Saturday December 8, 2012 Day 16 Finished Emirates Stadium

Arsenal 2 - 0 West Bromwich Albion

  • Arteta 26’ (pen.), 64’ (pen.)

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  1. Premier League - Cazorla dive row as Arsenal beat West Brom

    Premier League - Cazorla dive row as Arsenal beat West Brom

    Arsenal sealed a controversial 2-0 Premier League win over West Bromwich Albion at the Emirates Stadium. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:90'
    • Arsenal
    • West Bromwich Albion
    • - Don't forget you can watch highlights of this match, along with every Premier League game, from 00:01 on Monday morning (UK only).
    • 90+4' Arsenal return to winning ways with a bad-tempered win here. West Brom will feel very hard done by with the award of the first penalty, but it's now three defeats on the spin for the Baggies.
    • 90+3' This game is all but over... neither side doing much here...
    • 90+2' Arsenal play it among themselves. Happy to run the clock down here.
    • 90+1' Four minutes of added time being played, incidentally.
    • 90' Oh, what a miss Podolski!! Wilshere pulls back to the German in acres of space, he has time to set himself and manages to get underneath his shot, scopping it implausibly over from eight yards!
    • 90' Long sends a looping header over. End-to-end stuff...
    • 89' Now Wilshere tries to let fly inside the West Brom box but his shot is charged down.
    • 88' Arsenal change: Podolski replaces Cazorla.
    • 87' West Brom free-kick, which Brunt will send in from the left with plenty of men in the centre... and Lukaku heads wide with the goal at his mercy! Should have done better!
    • 86' Szczesny called into action to push away a rasping long-range shot by Long! A warning for Arsenal, who have taken their foot off the gas.
    • 85' Arsenal pass the ball round beautifully but then Arteta dwells on the ball and gives it away... Morrison has a chance, but then he dawdles and Arsenal clear.
    • 83' Long diagonal ball to the right side, where Rosenberg is unable to get it under control.
    • 82' Another Arsenal change: Tomas Rosicky comes on for Gervinho.
    • 81' Rosenberg tumbles theatrically in the Arsenal box but there's no penalty - Brunt follows up by whacking his shot into a defender.
    • 80' Arteta tries to rub salt into the wounds from the free-kick, but bends it just wide.
    • 79' Oh, that's harsh! Gervinho throws himself to the ground, and Mike Jones books Steven Reid for, what? A shoulder charge? Hard to say. WBA feeling most aggrieved.
    • 78' A big ovation for Oxlade-Chamberlain as he leaves the field. Francis Coquelin comes on in his place.
    • 77' West Brom break with Lukaku who looks for Rosenberg, but Arsenal cut it out.
    • 76' Great pass for the Ox, whose low cross intended for Cazorla is dealt with well by Myhill.
    • 75' West Brom substitution: Markus Rosenberg on for Zoltan Gera.
    • 74' Lovely little change of direction from Wilshere to work his way into space, but his cross is cut out.
    • 73' Nasty little tackle from Mulumbu on Wilshere, lucky not to get booked. Cazorla to swing it into the box...
    • 72' Lovely touch from Wilshere, measuring a first-time pass perfectly for the Ox, whose cross goes comes off an Arsenal boot for a goal kick.
    • 71' Ball boys on strike? Myhill has to go and fetch the ball from close to the left corner flag. Lots of derisive cheering as he trots back to take a goal-kick.
    • 70' Cazorla has a shot from the free-kick, but sticks it into the wall.
    • 69' Gervinho goes down very easily 30 yards from goal and wins a free-kick - West Brom angry at yet another decision going against them. Still a danger of this boiling over.
    • 68' Sagna crosses from the right towards Giroud... hits the striker on the back of the head and loops out for a goal kick.
    • 67' West Brom look for a response, and go close from a corner. Meanwhile, Mertesacker has been booked, not sure what for.
    • 66' No doubt about Brunt's foul to give away the penalty, but West Brom felt Oxlade-Chamberlain had committed one of his own earlier in the move. They're not a happy bunch.
    • 65' Not sure what on earth Giroud was doing trying to nab the penalty off Arteta, mind...
    • 64' GOAL! Arteta converts his second penalty of the afternoon. Same finish, down the middle as Myhill dives to his left.
    • 64' That one was definitely a foul. Meanwhile, Giroud tries to take the ball off Arteta - but the Spaniard tells him to do one...
    • 63' PENALTY ARSENAL!! Another! This time for a foul on Oxlade-Chamberlain by Brunt!
    • 62' And here comes the punisher! Romelu Lukaku comes on for Odemwingie.
    • 61' That was an incredible miss by Gervinho - and now it's starting to take on the air of one of those games Arsenal should kill off, but they leave the door open and get punished. We'll see.
