At Hawthorns
The Game-Week 29 kicked off at the Hawthorns where West Bromwich Albion hosted Arsenal at 12.30 pm on Saturday. The bookmakers and the odds were in favour of Arsenal to win this fixture.
Team Line-ups
Arsenal starting XI
WBA starting XI
1st half Analysis
The match started by Arsenal kick and it was high intense clash with both the teams showing early sign of intent. It was the Baggies who drew the first blood through Dawson’s goal at the 12th min. Dawson rises above a host of Arsenal defenders to head the ball into the back of the net from Chadli’s corner.
It took only 3 minutes for the gunners to respond and it was their in-form star man Alexis Sanchez who level the scoring at the 15th minute. Sanchez receives the ball from the right, cuts inside and powers a volley beyond Foster from 8 yards.
Turning point
The crucial moment of the match came in 35th min when Arsenal goalie Petr Cech complained about a hamstring problem and Arsene Wenger was forced to sub Cech with the club’s 2nd choice goal keeper David Ospina.
The 1st half ended as 1-1 with Dawson & Sanchez sccoring for their respective teams.
2nd Half Analysis
Darren Fletcher restarts the game and they were attacking the Birmingham Road End. Rondon was subbed at 54th min and in came Robson-Kanu. With-in the minutes of stepping into the pitch, Robson-Kanu gave home side the lead. It was David Ospina’s fault that lead to the goal. Ospina failed to collect Chadli’s ball in and Robson-Kanu made the most of it as he scored the goal from 10 yards.
The Arsenal were chasing the game and in came super-sub Giroud for Theo Walcott at the 65th min. Arsenal forward Welbeck came close to level the scoring but the ball was slashed across the crossbar from a gooner corner with Arsenal trailing at 2-1. At the other end of the pitch it was Chadli who looked liike scoring when his shot was blocked on the line by Mustafi. Robson-Kanu tried to hit the ball from rebound, only for Ospina to save the shot.
It was Chadli in 74th min earned the corner for the Baggies and the shot was taken by McClean. It was met by Craig Dawson who scores through a brilliant header to score his 2nd and West Brom’s 3rd goal of the match.
The game was all but over for Arsenal. Although gunners enjoyed 77% of the possession they cannot find a way to break the baggies wall for the 2nd time. The Baggies played positively & defended the ball without any pressure. At the end, it was a deserved victory for Tony pulis & West Brom Albion.
Man of the Match
What it means for Wenger
For Arsene Wenger the pressure is mounting on him to leave Emirates at the end of the season. Arsenal fans were in a split mood where majority of the fans want Wenger to walk away after the current season is over, while some backed Wenger to stay. Arsenal fans demonstrated a protesting by flying a wenger out banner.
In-response to the #WeengerOut banner, an another banner was flyed out and it was carrying the backing for Arsene Wenger.
Arsene Wenger or Arsenal Wenger?
Over the years, the atmosphere is toxic at Emirates and the fans were protesting against Wenger’s regime. Arsene have done so much for the Arsenal and the Board of Management will leave it to Arsene Wenger to take the final call on his Emirates Career.
The Game 
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