Alexandre Lacazette scored twice as Arsenal recorded a 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion in Monday night's Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium.
Club-record signing Lacazette netted a goal in either half - including one from the penalty spot - as the Gunners moved into seventh position in the Premier League table.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
7.01pmEvening all! Sports Mole's live Premier League coverage continues from the Emirates Stadium as Arsenal welcome West Bromwich Albion. Arsenal appear to have turned the corner in recent weeks after a difficult start to the season, although 10th-place West Brom will enter this match two places and one point above the Gunners in the Premier League table. Stay tuned for the action!
7.04pmWest Brom have won each of their last two home Premier League games against Arsenal, including a 3-1 victory when the two teams last locked horns in March. Arsenal recorded a 1-0 win in the corresponding league match at the Emirates last season, however, and the Gunners have not lost to the Baggies on home soil in the Premier League since a 3-2 defeat in September 2010.
7.07pmRight, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news from London. Both teams were in EFL Cup action last week, and both managers were expected to recall their big guns for this one. Has that occurred? Let's run through the two XIs for tonight's fixture...
© Offside
7.10pmTEAMS!
ARSENAL: Cech; Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Bellerin, Elneny, Xhaka, Kolasinac; Ramsey, Sanchez; Lacazette
WEST BROM: Foster; Nyom, Evans, Hegazi, Dawson, Gibbs; Livermore, Barry, Krychowiak; Robson-Kanu, Rodriguez
7.13pmAlexis Sanchez and Alexandre Lacazette both start for Arsenal tonight as head coach Arsene Wenger selects an attacking XI, but Mesut Ozil is only on the bench following a knee problem. Hector Bellerin and Sead Kolasinac continue in the wing-back positions, while there is a start in central midfield for Mohamed Elneny in central midfield as Danny Welbeck misses out with a groin problem.
7.16pmAs for West Brom, Gareth Barry becomes the Premier League's all-time leading appearance maker on 633 - moving past former Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs. Jake Livermore is also back in the Baggies XI after a break from football, while Hal Robson-Kanu and Jay Rodriguez are the two attackers in what is a 5-3-2 formation. Powerful forward Salomon Rondon is once again on the bench.
📷 Our skipper tonight...
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) September 25, 2017
All the best, Gareth!#ARSWBA #COYB #WBA pic.twitter.com/q6vqLxq1ZX
7.19pmSo there we have it. The two teams are in, and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff on this mild evening in London. I shall speak about the away side and their positive start to the season a little bit later, but let's start with Arsenal, who will be confident of continuing their decent form tonight.
7.22pmArsenal opened their 2017-18 Premier League campaign with a narrow win over Leicester City, but the Gunners then lost back-to-back away league games to Stoke City and Liverpool. At that point, it appeared to be more of the same for the Gunners, who were battling to keep hold of Sanchez. All was not well in the early weeks of the season, but the London club do appear to have turned a corner.
7.25pm
6 - Arsenal have won each of their last six Premier League games at the Emirates Stadium vs West Brom, conceding just one goal. Routine. pic.twitter.com/jeyF8u5DSf
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 25, 2017
7.28pmIndeed, they have won three of their last four matches across three separate competitions - beating Bournemouth and drawing with Chelsea in the league, in addition to wins over FC Koln and Doncaster Rovers in the Europa League and EFL Cup respectively. It would be fair to say that the two cup competitions currently in play are not high on Arsenal's list of priorities, but the Gunners were well worth their point against Premier League champions Chelsea at Stamford Bridge last weekend.
7.32pmA draw at Chelsea was a big step in the right direction, and although Arsenal are currently down in 12th position, Wenger's side will face West Brom, Brighton & Hove Albion and Watford in their next three Premier League matches. In truth, Arsenal really should fly up the table over the next few weeks.
7.35pmThere is still a lot of work to do if Arsenal are to enjoy a successful 2017-18 campaign, but a strong win over West Brom tonight would certainly be another step in the right direction. The Gunners were victorious in 14 of their 19 Premier League home games last season, meanwhile, and only conceded 16 times in the process. West Brom have also really struggled away to Arsenal in recent years.
7.38pm
🕣 Half an hour to go...
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) September 25, 2017
Here's the lads arriving a little earlier 🔴#AFCvWBA pic.twitter.com/5LcLHjbCa7
7.42pmAs mentioned, West Brom will enter tonight's match ahead of Arsenal in the Premier League table. While the Gunners have seven points from five league games this season, the Baggies have eight after a promising start. Indeed, Tony Pulis's side recorded back-to-back wins over Bournemouth and Burnley in their first two matches, before making it seven points from a possible nine with a draw against Stoke.
7.45pmWest Brom's first league defeat of the season occurred away to Brighton after the international break, before picking up their eighth league point of the campaign at home to West Ham last weekend. The Baggies will enter this game off the back of a 2-1 defeat to Manchester City in the EFL Cup, but it would be fair to say that Pulis would have not have been too disappointed to exit that particular competition.
7.48pmWest Brom have only conceded four times in their five league games this season, but they have only found the back of the net on four occasions, and a lack of goals might well turn out to be a problem this term. Last season's 10th-place finish represented another impressive campaign, but the challenge will be greater this year as a number of clubs look to secure a position in the top half.