    • 60' Oh Gervinho, what a chance! A golden opportunity to make it 2-0, right in front of goal, and he takes an air shot!
    • 59' Brunt is booked for disputing that last decision - it's getting a bit tetchy here.
    • 58' Brunt delivers a WBA corner - McAuley and Szczesny jump for it and the ball goes out. Surely it touched Szczesny last, but the officials award a goal kick.
    • 56' Gibbs crosses and Gervinho meets it with a header! It's a real chance but he sends the ball well wide to the right of the goal. He's not good in the air. Not good at all.
    • 55' Steve Clarke is deep in conversation with fourth official Michael Oliver after another disputed incident that results in a drop ball - excitingly, it's contested and Arsenal come away with it.
    • 54' There's a confrontation here between Giroud and Olsson. The pair have to be separated and they receive a yellow card apiece.
    • 53' Wilshere lifts a cross from the left byline that Oxlade-Chamberlain meets on the volley at an outrageous angle... so close! It crazes the crossbar and bounces to safety!
    • 52' Another Arsenal through ball has Popov scrambling, but he makes a fine sliding challenge to hook the ball away for a corner.
    • 51' Another WBA free-kick, this time on the left - Brunt over it again. He slips as he strikes the ball and Arsenal clear.
    • 50' Through ball for Gervinho to chase, but Myhill comes out and gets to it first.
    • 49' Gervinho hasn't played badly today. The fact this comes as something of a surprise hardly serves as a ringing endorsement of the Ivorian.
    • 48' Brunt curls it in and finds the head of his fellow Northern Irishman Gareth McAuley, who heads wide.
    • 47' No personnel changes from either side, and West Brom have an early free-kick which Brunt stands over.
    • 46' And the second half is under way at the Emirates...
    • 45+3' That's half-time, which arrives with the news that Fernando Torres has scored AGAIN - this time with a penalty. Sunderland v Chelsea: LIVE
    • 45+2' Blimey, they do like to join the pie queue early at the Emirates, don't they? Loads of empty seats.
    • 45+1' Two minutes of stoppage time to be played.
    • 45' Arteta with an inswinging corner - hits Mertesacker and loops into the air, before the Ox blasts an overhead kick into the crowd.
    • 43' Swansea City - now there's an unpredicatble team. Swansea v Norwich: LIVE
    • 42' Gervinho!! He rolls a shot from the edge of the box towards the left corner, and Myhill makes a fine diving save! A more powerful shot would certainly have made it 2-0!
    • 41' Giroud crosses left-footed from the right - it's cleared but Arsenal continue to apply pressure.
    • 40' That could have gone either way! A high ball comes into the box and hits Mertesacker on the arm - but Mike Jones gives it Arsenal's way for a foul by Olsson. A big decision, and probably the right one.
    • 39' Olivier Giroud appears to have recovered from that back ailment and is playing on relatively unimpaired.
    • 37' Wilshere what a miss! Gervinho beats the offside trap down the left and pulls it back for Wilshere who slides in and puts it wide!
    • 36' West Brom free-kic, which Brunt will swing into the box... it just evades Olsson, but the Swede was about three furlongs offside and the flag duly does up.
    • 35' West Brom have not created a lot, but they will consider themselves unlucky to be behind.
    • 34' Giroud is not moving well - very tentative and he looks as though he'll be coming off.
    • 33' Podolski, who has himself a major doubt for this game, is warming up as Giroud continues to struggle.
    • 32' Olivier Giroud is down now, and he's holding his back...
    • 31' Gibbs crosses from the left, Gervinho flicks on... and there's an offside flag up. The Ivorian was beyond the last man (quite needlessly).
    • 30' Cazorla delivers a corner from the left, and Mertesacker is adjudged to have barged a defender.
    • 28' Arteta partially atoned for his last-minute penalty failure against Fulham last month. Pretty confident strike.
    • 27' The more replays you see of that Reid 'tackle' the more of a dive it appears - there was no contact and Cazorla threw himself down.
    • 26' GOAL!! Arteta steps up and clips the ball down the middle as Myhill dives out of the way! Arsenal in front.
    • 25' Penalty Arsenal! Steven Reid brings down Cazorla and Mike Jones points to the spot! Looked like a dive and West Brom are furious!
    • 23' Good effort Brunt! Mulumbu's shot at the edge of the box is charged down, and Brunt follows up by flashing a right-foot effort just wide!
    • 22' Sloppy passing from the visitors as Cazorla makes a simple interception and tries to find Gervinho... his pass is slightly overhit.
    • 21' Another slick-passing move from Arsenal sees Cazorla slide a ball to the Ox on the right by-line, but the England winger has strayed offside.
    • 20' Another injury for West Brom here - Chris Brunt requires treatment after a challenge with Bacary Sagna. He should be able to carry on.
