The win was all important here, and we got it. The disappointing first half display can be forgotten. Two second half goals gave us victory, and with West Brom playing a 5-5-0 formation, it was never likely to be more than that. Let us look at the positives. We kept yet another clean sheet, and Wenger has selection problems up front and in defence, something that has not occurred in quite a while. We are winning games while not playing well which is what normally makes championship winning form. We are also likely to beat our points total from last season. So we now have second place in our own hands, and with wins against Liverpool and Everton we can breathe easy for the last game at Brum - while in our fancy dress of course!!
Key Incidents:
Goal (Arsenal) (66) - Does Robin score tap ins? So far each of his goals in the first team have been something special and this was no exception as his first touch took him back towards goal and away from the defender and while slipping, he managed to bend a shot into the far corner.
Goal (Arsenal) (90) - After West Brom elected to keep the ball in play when it was heading out for a throw, the ball bounced off of Gilberto and into the path of Dennis. He took a touch before putting Edu through and his shot, despite the keeper getting a big touch on it, found the net. Sadly that will probably be the last goal he scores for us.
Man Of The Match - Philippe Senderos
Player Ratings
Jens Lehmann - 7 - Had only one shot to save in the whole match. He spent most of his time picking up balloons from the pitch! Again, he dealt well with the crosses that came in.
Ashley Cole - 6 - I hardly noticed he was playing for the first twenty minutes. He came in and out of the game, but did much better towards the end of the game, making good runs and stifling their attacks.
Kolo Toure - 7 - Had a solid game - he is doing enough (along with Swiss Phil) to ensure that Campbell isn't immediately selected, which has never happened before.
Philippe Senderos - 8 - Clean sheet Phil! Yet another one for him, and some of the tackles he made were amazing. I fully expect him to keep his place for the rest of the season. Did you see his post match interview? If not I recommend you do - straight from the Arsene Wenger School of press conferences!
Lauren - 7 - Can't fault him in this game, his passing was generally good and his man only got around him once.
Robert Pires - 6 - He, like Ash, drifted in and out of the game. In some spells he looked like opening the up, and in others he looked like he would rather be elsewhere!
Patrick Vieira - 7.5 - A close contender for Man Of The Match. He stared excellently, and dominated the play. He linked the play well and sent a decent effort just over. The same pattern continued in the second half and he ended the game on a high, with the away section singing his name.
Gilberto - 7 - He is the hardest player to talk about for me. One simple reason for this is that he does the same thing every game! He just sits back, helps soak up pressure and then provides a more attacking option when we are in possession.
Cesc Fabregas - 7 - He is adapting well to life on the right wing, and he played well there in this match.
Jose Reyes - 6.5 - Back to the same old routine then! I thought his goal last Monday may have given him a lift, but he returned to putting in the effort but getting no end result. Example being his run which took him past 3 defenders and the keeper, yet he still didn't put the ball away.
Robin Van Persie - 7 - He worked hard throughout, and dug in. A few weeks on the weights over the summer and he'll be an excellent proposition for next season.
Subs:
Dennis Bergkamp - 6.5 - Set up the late second goal.
Edu - 6.5 - Managed to get on the score sheet before full time, but I doubt we'll see him do that again!