Arsenal: 4 talking points from West Brom Premier League win

At the seventh time of asking Arsenal have won on home soil as Emile Smith Rowe, Nicolas Pepe and Willian netted in a 3-1 Premier League win that relegated West Brom in the process. Here are the talking points.

Mikel Arteta needed his side to win. Nothing more would have sufficed. In the opening exchanges of the match that wasn’t evident as Arsenal were put under early Baggies pressure, who came closest to opening the scoring through the excellent Matheus Pereira.

A total lack of tempo in the play, really sucking the life out of the occasion, was only going to be lifted through the feet of Bukayo Saka who was having an excellent game at left-back.

His combination play down that flank was Arsenal’s best outlet, which is precisely where the goal game as he fashioned a neat ball into the path of Emile Smith Rowe who volleyed home for his first Premier League goal for the club.

Arsenal: 4 talking points from West Brom Premier League win as Emile Smith Rowe, Nicolas Pepe and Willian score

A second followed shortly after as Nicolas Pepe’s thumping effort flew beyond Sam Johnstone and rifled into the top corner, to truly settle any lingering nerves.

The plan after the break was put the game to bed early on with a few inviting deliveries unable to be converted for the third, as Smith Rowe and Alexandre Lacazette both came close.

It became squeaky bum time when Pereira was given the freedom to carry the ball from his own half and pick his spot in the bottom corner with the Gunners’ defence backing off into the North Bank, which prompted more pressure from the visitors.

Just about holding firm as the match wore on, it was left to Willian to score a Puskas contender with a bending free-kick from 400 yards away, his first goal for club since joining from Chelsea sixteen years ago. In all seriousness, it was a wonderful free-kick.

The Reality of Willian’s Arsenal Career

Willian was one of the better players on the night. All of the positive play Arsenal produced came via a combination of the Brazilian and Bukayo Saka on the left, albeit majorly the work of the youngster who had Callum Robinson scampering to cover and Darnell Furlong unable to provide welcome support.

The pass was always on for Willian and it helped his confidence grow as the match wore on, where the runners kept providing the option in behind that he would never offer. No longer does he take his man on or play on the shoulder of defences, and matches on home soil against dreadful sides like West Brom may well be the level he needs to not be so hopeless. Home truths.

Everyone rightly waxes lyrical about his first goal for the club, but it’s taken 37 matches to come, from a dead ball, against a relegated side. A return so atrocious he may as well have been wearing a Chelsea shirt most of the times he’s turned out for Gunners.

He will not be part of this club’s future. At least not a positive part. Why play him at all? Reiss Nelson will leave in the summer with suitors only basing their opinions from Under-23 matches and what he did months ago.

We can all hope Arteta won’t see that goal as vindication for this signing. Fortunately he alluded otherwise in his post-match interview.