However, more importantly for Arsenal, they had secured third place and an automatic place in next seasons Champions League group stages with a 3-2 win over West Brom on Sunday afternoon. Yossi Benayoun scored in his last game in an Arsenal shirt as he is set to return to Chelsea after being on loan for the season. Andre Santos, who had his best game for the Gunners grabbed a goal whilst Laurent Koscielny won the game for Arsenal and sent them into next seasons Champions League. The game was also a fitting end to Assistant Manager and Ex-player, Pat Rice as he bidded farewell to Arsenal after 44 years at the club as he retires.
Arsenal made a few changes to the side that drew with Norwich the week before as Jenkinson came in for the injured Sagna. Santos replaced Gibbs and Coquelin came in for Aaron Ramsey. Theo Walcott, who was expected to miss the rest of the season, returned from injury as he was a substitute.
 |
| Laurent Koscielny scored the winner to seal third place in the table |
6 minutes later, West Brom were level. Morrison managed to skip past the challenge of Coquelin before playing the ball through to Long who went clear on goal before firing past Szczesny for the equaliser.
The game was then turned on its head and it looked like being a repeat of Norwich last week as West Brom took the lead. Morrison was again allowed to find room for the pass as he picked out Dorrans who got between two Arsenal defenders before burying the ball beyond Szczesny.
Arsenal were then level again. Song dispossessed Mulumbu before finding Santos who struck a shot from distance which was going in, but was helped by Fulop who could only parm the ball into the back of the net.
Gervinho then almost put the Gunners ahead as he got clear of Ridgewell before firing the ball into the side netting from a tight angle.
The score at half time was 2-2.
Andre Santos created the first good chance of the second half as he unleashed a shot from the edge of the penalty area but the ball went wide of the far post.
Arsenal were looking the most likely to score and they did just that as they took the lead through Laurent Koscielny. It was Fulop, who was at fault once again as he punched Van Persie's corner straight into the path of Koscielny who was left with an easy finish to fire the Gunners infront from close range.
Keith Andrews then tested Szczesny out for the first real time in the game as he struck a shot from just outside the area which was beaten away by the Arsenal goalkeeper.
Van Persie, who hadn't had a shot in the match was then able to find room to bag his 31st goal of the season as Song played the ball through to him but he scuffed his shot high and wide of the goal.
Arsenal's Champions League hopes for next season then looked to be over as Billy Jones got into the penalty area but Gibbs came in to make a brilliant tackle just as the West Brom man was about to hit the shot.
That was indeed to be the final chance of the match as the score finished Arsenal 3-2 West Brom.
The teams lineups:
West Brom: Fulop, Jones, McAuley, Olsson, Ridgewell, Dorrans(80), Morrison(52), Mulumbu, Cox(74), Long, Fortune.
Subs: Daniels, Shorey, Dawson, Hurst, Scharner(80), Andrews(52), Odemwingie(74).
Arsenal: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Santos(80), Song, Coquelin, Rosicky(46), Gervinho(67), Benayoun, Van Persie.
Subs: Fabianski, Djourou, Gibbs(67), Ramsey(80), Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott(46), Chamakh.
My man of the match: Yossi Benayoun
Referee: Michael Jones
Attendance: 26,358
No comments:
Post a Comment