Arsenal Tekuk West Brom 1-0 Berkat Gol Danny Wellbeck
Welbeck Delighted with `Vital Three Points` as Wenger Silence Critics
Editor : Ismail Gani
Translator : Novita Cahyadi
West Bromwich, Inggris (B2B) - Danny Welbeck membawa Arsenal kembali ke tren positif setelah dua pertandingan Liga Inggris tanpa kemenangan dengan mengalahkan West Brom 1-0 di The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, Sabtu malam,
Menit enam Alexis menerima bola dari tengah dan berlari cepat menuju pertahanan West Brom. Kemudian Alexis menendang lurus ke arah gawang, tetapi bisa dihentikan Foster.
Empat menit kemudian, Arsenal melakukan serangan balik dengan Cazorla menerima umpan di dekat kotak. Cazorla kemudian melesakkan tendangann ke arah gawang, tetapi bisa diblok Dawson, seperti dilansir Yahoo Sports.
Pasukan Arsene Wenger memulai musim Liga Inggris dengan buruk, hanya menang di empat laga di 12 laga pembuka mereka.
Menit 23 Monreal harus ditarik keluar karena cedera dan digantikan Kieran Gibbs.
Pemain West Brom, Mulumbu salah memberikan bola di dekat kotak penalti, lalu disambar oleh Ramsey. Namun, tendangannya melebar.
Salah satu dari dua pertemuan terakhir antara Arsenal dan West Brom, yakni berakhir seri 1-1. Dan Arsenal bisa memenangi laga di Piala Liga lewat adu penalti 4-3.
Di babak kedua Berahino mendapat bola dan langsung berlari ke arah gawang Arsenal, tetapi wasit mengibarkan bendera tanda offside.
Menit 54 Berahino hampir membuat tim tuan rumah unggul ketika lolos dari jebakan offside. Kemudian masuk ke kotak penalti Arsenal, tetapi tendangannya sedikit melebar.
Namun enam menit kemudian, tim tamu justru unggul lebih dulu lewat lesakkan Danny Welbeck. Berawal dari Cazorla yang mengirim umpan silang ke tengah kotak penalti, yang kemudian disambut sundulan Welbeck.
Menit 78 Wenger menggantikan Giroud dengan Oxlade-Chamberlian yang bermain cemerlang ketika melawan Dortmund beberapa waktu lalu.
Menit 81 Arsenal gagal membersihkan bola di kotak penalti dan dimanfaatkan Berahino, tetapi menyentuh mistar gawang.
Kali ini giliran Gardner yang menusuk pertahanan Arsenal. Tetapi bernasih sama dengan Berahino, tendangannya melebar.
West Bromwich, England - Danny Welbeck struck as Arsenal's resurgent end to November was consolidated with a hard-fought 1-0 win at West Brom in the Premier League.
Consecutive defeats domestically - following a 3-3 draw with Anderlecht in the UEFA Champions League, which saw Arsenal throw away a three-goal lead - had seen Arsene Wenger's ability to guide the London club to further silverware this season questioned.
However, a 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund in midweek proved Arsenal's capabilities against European opposition and the grit displayed at The Hawthorns will have enthused Wenger.
Arsenal were always in control of the contest and could have won by more, but Welbeck's second-half header was ultimately enough to secure the points on a day the England striker found himself on the left wing due to Olivier Giroud's return from injury.
Laurent Koscielny stepped back into the Arsenal defence to add a degree of calm and control, the Frenchman largely keeping the in-form Saido Berahino at arm's length throughout.
The recent England call-up hit the bar in the closing stages, but a deserved third defeat in a row without scoring leaves Alan Irvine's side looking nervously over their shoulders as the bottom half of the Premier League bunches up.
Koscielny and Giroud returned to Arsenal's XI after respective eight-week and three-month injury absences, though a lack of goalkeeping options saw Emiliano Martinez make a first Premier League start.
The Argentinian was afforded a comfortable outing in truth, though his opposite number Ben Foster had to be sharp early on to deny Santi Cazorla and Alexis Sanchez as Arsenal dominated the opening exchanges.
Wenger was dealt a blow midway through the half as left-back Nacho Monreal was forced off and replaced by Kieran Gibbs, further adding to Arsenal's fitness woes in a week that saw Jack Wilshere ruled out for three months.
Foster did well to close the space as Welbeck was fed by Aaron Ramsey, before surrendering possession cheaply to Giroud, but the Frenchman could not hit the net from a narrow angle.
Ramsey himself went close shortly before half-time, but the sides went in at the break level despite Arsenal firing in eight shots on goal to the hosts' zero.
Arsenal continued to dominate in the second half and, though Berahino hit the side-netting, their persistence was rewarded just before the hour mark.
Cazorla broke down the left flank and past Andre Wisdom before clipping an inviting cross which Welbeck powered beyond Foster - though the keeper could perhaps have done better having got a glove to the effort.
The goal finally sparked West Brom's attack into life, but Berahino saw his looping header bounce back off the woodwork and Ramsey got a crucial toe to Craig Gardner's fierce drive.
The well-earned points move Arsenal back into top-four contention, though a midweek meeting with Southampton and subsequent trip to Stoke City will once again provide an examination.
