This past Sunday Arsenal travelled to the Hawthorns looking to keep up their impeccable away record. West Brom have been impressive under Steve Clarke’s stewardship and were well-deserved victors on the road at Old Trafford last week.
Arsenal engaged West Brom in what can only be described as a bland first half. Much of that was down to the organization and compact nature of the home sides tactics.
Arsenal could barely string together flowing passing moves; an issue that seems to be down to playing too many similar types of midfielders. There was little width in Arsenal’s play having Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey in the wide areas. West Brom were all too happy to have play concentrated down the centre as Youssouf Mulumbu and Claudio Yacob snuffed out threats time and time again.
West Brom were arguably the better side fashioning chances of their own including a fierce drive from new kid on the block Saido Berahino forcing a save out of Wojciech Szczesny.
Mikel Arteta’s return to fitness almost seems to be a hindrance for the side with in form Aaron Ramsey pushed towards the flank to accommodate him. Though he gave a decent performance, the move seems to have hindered the free-scoring midfielder.
West Brom’s composure on the ball paid dividends 3 minutes before halftime as Mulumbu fed the ball to Amalfitano down the right wing and he swept a ball towards the front post allowing Yacob to head in from close range.
After the break Arsenal made a slight improvement but could easily have been two down had Anelka dispatched his chance in front of goal. It was clear Arsenal were not on their game but through an optimistic effort from Jack Wilshere, the shot took a deflection, enough to bounce past Boaz Myhill and bring the away side on level terms in the 63rd minute.
The equalizer set the scene for an open and tense last 15 minutes as both sides wanted more than to just share the points but aside from a break into the box by Giroud that was smothered by Myhill, there was no guilt-edge chances of note. Both sides may be satisfied with the result as long as the tests in upcoming weeks bear greater fruit.
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