    • 19' It has been 69% possession for Arsenal, who are completely on top here...
    • 17' And there's been a goal at Swansea, who host Norwich this afternoon. Who has got it?
    • 16' Oh, that would have been some goal. Sagna releases the Ox down the right, he hooks in a cross and Cazorla takes it on the volley but blasts the ball into the crowd.
    • 15' Cazorla whips in a free-kick intended for Mertesacker but it is headed half-clear... Oxlade-Chamberlain whacks the follow-up into a defender.
    • 14' Fernando Torres has just scored a genuinely good goal for Chelsea in a proper football match! Feel free to click around the site for commentary of Sunderland-Chelsea and every Premier League game. Sunderland v Chelsea: LIVE
    • 13' Cazorla with another corner from the Arsenal left... strong punch from Myhill to clear.
    • 11' Wilshere lays it off for Cazorla who tries ti curls one right-footed from the edge of the box - it's well wide, and Odemwingie may well have put him off, there.
    • 10' High ball into the box from Sagna... easy catch for Myhill. All Arsenal early on.
    • 9' It has been a pretty lively start from Arsenal, and after the few weeks they have endured they could really do with a win.
    • 8' A decent Arsenal move breaks down when Giroud misplaces his pass. Decent work from Wilshere to set it up.
    • 7' There's the change: Goran Popov is on for the disconsolate Ridgewell.
    • 6' Liam Ridgewell is down injured and it looks like he will be unable to continue - he pounds the grass in frustration.
    • 5' Chance! Myhill punches away but the ball comes back in - Vermaelen heads down to Gervinho who drags his shot wide with Myhill out of position.
    • 4' Kieran Gibbs wins a corner for Arsenal as his cross from the left is deflected out. Up comes Mertesacker.
    • 2' Direct ball for Shane Long to chase - West Brom do that a lot, and rightly so. This time Szczesny darts out of his box to clear.
    • 1' We're under way - throw to WBA, taken by Liam Ridgewell who was last seen pretending to wipe his backside with £20 notes. Shoot me if you must, but I thought it was pretty funny...
    • 14:58 Gunnersaurus is wearing a Santa hat, you'll be pleased to hear.
    • 14:55 It is a chilly afternoon in North London - in a slightly counterintuitive move West Brom are in training tops, Arsenal in their shirts.
    • 14:50 Arsenal come into the game lying a lowly 10th in the Premier League table - a win here could take them as high as sixth, though. West Brom are fifth and could go third with a win.
    • 14:45 And it's not this game, but here's a belter from Opta's Duncan Alexander: 'Fairly sure Swansea v Norwich is the longest east to west fixture in English top-flight history. #LongitudeClasico' Can you confirm/deny? Tweet me - @alexchick81
    • 14:40 A couple more interesting ones: Santi Cazorla has provided only one assist in his last 11 Premier League appearances... and: If games lasted 80 minutes in the Premier League, West Brom would be second.
    • 14:35 Time for some stats, courtesy of Opta - and we could be in for some goals today: In the last six league meetings between the Gunners and West Brom, there have been five goals scored in the opening 10 minutes. The Baggies have never kept a clean sheet in their 12 Premier League games against Arsenal, conceding 28 goals in total.
    • 14:30 Meanwhile, West Brom's Steve Clarke wants his side to snap out of their recent slump: "I'm not looking for a response, I'm expecting it because that's what they've done before. We've had two defeats before this season, then we lost two games in the space of four days last week." Clarke demands improvement
    • 14:25 Arsene Wenger spoke candidly about Theo Walcott's contract situation yesterday,: "Honestly, I am frustrated. Between the player and me it is all clear, he knows what he wants and he has to make up his mind. We have been in negotiations with Theo for a long, long time." Wenger demands urgent response
    • 14:20 West Brom take on a familiar look, with virtually a full squad for Steve Clarke to choose from. Only goalkeeper Ben Foster is missing as he continues his recovery from groin surgery. Boaz Myhill deputises again.
    • 14:15 Bacary Sagna overcomes a foot injury to make Arsenal's starting line-up, while Lukas Podolski returns to the bench following his hamstring injury. However there is no Theo Walcott or Laurent Koscielny.
    • 14:05 TEAMS: ARSENAL: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gervinho, Giroud... Subs: Martinez, Jenkinson, Squillaci, Coquelin, Ramsey, Rosicky, Podolski. /// WEST BROM: Myhill, Reid, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell, Mulumbu, Morrison, Odemwingie, Gera, Brunt, Long... Subs: Popov, Dorrans, Fortuné, Rosenberg, Tamas, Lukaku, L Daniels.
    • 14:05 Welcome to live coverage of Arsenal v West Bromwich Albion from the Emirates Stadium.

