EPL Report: Arsenal versus West Bromwich Albion – Arsenal’s failure to contain Wigan at home could prove the worst (part 3)
On the seventy third minute mark, West Brom made it three goals to nil. Thomas managed to ghost into the Arsenal area and slammed the ball into the back of the net. This time again the only person to blame for that goal, was Arsenals 'very
reliable' keeper Manuel Almunia. The keeper was caught sleeping on the job again and hence made a routine save seem like something that was impossible to keep out. It was the keeper’s lack of ability to play football that saw Arsenal get crushed on the night.
Two minutes later, the only Arsenal player on the pitch, who actually seemed to be playing got a goal back for the team. Nasri received the wall well wide of the goal, however he went on a signature solo run, as he jinked past numerous
West Brom defenders, before slotting the ball into the back of the net, with a very precise and inch perfect finish.
Arsenal were clearly missing their Captain Cesc Fabregas, who would help provide with the inspiration in such moments, but with the Spaniard missing it was up to Nasri to help the team launch a fight back.
In the dying minutes of the game, Arsenal seemed to turn on their ultra offensive mode, as all the players started to line up out side the West Brom area, looking to score a goal and try and get the team back in the game.
It was one of those moments that had happened earlier in the opening game of the season against Liverpool which resulted in a 1–1 draw. Arsene Wenger does seem to have the knack of turning his play making team into strikers suddenly.
However it could have been no one other then Nasri, to get the team back in the game. The French midfielder, raced towards the West Brom goal, and slid a delicately placed ball beyond Carson, for the second time on the night. However when
the ball crossed the line, the clock read ninety one minutes. This meant that Arsenal did not have time to favour them as they went searching for a third goal, which would see them salvage one point from the game.
The time soon ran out, with Arsenal failing to get the third goal, to no ones surprise. While the Arsenal fans were booing their team’s performance, the West Brom fans were gong ecstatic, since neither one of them would have predicted
what was going to happen on the night.
The man of the match on the night was former Arsenal player and current West Brom player, Jermoe Thomas. There seems to be a curse of former players, that Arsenal suffers from, since almost every player that has left the team, has come
back to haunt them in the future.
That being said, the worst player on the pitch on the night was quite easily, Manuel Almunia. The keeper was back to his very best at being the worst keeper possible and this time he cost Arsenal the opportunity to go within a point of
the league leaders.
All the Arsenal fans would be hoping that Wenger was watching the keeper’s shambolic display and hoping that perhaps the manager would now, finally spend some of the clubs money, to sing a new keeper in the January transfer window.
Arsenal, cannot and will not be in contention for any titles, if Almunia continues to play in goal for them. Wenger needs to recognize this fact; otherwise some might start questioning his role as manager at the club.
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