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The game itself saw Arsenal with a team that picked itself and a bench that had Song, Almunia, Cygan, Quincy and Eboue sitting on it. Arsenal kicked away from the travelling Gooners in the first half. One lino opened proceedings by giving Kanu a corner for a ball that he clearly kicked off for a goal kick; Lauren headed the corner clear. Clichy cleared following an iffy free kick decision and then we settled. West Brom opened with a 4-4-2.
A fine run by Clichy as ‘You’re supposed to be at home’ was the Gooners opener. Dennis to Flamini who had his shot blocked, then the Baggies scrambled clear Lauren’s cross. Freddie had a strange headed cross but there was no one to meet it. A Pires' run was followed by Dennis picking the wrong ball, presumably not seeing Lauren who was in acres of space on our right. A nasty OTT tackle by Watson on Fabregas earned a deserved yellow card, it may or may not have accounted for Cesc’s somewhat sub-standard game today. Arsenal were looking good, the rhythm was coming and Flamini did well then found Cesc, who gave it to Dennis who won a corner from his shot. Corners have improved greatly this season and Reyes took this one from our right wing. Senderos met it perfectly, getting in front of his marker and rifling home a volley, his first goal for Arsenal. 0-1 and looking good.
Another great move which ended with a fine chip from the Iceman, but Kirkland tipped it over. Lehmann was untroubled generally but read a Baggie attack well and was out quickly. A poor Pires’ clearance set up a West Brom shot that went wide. A fast break had Dennis finding Freddie who dragged his shot wide in another good move. Freddie won a free kick that never was as Barry Knight and his assistants continued to get things wrong. Philippe ended a fortunate West Brom break, then Rob put Clichy in trouble but Kolo headed clear a fine cross. A short spell of pressure from West Brom ended with Jens catching a high cross. Another cross from Albrechtsen was caught low by Jens.
To date Flamini was our best player, Cesc was off his game and I think Pires was on the pitch but there was no evidence to prove it. Dennis too, in his 400th. match for the Gunners, was off form and Reyes looked the part in bursts. Rob finally appeared on the pitch and fired a shot that Kirkland held at his second attempt. Clichy appeared to be running off a knock. There was a great move involving Rob, Dennis and a Jose cross. Dennis got through but the keeper saved well again at the expense of another corner. Freddie limped off to be replaced by Eboue right side midfield, where I thought he looked rather lost.
Within two minutes Kanu had equalised and it has to be said Senderos might have done better with his headed clearance. A well-taken goal though, giving Jens no chance, 1-1 and their crowd woke up. ‘We forgot that you were here’.
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At half time an old boy by the name of Vic Stirrup, an 86 year old was named as the Barclay fan of the month. No big deal you might say except his attendance record is absolutely phenomenal. Vic has missed just five games WBA since the end of World War Two and we’re talking home and aways here it seems. That’s over three thousand games! He deservedly got a huge round of applause from the entire ground, well done to Vic who makes most of us seem like rather pathetic part-timers. Shouldn’t think he’s seen too much of Europe though!
Essentially the second half comprised of Arsenal pissing all over the Baggies without scoring. The lino opened with an incredibly poor wrong decision over a throw that was given to the home side, the same prat got Clichy booked later in the half. We failed to convert free kicks which was down to Reyes' lack of power today, not that Knight assisted too much as the walls were allowed to be far too close to the ball. Likewise he failed to count the seconds that Kirkland held on to the ball (about a week since you ask). Reyes wanted a pen but it didn’t look it to me. Whereas the hanging on to players, particularly hanging on to Senderos at corners, was rife. There could have been about ten penalties probably seven to us and three to them, but refs have let this rule be totally abused now. So much so that free kicks and corners have lost a lot of value.
A Reyes break saw Kirkland beat Dennis to the ball by the shortest of margins. More free kicks, more easy saves for Kirkland. Watson was lucky to stay on the field when he took out Fabregas. Eboue finally got into the game and did very well before giving it to Rob who didn’t do well at all. Eboue to Dennis who set up Cesc for a powerful shot that was very well saved. Clichy on a run to set up Reyes who’s low shot was just wide. All Arsenal, total one way traffic but we lacked conviction in front of goal. We certainly didn’t have as many shots as the possession and pressure warranted.
Another piss poor decision by a lino which got Clichy booked when he was clearly the one being held. Dennis cut in from our left and bent a peachy shot just over the bar. West Brom then had what I believe to be their second shot of the game. The ball sat up well for substitute Darren Carter who was on for Wallwork. He hit a rocket into the top corner, a brilliant goal but not deserved on the run of play. 2-1 to West Brom and we only had ourselves to blame through lack of finishing. More subs for West Brom plus a feigned injury that deserved a yellow card and a good kicking at least. An inexplicable substitution when Quincy replaced our best player Flamini, Lauren also had a very good game by the way and Jens couldn’t be faulted either. A great Senderos run won yet another free kick for us to waste via Reyes, on target again but lacking power. Dennis was taken out but referee Knight failed to suficiently punish the offender.
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The Hawthorns is a good viewing ground, or would be if the over zealous stewards and police didn’t stand in the way of many paying punters for the entire match. We are not Brum or Villa and certainly not Millwall, neither did I notice anything approaching a riot, so what was all that about? The refreshment facilities amount to just four serving staff for the full compliment of away fans so the queues were totally ridiculous and many gave up without joining them. Others waited forever to shuffle along and get a warm lager. There are no optional ‘away friendly’ pubs within reach otherwise no one in their right mind would enter the ground before kick off. I estimate the failure to provide sufficient staff, must have cost WBA about £5,000 in lost revenue on the day. Good! Following the match we were made to walk about twenty minutes in the wrong direction to most fans transport, we then had to circumnavigate the ground and pass back through all the West Brom fans – so what the feck was the point of that? Totally pointless – as was our trip of course.