  • Summary

    • 90' Oh, what a miss Podolski!! Wilshere pulls back to the German in acres of space, he has time to set himself and manages to get underneath his shot, scopping it implausibly over from eight yards!
    • 87' West Brom free-kick, which Brunt will send in from the left with plenty of men in the centre... and Lukaku heads wide with the goal at his mercy! Should have done better!
    • 86' Szczesny called into action to push away a rasping long-range shot by Long! A warning for Arsenal, who have taken their foot off the gas.
    • 80' Arteta tries to rub salt into the wounds from the free-kick, but bends it just wide.
    • 64' GOAL! Arteta converts his second penalty of the afternoon. Same finish, down the middle as Myhill dives to his left.
    • 63' PENALTY ARSENAL!! Another! This time for a foul on Oxlade-Chamberlain by Brunt!
    • 60' Oh Gervinho, what a chance! A golden opportunity to make it 2-0, right in front of goal, and he takes an air shot!
    • 56' Gibbs crosses and Gervinho meets it with a header! It's a real chance but he sends the ball well wide to the right of the goal. He's not good in the air. Not good at all.
    • 53' Wilshere lifts a cross from the left byline that Oxlade-Chamberlain meets on the volley at an outrageous angle... so close! It crazes the crossbar and bounces to safety!
    • 42' Gervinho!! He rolls a shot from the edge of the box towards the left corner, and Myhill makes a fine diving save! A more powerful shot would certainly have made it 2-0!
    • 37' Wilshere what a miss! Gervinho beats the offside trap down the left and pulls it back for Wilshere who slides in and puts it wide!
    • 26' GOAL!! Arteta steps up and clips the ball down the middle as Myhill dives out of the way! Arsenal in front.
    • 25' Penalty Arsenal! Steven Reid brings down Cazorla and Mike Jones points to the spot! Looked like a dive and West Brom are furious!
    • 23' Good effort Brunt! Mulumbu's shot at the edge of the box is charged down, and Brunt follows up by flashing a right-foot effort just wide!
    • 16' Oh, that would have been some goal. Sagna releases the Ox down the right, he hooks in a cross and Cazorla takes it on the volley but blasts the ball into the crowd.
    • 5' Chance! Myhill punches away but the ball comes back in - Vermaelen heads down to Gervinho who drags his shot wide with Myhill out of position.
    • 14:05 TEAMS: ARSENAL: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gervinho, Giroud... Subs: Martinez, Jenkinson, Squillaci, Coquelin, Ramsey, Rosicky, Podolski. /// WEST BROM: Myhill, Reid, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell, Mulumbu, Morrison, Odemwingie, Gera, Brunt, Long... Subs: Popov, Dorrans, Fortuné, Rosenberg, Tamas, Lukaku, L Daniels.

Team Line-up & Ratings

  • Line-up

    Live Team Line-Up

  • Rate Players

    Rate Players

    Please to rate the players.

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    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      7.5 7
      Defenders
      6.2 7
      Yellow Card 7.1 6
      6.4 6
      6.5 6
      Midfielders
      Goals ×2 7.6 7
      7.5 8
      Substitution Out78′ 6.6 8
      Substitution Out88′ 7.2 7
      Substitution Out81′ 6.1 6
      Strikers
      Yellow Card 6.8 6
      Subs
      Substitution In81′ 7.2 -
      Substitution In88′ 7.9 -
      Substitution In78′ 5.4 -
    • Player Y! Users Expert My Rating
      Goalkeeper
      5.3 7
      Defenders
      Yellow Card 6 6
      4.7 7
      Yellow Card 4.8 6
      Substitution Out7′ 4.2 -
      Midfielders
      4.7 6
      4.6 7
      Substitution Out62′ 5.5 6
      Substitution Out76′ 5.2 6
      Yellow Card 5 6
      Strikers
      4.9 6
      Subs
      Substitution In76′ 3.7 -
      Substitution In7′ 5 7
      Substitution In62′ 3.8 6

Comment 60 - 80 of 80

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  1. Can't see how WBA can moan about diving when they­ had a player diving in the same match.Don't throw­ stones in glass houses Clarke

    From JULIAN B, on Sun 9 Dec 23:31

  2. Why did Arsenal sell van Persie to the Premier League? ­ Were they in need of money or couldn,t they afford­ him no more? Please help, I am stunned

    From Oliver, on Sun 9 Dec 19:45

  3. Yes for Arsenal...^^

    From Rennati, on Sun 9 Dec 15:54

  4. Just watched it on MOTD, - out and out cheating, feel­ sorry for WBA

    From Tartan, on Sun 9 Dec 9:35

  5. cheating arsenal prat but probably pay back for­ ridgewell dive???

