Arsenal player ratings vs West Brom: Smith Rowe, Pepe & Willian strike

Arsenal beat West Brom 3-1 in the Premier League on Sunday as goals from Emile Smith Rowe, Nicolas Pepe and Willian helped Mikel Arteta’s side cruise to three points, and relegate the Baggies in the process.

Mikel Arteta opted to make six changes to his side from the one that woefully bowed out of the Europa League on Thursday, with Gabriel Martinelli coming in at centre-forward in the most noteworthy alteration.

It was the visitors who started brightest, with Matheus Pereira flashing to stinging drives just past the post as Arsenal began in sluggish fashion. Isolating the Brazilian on the left flank, the Gunners couldn’t get any control.

When they did, it was excruciatingly slow again. No speed in anything, Dani Ceballos holding onto the ball too long, if anything was going to come off for Arsenal it would be through Bukayo Saka or Emile Smith Rowe. And it was.

Arsenal player ratings vs West Brom: Emile Smith Rowe scores first Premier League goal in 3-1 win

Saka found Smith Rowe after some neat play on the left, setting up the 20-year-old to hit a well-taken volley for his first Premier League goal. The goal lifted Arsenal from their slump, and then Pepe nearly lifted the roof off with a stunning hit from distance.

It was all Arsenal in the second half with West Brom truly giving in in their faint hopes of survival.

Smith Rowe and Alexandre Lacazette came closest to adding to the scoreline, but then Matheus Pereira carried the ball nearly half the pitch and smashed one if off the post unchallenged.

Arsenal lost any rhythm at that point and the Baggies were the ones more likely to snatch a fourth goal. Another exceedingly unappealing match came and went with Arsenal not setting the world alight, until Willian scored the single greatest goal in football history. In all seriousness, though, it was a wonderful free-kick.

Arsenal Goalkeeper & Defenders Ratings

Bernd Leno (GK) – 6/10 – Made a couple of clever takes from crosses, but was never truly tested with West Brom’s early efforts flying inches wide of the upright. Did well with balls in though, and could do nothing about the goal.

Calum Chambers (RB) – 6/10 – Given freedom to pick up places in wide areas and in midfield, where he supported the attack well. Solid outing for the defender is now a valuable member of this squad and the best right-back at the club. That doesn’t say much, granted, but he’s someone to keep round next season and not worry about too much.

Rob Holding – 6/10 – Cleared whatever came into the box well as he always does with his head, which he’s much better with than his feet, although the opening stages of the game didn’t cover him in great light.

Neither for the third goal on the night, where he and the rest of the defence continued backing off so much they may as well have been sat in the North Bank.

Gabriel (CB) – 6/10 – It was a solid outing for Gabriel who should be playing every game between now and the end of the season – all three of them. He was untroubled and calm up until the West Brom goal, where a dreadful piece of defending granted Matheus Pereira all the time to pick his spot, which he did superbly.

Bukayo Saka  (LB) – 8/10 – Bukayo Saka doing a wonderful job at left-back? How revolutionary. It almost feels like it could have worked at other points this season when Arsenal were in need of someone to fill in for that position? The caveat is, of course, that it’s West Brom, but with sample size behind it, why not use what you know?

In terms of Sunday, he was excellent again. Magnificent.

Arsenal Midfielders Ratings

Mohamed Elneny (CM) – 6/10 – Usual situation with Elneny where he doesn’t do much wrong just as he doesn’t do much right. He started the game poorly and was caught out on a number of occasions as West Brom started brightly, before calming down and popping up with a few great blocks and tackles.

Dani Ceballos (CM) – 5/10 – All the complaints previously directed at Granit Xhaka about being too slow to release apply to Ceballos even more. He is painful to watch as he hogs possession like that annoying kid at school, every so often laying off a neat pass but not before taking three or four unnecessary touches.

Just three games to go.

Emile Smith Rowe (AM) – 7/10 – Constantly moving in behind Martinelli and made the runs beyond in the channels to help open spaces for Pepe to cut inside. He was on of the shining lights in a fairly drab game despite the goals, with him and Saka being the picks.

His goal was superb technique on his left foot, and just rewards for his efforts. Went off with a worrying hamstring pull.

Arsenal Forwards Ratings

Nicolas Pepe (RW) – 6/10 – Scored an absolute screamer having cut in on his left foot, the kind that Arsenal should be seeing more of. He has this talent within him. No 45 minutes of football sums him up better than the first, where he was hopeless trying to beat his marker on the left flank, losing possession regularly but still working his socks off.

Then, he smacks one in the top corner: Pepe in a nutshell.

It was about all he did. Would definitely score lower were it not for the screamer. He gets a thunderbastard bonus point.

Gabriel Martinelli (ST) – 5/10 – His audition in the centre-forward role was distinctly more quiet than Martinelli, and every single person attributed to the club, would’ve liked. He kept receiving the ball to feet and the lack of service had an impact on him as he felt the urge to come short just to get a feel of possession.

He’s still learning.

Willian (LW) – 6/10 – Arsenal’s left side was their most dangerous outlet all evening, one that miraculously Willian was on.

Were him and Saka linking up well? Yes, they were, but Willian’s part in that was mere simple passes for him to collect from which he did the rest. Aside from that the Brazilian was his usual poor self, losing possession and having zero courage to take his man on. However, he grew into the game as the match wore on and in the end put in a fairly decent outing, in truth.

AND HE SCORED A GOAL IN RED AND WHITE. AND WHAT A BEAUTY IT WAS!!!!! REALLY!!!!

Arsenal Substitutes Ratings

Alexandre Lacazette – 6/10 – Came inches from grabbing a third and overall added a physical presence in attack that was missing with Martinelli.

Kieran Tierney – 7/10 – Was lively down the left flank and needed the minutes he got, where he looked morelike his usual self adding an option in the forward line. Delivered some great balls into the box.

Thomas Partey – N/A – Didn’t do a great deal having come on.