West Bromwich Albion 1 Arsenal 2 : Match Report with Extended Match Highlights & Post Match Reaction

7th April 2013 By Jeff @ArsenalTrend & ArsenalSupremo 

Picture edit by @TheGunnersWay

Arsenal enhanced their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League with a 2-1 win over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday thanks to two goals from Tomas Rosicky, in each half of the crunch encounter. Arsenal now provisionally moved into the Champions League places as Chelsea and Spurs play on Sunday. The Gunners' sixth victory from their past seven Premier League matches enabled them to swap places with Chelsea, which can return to fourth place in the standings by beating Sunderland on Sunday.

Tomas Rosicky scored in the 20th and 50th minutes at the Hawthorns for his first league goals this season. He has only found the net once before this campaign, against Olympiakos in the Champions League. The Czech Republic international scored either side of half-time in an enthralling Premier League clash at The Hawthorns that saw the Gunners climb to fourth place in the table. Arsene Wenger's side were coasting to victory until Per Mertesacker was sent off after he brought down Albion striker Shane Long inside the box. James Morrison converted the resulting penalty but despite a sustained period of pressure, the home side were unable to find an equalizer.

West Brom threatened with a succession of corners in the early stages and almost grabbed the lead when Chris Brunt's delivery was glanced towards goal by Claudio Yacob at the near post, but Rosicky nodded off the line. A neat passing move in the 16th minute saw Long released down the right flank, only for the Republic of Ireland international to drag his shot wide. Wenger's side remained patient, though, and were rewarded with the opening goal slightly against the run of play four minutes later through Rosicky. Mikel Arteta used his vision to pick out Gervinho on the left edge of the penalty area and he twisted and turned Gareth McAuley before picking out Rosicky, who directed a powerful header in from close range.

Arsenal goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski made an important save shortly afterwards when he dived to save a low Brunt free-kick struck through the wall. The visitors' neat passing created an opening for Ivory Coast forward Gervinho in the 28th minute and he managed to angle a shot through a crowd of bodies that Albion goalkeeper Ben Foster saved with his foot. West Brom's defense struggled to cope with Arsenal's intricate style and their back line was opened again shortly before half-time. A brilliant move involving several Arsenal players left Wales international Aaron Ramsey with a golden opportunity from close range, but he screwed his shot wide.

Arsenal maintained their intensity after the interval and increased their advantage five minutes in when Rosicky claimed his second of the game. Ramsey's clever ball found the Czech, who saw an initial shot parried by Foster, but he was quickest to react and buried a low shot under the body of the goalkeeper. West Brom had a penalty appeal turned down by referee Howard Webb moments later when the ball seemed to strike the arm of Mertesacker while he was on the ground. Albion manager Steve Clarke introduced on-loan Chelsea forward Romelu Lukaku in a bid to freshen up his side's attack. The Belgium striker soon curled a dangerous free-kick over the Arsenal wall on the hour mark, but Fabianski had anticipated it and gathered well.

West Brom were then given a foothold in the game in the 71st minute when Mertesacker was shown a straight red card by Webb after he chopped down Long inside the penalty area. Morrison struck the resulting spot-kick to Fabianski's right and although the Arsenal goalkeeper guessed correctly, the shot had too much power and went under him. With the extra man advantage, Clarke's side dominated the remainder of the half in pursuit of the equalizer, but Arsenal's defense stood firm despite some nervous moments.

Lukaku should have shown more composure in the 83rd minute when he smashed the ball wide from a good position, while Long blazed over the bar a matter of minutes later. Romelu Lukaku and Long missed great chances to equalize late on. I Honestly cannot see anything as 'easy run-in' for Arsenal. Games against Stoke, Sunderland & WBA has proven otherwise. Norwich comes next for the Gunners at the Emirates. Tougher times ahead, but today showed Arsenal can soar high.

