EPL Report: Arsenal versus West Bromwich Albion – Arsenal’s failure to contain Wigan at home could prove the worst (part 2)
The keeper however managed to make amends for his rush of blood to the head. Brunt stepped up to take the spot kick but Almunia got down to his right in time and denied the ball from rolling into the goal.
Over time it has been noticed that though Almunia can be labelled as the biggest klutz on the field, but still the goal keeper does possess the skill to impress on lookers.
In the last minute of stoppage time of the first half, Arshavin curled in a corner which was met by the head of Sagna. The ball was headed goal wards, but the out stretched Carson made a brilliant save to keep his side in the game.
The second half kicked off, with West Brom going on the offensive very early on. They seemed to have discussed a new game plan at the half time break and it seemed to be working. The team was taking the game to the home side’s left and
right wings and Arsenal didn't seem to have a reasonable response for this onslaught.
On the fiftieth minute, Odemwingie got the opening goal of the match for West Brom. Thomas did some brilliant work on the flank, as the winger made space before squaring the ball into the area, where it was met by Odemwingie who passed
the test with ease. The forward had the simplest of tasks of knocking the ball into the back of an empty net. Almunia had committed himself to the ball and was caught off his line, and along with the keeper the central defenders seemed to have turned off as
well. There was no one in the box marking the attacker; this just showed how much the team really missed their star Thomas Vermaelen.
Two minutes later, West Brom added more salt to Arsenal's wounds, but with some help from Almunia. Brunt played a ball into the path of Gonzalo Jara, who smashed the ball into an empty net. Almunia committed himself to the ball again,
but seemed to have a change of heart half way through, the keeper was caught in no mans land, with an empty net behind him. Had he stayed in or near the goal line, that ball would have been kept out with ease. Everyone was well aware of the fact, that it had
been a while since Almunia pulled off another one of his special, but it managed to take place against West Brom.
Arsenal could have pulled one back on the fifty eighth minute via Samir Nasri. The French player rushed towards the West Brom goal, with just the keeper to beat, however he couldn't keep his composure as he knocked the ball right into
the hands of the keeper.
The next goal scoring opportunity in the night fell to the head of Alexandre Song. The midfielder stormed his way into the West Brom box, to meet a looping cross, but managed to head the ball well over, with the goal at his mercy.
(continued in part 3)
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