Arsenal v West Brom: Chris Lepkowski's match report and player ratings

Sep 23 2009 by Chris Lepkowski

Shame really as Albion had looked positive from the start. Thomas took on Kieran Gibbs in the 11th minute and looked to be away from the young left-back only to be brought down.

In the 17th minute, Filipe Teixeira brought Graham Dorrans' pass under control. He rolled it into Robert Koren's path but the Slovenian's low left-footed shot curled just away from Wojciech Szczesny's left-hand post.

Arsenal came to life at the other end. Wilshere exchanged passes with Gibbs before sending in a low cross for Sanchez Watt. His shot hit the base of the post before rolling into the Dean Kiely's hands. Relief for the visitors.

Simon Cox, lively throughout his time on the field, went close with a shot but was denied by the Polish keeper's save with the energetic Koren then saw his shot deflected away.

That was pretty much Albion's best spell.

Then came the moment referee Lee Mason sent Thomas away with a bar of soap, flannel and a pre-heated bath towel.

The 10-man Baggies maintained their shape after the break, with Cox and Moore alternating as the furthest man forward but it was futile. The ball wasn't sticking at the top and, when it did, there weren't enough bodies loitering near to Arsenal's penalty area.

Youssouf Mulumbu came on and picked up where he'd left off following his excellent performance at Middlesbrough but it wasn't enough to deny Arsenal's opening goal.

Substitute Carlos Vela smashed a low shot which Kiely parried. The ball fell for for Sanchez Watt, who slotted in the rebound long before anyone else knew what was happening.

And Vela made it two in the 77th minute. Mark Randall tried to beat Kiely with a lobbed shot. The ball struck the bar, Barnett tried to chest it down for Kiely but Vela sneaked in to finish off the chance.

It was unfortunate for Barnett who had one of those games so commonly associated with his Albion career. His long legs enable him to claw the ball away with vital challenges and excellent tackles - yet you always get the nagging feeling that an error isn't far away. It was hard luck on Barnett, who, when left to basic defending, is perhaps Albion's best tackler among the back-line - it's only his distribution and decision-making which lets him down.

So Albion go out. Not a major surprise but - cliche alert - it allows them to nail some more points towards their promotion challenge. It's just a shame that, following Thomas' sending-off, Di Matteo has one selection poser he could really have done without.

ARSENAL (4-4-2): Szczesny, Gilbert, Senderos, Silvestre, Gibbs, Wilshere, Coquelin (Randall 58), Ramsey, Traore, Watt, Sanu (Vela 58). Subs: Shea (gk), Barazite, Bartley, Eastmond, Frimpong.

ALBION (4-4-2): Kiely 6, Zuiverloon 6, Barnett 6, Olsson 7 (Meite 80), Jara 7, Thomas 6, Dorrans 7, *Koren 8, Teixeira 6, Cox 7 (Mulumbu 62, 7), Moore 6 (Wood 75, 5). Subs: Carson (gk), Martis, Bednar, Reid.

REFEREE: L Mason (Lancashire).

ATTENDANCE: 56,592