Line Ups 

West Brom: Foster, Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell, Yacob, Brunt, Dorrans (Lukaku 62), Morrison, Thomas (Rosenberg 62), Long.
Subs Not Used: Myhill, Popov, Tamas, Fortune, Isaiah Brown.
Booked: Jones, Ridgewell.
Goals: Morrison (pen) 71.

Arsenal: Fabianski, Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Rosicky (Gibbs 81), Ramsey, Gervinho (Vermaelen 73), Cazorla (Coquelin 89), Arteta, Giroud.
Subs Not Used: Mannone, Podolski, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jenkinson.
Sent Off: Mertesacker (70).
Booked: Ramsey, Rosicky, Koscielny, Arteta.
Goals: Rosicky 20, 50.
Attendance: 26,144
Referee: Howard Webb

Arsenal Players Twitter Reaction

good match today! three points! #WBAvAFC #welcomeNacho twitter.com/19SCazorla/sta…

— Santi Cazorla (@19SCazorla) April 6, 2013

Well done 3 points !! On the way back #home #GunnersPoldi

— Lukas-Podolski.com(@Podolski10) April 6, 2013

Great win lads. Strong 3 points.
— Jack Wilshere (@JackWilshere) April 6, 2013

West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Clarke:

"I thought we played well today. They scored in the first half with one of the very few chances they created. We had good control in the first half but didn't really create enough.

"We could have had a penalty for a challenge on Claudio Yacob on the edge of the box [by Laurent Koscielny]. On another day that was a penalty and would have changed the complexion of the afternoon.

"We were disappointed to lose the second goal at the start of the second half. It was crucial for us to get back in it and we gave away another soft goal, a bad goal to lose.

Arsene Wenger Reaction :

"We know we have one target - to win our games. Then we don't have to look at Tottenham or Chelsea. "If we lose our games, then you have to look at the results of the others. Our attitude is simple, we have to win the games.

"Can we finish fourth? I believe we will do it. We are conscious as well we have to give 100 per cent commitment in every game and it will be difficult and edgy to the end.

"We are ready for the fight and we always tell the players 'don't look at everyone else, just focus on ourselves'."

Arsene Wenger Interview
Press Conference
Tomas Rosicky Reaction
New : Arteta & Sagna reaction's 

ArsenalSupremo tweeted out on Twitter to get Arsenal fans there opinions on what they thought on the game here are just a few of them. Remember if you wanted to get involved follow us on Twitter or just comment below on what you thought on the Gunners performance to get involved with the fans.

@arsenal_supremo My heart hurts
— Messi Minutes (@MessiMinutes) April 6, 2013

@arsenal_supremo some lovely football at times and we dug in when we needed to. Very impressive performance. #UTA
— Arsenal1886 (@SantiPod_AFC) April 6, 2013

@arsenal_supremo very important that we got the 3 points, WBA getting a 2nd goal and dropping 2 crucial points may have been demoralizing
— AFCinNYC (@AFCinNYC) April 6, 2013

@arsenal_supremo Apart from Rosicky, I was really impressed by Ramsey. Mistook him for Wilshere at one point. Great managing by Wenger.
— ArsenAli (@AleeArsenal) April 6, 2013

@arsenal_supremo Another crucial away win, puts pressure on spurs minus bale + defoe against everton. Could be a season defining victory.
— Eric (@EJPenny) April 6, 2013

Stats and Facts  

1.Tomas Rosicky scored his first Premier League goal for Arsenal since February 2012 and this was the first time he has scored more than one goal in a league game for the club

2. Tomas Rosicky scored his 14th and 15 league goals of his Arsenal career.

3. Arsenal have now been given the most red cards in the Premier League this season (4)

4. Arsenal are yet to lose a Premier League game that they have taken the lead in this season (W16 D2)

5. Gervinho: Last 3 games 2 goals 3 assists

6. Minutes per goal involvement (mins/goals+assists) in 2012-13 Premier League Gervinho one every 117 mins, Gareth Bale every 119.

7. Gervinho has the same number of goal assists as Gareth Bale this season

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