Agencies
London, November 29
Danny Welbeck scored the only goal as Arsenal recorded a 1-0 triumph away to West Bromwich Albion. Welbeck’s second-half header from a Santi Cazorla delivery proved to be decisive, securing three points that temporarily moves the Gunners into the Premier League’s top four.
On a negative note for Arsene Wenger, the North Londoners sustained a fresh injury worry, with Nacho Monreal forced out of the fray. First-choice left-back Kieran Gibbs replaced the Spaniard.
Early on at The Hawthorns, Arsenal threatened regularly, with Cazorla, twice, and Alexis Sanchez being denied, before a heavy touch prevented Welbeck from enjoying a one-on-one with Ben Foster.
The former Birmingham City goalkeeper made a fine save to prevent Welbeck from giving the largely dominant Gunners the lead, following a neat pass down the channel by Aaron Ramsey, but a couple of minutes thereafter almost gifted a goal to Olivier Giroud, who was unable to hit the target from an extremely difficult angle.
Ramsey was another to go close to breaking the deadlock, receiving a short pass from Cazorla after a Youssouf Mulumbu mistake but striking just wide of the target, as the hosts survived to the interval.
A minute into the second period, Saido Berahino was incorrectly flagged offside and denied a clear run at goal, setting the tone for a far more open and even affair than the first half had been, with chances going unconverted at both ends.
It was the Gunners, though, who made the most of the freedom, as Cazorla skilfully skinned Andre Wisdom and lifted a cross into the centre, where Welbeck climbed to plant a header home, via a strong hand from Foster.
West Brom pressed gallantly for a leveller – Per Mertesacker blocked a stinging Chris Brunt drive, Berahino headed a Cristian Gamboa centre onto the crossbar, and Craig Gardner had a strike deflected narrowly wide – but The Baggies were unable to rescue a point.
