Arteta penalties seal important victory

Mikel Arteta fired home two penalties as Arsenal returned to winning ways on Saturday at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners played so much better than they had in recent weeks and that was evident after 3 games without a win in the League. However Arsenal were quite lucky in the awarding of their two penalties as they put in a dominant display to beat West Brom 2-0. It was a huge relief for everyone associated with Arsenal as the Emirates crowd was back singing. A few changes were made to the side that lost to Swansea as Giroud and Sagna were back in the starting XI in place of Podolski and Jenkinson who were both on the bench. Meanwhile Oxlade-Chamberlain came in for the injured Theo Walcott.

Mikel Arteta fired home two penalties to win the game for Arsenal

The first shot on goal came from Gervinho as Vermaelen's scuffed header found the Ivorian but he put his effort wide.

Santi Cazorla was then able to try his luck from range as Wilshere layed the ball off to him but his attempt flew wide.

West Brom's first attempt on goal came from Brunt as he let fly from just inside the penalty area and the ball curled just past the post.

Shortly after, Arsenal were awarded a penalty after Santi Cazorla looked to have gone down under the challenge of Reid. However Reid had made no contact with the Spaniard but the spot kick was given anyway. It was Arteta who stepped up to take the penalty and he cooly slotted the ball down the middle to give the Gunners the lead. 

Arsenal then missed a great chance to go two in front as Gervinho got to the byline and passed the ball across goal and into the sliding Wilshere but the ball went wide.

Four minutes before the break Gervinho could've doubled the lead as the ball was played through to him but Myhill got down well to stop the shot.

The score at half time was 1-0 to Arsenal.

The first chance of the second half was a great one for Gervinho as Giroud knocked the ball down into him but he completely missed the ball and Myhill collected.

The Gunners then had another penalty and once again in controversial fashion. This time it was Oxlade-Chamberlain as he pushed over Popov but continued playing and then went down under the challenge of Brunt to set up Arteta with his second penalty of the afternoon. The Spaniard once again put the ball down the middle and it was 2-0 Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta then almost had his hat-trick as he tried his luck with a free-kick but the ball bounced just wide of the goal.

In the last minute of the game it should've been 3-0. Wilshere cut the ball back to Podolski who then took a few touches before somehow putting the ball over from six yards out.

The final score finished Arsenal  2-0 West Brom.

The teams lineups:

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Wilshere, Arteta, Cazorla(88), Oxlade-Chamberlain(78), Gervinho(81), Giroud.
Subs: Martinez, Squillaci, Jenkinson, Coquelin(78), Ramsey, Rosicky(81), Podolski(88). 

West Brom: Myhill, Reid, Olsson, McAuley, Ridgewell(6), Mulumbu, Brunt, Morrison, Gera(76), Odemwingie(63), Long. 
Subs: Daniels, Popov(6), Tamas, Dorrans, Rosenberg(76), Fortune, Lukaku(63). 

My man of the match: Jack Wilshere

Referee: Mike Jones
Attendance: 60,083