A shaky first half followed by a far more solid second sees Arsenal rack up their third Premier League win of the season and jump five places from 12th to seventh.
As predicted, Arsenal were quite happy to hold onto the ball and tap it around the back for the opening minutes, knowing that West Brom wouldn’t put them under a massive amount of pressure. And they didn’t. Not at first, anyway.
Alexis Sanchez went close with his free-kick in the fifth minute after being brought down.
However, the Gunners’ vulnerability on the counter was highlighted early on when Jay Rodriguez sped away with the ball. The 28-year-old would continue to be a thorn in Arsenal’s side for the rest of the evening.
Fortunately, Shkodran Mustafi was on hand to stupidly go sliding in and almost give away a penalty. Lord knows how he didn’t. Rodriguez then hit the post with the follow up.
100% should have been West Brom penalty. Bobby Madley is shockingly bad, thankfully.
— Lee Hurley (@HLeeHurley) September 25, 2017
I have no idea how they didn’t get a penalty for that Hahahaha
— Charteta (@Charley2385) September 25, 2017
Incredible save from Cech, but should have been a stonewall penalty.
— Connor Humm (@TikiTakaConnor) September 25, 2017
Blatant penalty, but credit to Rodriguez for getting up and not complaining.
— GoonerGordo (@GoonerGordo) September 25, 2017
Minutes later, former Gunner Kieran Gibbs got forward and had a go himself with a misdirected volley.
If Gibbs scored that I would've been kinda happy tbh
— R (@AubaSpeed) September 25, 2017
Despite looking a bit vulnerable at the back (what else is knew), Arsenal’s build-up play was solid and a West Brom foul led to yet another free-kick.
Alexis once again took it, which forced Ben Foster into a spectacular save. Unfortunately for the Baggies, their goalkeeper knocked the ball down to Alexandre Lacazette who simply had to poke to ball home like the poacher he is.
Fox in the box!!
— MJ (@mj_afc) September 25, 2017
Lovely stuff. Love Big Alex. Great lad.
— @wood (@attwood10) September 25, 2017
I like him and his work so far and if he scores a goal per home game it'll be a success. Well done Laca!
— Lewis (@LGAmbrose) September 25, 2017
3 – A. Lacazette is the first Arsenal player to score in his first 3 home league apps for the club since Brian Marwood in Sept 1988. Gunner. pic.twitter.com/9Q8pwxwTEc
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 25, 2017
Arsenal continued to look bright after going 1-0 ahead with Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac linking up well and the Spaniard getting through on goal. However, the box was congested and the defender, who’s not a known goalscorer, got caught up with his own feet.
While Arsenal’s passing was far from perfect, we looked sharper than we did earlier in the season and managed to keep possession… unless Granit Xhaka had the ball.
In the 32nd minute, Aaron Ramsey, who had been started in an even more advanced role right behind Laca, made a stunning arced run from deep in midfield into the box. Although he couldn’t get a decent shot away, it once again demonstrated how the midfielder has the vision to flip a game on its head out of nowhere.
When Aaron Ramsey makes an off the ball run pic.twitter.com/nA5e7ViOfh
— playboi icardi (@Marlon_Calliste) September 25, 2017
Lovely run by Ramsey!
— Rorschach (@KillSimao) September 25, 2017
Unreal run from Ramsey. Raumdeuter
— Sohail (@sohailafc) September 25, 2017
Alexis was then pulled down in the area by his shirt but Madley is apparently allergic to making correct penalty calls.
Alexis denied a penalty. What a blatant shirt-pull.
— Leutrim Rexhaj (@LeutrimRexhaj) September 25, 2017
Not quite as obvious as the penalty West Brom didn't get, but a foul on Alexis in the box none the less
— Michael Sheehy (@JamrockRover) September 25, 2017
Watch Sky show the Mustafi penalty over and over at half time with no mention of Alexis being pulled down in the box
— Kildare Gunner (@KildareGunner) September 25, 2017
2 penalty decisions going against us (that Alexis one the most obvious) and the big one for, I think that makes it even now
— Passenal (@Passenal1) September 25, 2017
Nacho Monreal was called into action as Rodriguez once again went through on goal. All he had to do was finish but Monreal made an incredible goal-line clearance, kicking the ball directly upwards and over the bar.
Monreal clears off the line! Remarkable clearance. #afc
— Sam (@samuelJayC) September 25, 2017
Nacho Monreal appreciation tweet. What a save. Take a bow Nacho
— Danny Welbeck (@WelBeast) September 25, 2017
NACHO MONREAL OH MY GOD
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) September 25, 2017
Nacho Monreal is glorious.
— Paddy (@VieiraPaddy) September 25, 2017
Alexis then picked up a yellow because he spoke to Madley. Presumably not about the weather.
Right before West Brom almost scored again.
The Gunners went in at half-time hanging onto a narrow 1-0 lead with Tony Pulis’s side presumably asking a lot more questions at the end of the opening 45 minutes than they’d expected having to answer.
The second-half continued in pretty much the same way. West Brom looked threatening when they could get the ball and run at our s**t-scared defence while Arsenal continued to sloppily mount attacks.
Once again, while the Gunners got into the right positions, they seemed to be looking to score the perfect goal or to lose their nerve at the last second. The story of Arsenal’s life. Well, at least for the last few years.
Lacazette’s nice to watch though, isn’t he?
Gif: Alexandre Lacazette with a nutmeg on Jay Rodriguez. [@ArsenalTerje] #afc pic.twitter.com/hHxN5Cgmzl
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) September 25, 2017
Tony Pulis almost popped a blood vessel when Arsenal were awarded a penalty after Allan Nyom needlessly hacked down Rambo, who had just skillfully danced past him with the ball.
https://twitter.com/DailyCannon/status/912412408064479232
Pulis might explode!
— MJ (@mj_afc) September 25, 2017
There was only one man to take it. Laca slotted the ball coolly into the bottom right corner. Foster went the right way but couldn’t get his finger-tips to it.
On a hat-trick, Laca narrowly hit the ball over the bar minutes later.
Arsenal were generally far more solid in the second half, especially after the penalty, as West Brom realised they were fighting a losing battle and began to get tired.
However, with under 10 minutes left of the game, Madley still had time to make another poor refereeing decision by not sending off Craig Dawson after a terrible challenge.
This is an abysmal refereeing display
— JB™ (@gunnerpunner) September 25, 2017
In what universe is that not a booking? Bobby Madley's it seems….but all we will hear is penalty, penalty, penalty after the game
— Lee Hurley (@HLeeHurley) September 25, 2017
I regret to inform you he's awful https://t.co/LB4offsfQw
— Emperor Bumblewank (@CapableOfFlight) September 25, 2017
Laca was denied the chance to score a hat-trick and was subbed off for Olivier Giroud in the 82nd minute after a brilliant display from the 26-year-old, followed by Alexis for Mesut Ozil, who has just returned from a knee injury.
Giroud and Ozil added another dimension to the attack, which was good to see considering there were just minutes left on the clock and the Gunners had pretty much already won the tie.
Arsenal sub:
Maitland-Niles on, Ramsey off.#afc— afcstuff (@afcstuff) September 25, 2017
Overall, not the most convincing display and not quite as cohesive as the performance at Stamford Bridge but Arsenal were solid enough, especially in the second half, and got the job done. Lacazette and Monreal were fantastic.