirates Stadium and they it remains to be seen if the club chiefs are going to sack the French tactician before the season comes to an end. The Gunners have been slipping down the standings week by week and they need to get back on course immediately if they are to secure a top-four finish at the end of the season. The Baggies totally deserved to pick up all three points from the match and, as things stand now, they are likely to finish the 2016/2017 Premier League campaign in the top half of the season.