    From welly, on Sun 9 Dec 8:45

  6. Poor old baggy pants,I tried to warn you that a couple­ of lucky victories does not constitute winning­ anything.When you danced and kissed in the ground and­ streets and your players did laps of honour­ recently,all you did was humiliate yourselves and now­ the chickens have come home to roost.Realistically,mid­ table at best and relegation next year.Far cry from­ your shouting about winning the league and european­ places,no chance,but maybe the mickey mouse cup semis­ one day.Leave the long term winning of trophies to the­ big boys.

    From Kickassruss, on Sun 9 Dec 8:17

  7. I don't think diving is a part of crime of­ sport,,,its an art buddy ...come on Santi do your best­ and bravo for the good game...to Arsene we support you­ 100% just get rid of your bit of ego...

    From Yanuar, on Sun 9 Dec 1:29

  8. Its 3 points and that is what counts.

    From A AUSTIN, on Sat 8 Dec 23:24

  9. Many commentators at this site would have hoped to see­ this guy insured or being carry out on the stretcher. ­ Because the ref called the physical and brutal tackles,­ we call him a diver. We sincerely hope that team that­ hire butchers to hurt opponents take a notice. ­ Physical and brutal tackles as well as dives are­ against the rules and must be punished. WB have no one­ to blame but the facts that the team lined up butchers.

    From Jack C, on Sat 8 Dec 22:33

  10. Arsenaol back to cheatin ways to win a game­ again.....how low.....hope your proud!

    From ANDREW, on Sat 8 Dec 20:48

  11. Podolski = Champion !

    From New, on Sat 8 Dec 19:11

  12. I'm an Arsenal supporter, and I say diving is­ wrong. I didn't like it when Pires used to do it,­ and I don't like it from any player in any team.­ But there's another way of looking at it. First,­ every bad decision that goes against one team goes for­ another. I'm looking forward to the day when a team­ that's been given a decision turns it down because­ it was wrong, and then complains about the ref­ afterwards. Second, what lost the game for WBA was not­ having a penalty awartded against it unfairly, but its­ inability to attack and to score. I've always­ disliked it when Wenger finds excuses for losing, WBA­ shouldn't use this as one. The only way to get over­ a bad decision is to play good football.

    From RA, on Sat 8 Dec 19:01

  13. @Michael Rather than God you should thank the ref.

    From wrongpixel, on Sat 8 Dec 17:49

  14. Neutral, but not when cheating is involved. Cazorla is­ a dirty rotten cheat, should have seen red.

    From EDWARD, on Sat 8 Dec 17:17

  15. Good win even the 1st penalty touch is soft. Arsenal­ can do better if never wasted so many chances. ­ Gervinho cant play at center because not strong like­ Giroud. Giroud never get any open chances which wasted­ by other team mate but play good in front to control­ the ball. After such a long time Arsenal play positive,­ not pass the ball backward and built the game. Also­ defended well from up, made WBA can built the game and­ often get the ball. Overall still have to improve and­ score. Its not easy create so many chances like today.­ Hope players learn from today's game and improve.

    From Pillai, on Sat 8 Dec 17:08

  16. is there anyone on the arsenal team that has a pair of­ balls?

    From Morty, on Sat 8 Dec 17:07
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    hope they will continue to give high performance for­ the next coming matches .\ only arsene wenger can­ tell when the gunners will a get some winning medal.

    From Anaas, on Sat 8 Dec 17:05
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Thank God for the GUNNERS win..

    From Michael, on Sat 8 Dec 17:04
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    well Done boys.

    From AB, on Sat 8 Dec 17:03

  20. Not a great game in terms of confidence in front of­ goal but at least, we have the 3 points. Gervinho was­ hard working but he missed good chances. He needs his­ confidence in front of goals. We were gifted with the­ pens anyway Next games will be Bradford (league cup)­ and Reading. COYG!!!

    From Sere, on Sat 8 Dec 16:57
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