7.52pm
📷 Back where it all began for @KieranGibbs.
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) September 25, 2017
He starts tonight against his former club...#ARSWBA #COYB #WBA pic.twitter.com/2eHKTxbGvd
7.55pmHere we go then. Both sets of players are in the tunnel ahead of kickoff at the Emirates Stadium. The Arsenal supporters will be expecting all three points tonight, but West Brom have made a decent start to the campaign. Stay tuned for minute-by-minute updates from North London.
0 minKICKOFF! Arsenal kick things off in London...
2 min... as expected, Arsenal have taken control of the possession in the early moments. West Brom will not be afraid to sit deep and attempt to absorb the pressure. Rodriguez and Robson-Kanu are both willing runners in the final third, and that could prove to be a big danger to Arsenal's defence.
4 minIt is indeed Gibbs and Nyom in the two wing-back positions for West Brom, with Evans, Hegazi and Dawson starting as the three-man defence. Arsenal force their first corner of the match after good work from Sanchez down the left, but West Brom clear their lines through Robson-Kanu.
4 minArsenal have a free kick in a very dangerous area as Dawson brings Sanchez to the deck...
5 min... CLOSE! Sanchez's effort is just wide of the post!
7 minArsenal continue to dominate the ball, with West Brom not too interested in committing players forward, which is not much of a surprise. This will be the pattern of the match as long as the score stays goalless. West Brom are not the easiest on the eye at times, but they do get results!
8 minCHANCES! Oh my word! Madness! Mustafi brings Rodriguez to the ground inside the Arsenal box, but the referee plays on. Rodriguez looks to find the bottom corner, but Cech tips the attacker's effort onto the post. The rebound then comes out to Livermore, who fires wide!
9 minAwful from the referee. He really should have pointed to the penalty spot there.
11 minCHANCE! Good chance for Arsenal as Bellerin finds Ramsey with a clever pass inside the West Brom box, but the Welshman's header is over the crossbar. Let-off for West Brom there.
12 minGibbs misses the Arsenal crossbar with a strike from distance.
14 minArsenal are seeing a lot of the ball, but West Brom have shown their threat on the counter on a couple of occasions, and head coach Pulis will be delighted with his team's start to this match. The Baggies manager, however, will not be too pleased with the referee following that call on Rodriguez.
16 minFoster vacates his goal to clear ahead of Lacazette, who had broken past the West Brom defence. Still goalless with 16 minutes on the clock, but there is plenty happening at the moment.
18 minI suspect that the game's first yellow card is not too far away. There have been some heavy challenges in the early stages of this match, with Krychowiak the latest player to fly in!
19 minArsenal have a free kick just outside the West Brom box as Evans fells Elneny...
20 min... GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 West Brom (Lacazette)
21 minArsenal find the back of the net through Lacazette as the Frenchman heads home from close range after Sanchez's free kick had been partially saved by Foster. Lacazette reacted first!
23 minWest Brom should have had a penalty in the early stages of this match, but the Baggies now find themselves one goal behind. The next goal is everything in this match. If Arsenal score, it would be goodnight. But West Brom have already shown bits and pieces on the counter-attack here.
26 minRodriguez appears to have dropped a little deeper for West Brom, with Robson-Kanu playing at the tip of the attack. The visitors just cannot seem to get out at the moment, however, as Arsenal continue to pass and probe in the final third. West Brom really cannot afford to concede a second.
28 minWest Brom are really struggling to get out as Arsenal move the ball quickly in the final third. The Gunners are trying to find those one-twos around the box, and West Brom are in trouble. Monreal manages to break into the away side's box, but Hegazi does just about enough to make the challenge.
30 minBit of possession for West Brom as the Baggies manage to ease some of the pressure.
32 minNot much of an atmosphere inside the stadium tonight, and West Brom appear to be growing in confidence as they enjoy more and more of the possession. Without sounding like a broken record, the next goal is everything in this match. A second for Arsenal and it would be game, set, match.
33 minSanchez finds Ramsey with a super ball inside the West Brom box, but Foster does enough to force the midfielder wide, before saving the Welshman's shot. Super pass from Sanchez there.
34 minPenalty shout for Arsenal this time as Krychowiak pulls Sanchez's shirt inside the box!
35 minArsenal have another free kick in a dangerous area as Evans fells Lacazette...
35 min... BOOKING! Evans (West Brom) is booked for the challenge.
36 minCLOSE! Sanchez's free kick just misses the post.
38 minOFF-THE-LINE! Incredible defending from Monreal as the Arsenal defender heads a Rodriguez header off the line. Cech was beaten, but Monreal was not!
39 minRodriguez sends a low effort just wide of the Arsenal post as West Brom threaten again.
41 minCHANCE! Rodriguez just fails to meet a header from Robson-Kanu as West Brom come close once again. The Baggies really should have breached Cech's goal in this first period.
43 minWest Brom win a free kick in a wide area as Dawson is felled by Kolasinac...
44 min... BOOKING! Sanchez (Arsenal) is booked for dissent.
45 minLacazette heads Gibbs's free kick over his own crossbar for a West Brom corner.
45+1 minCHANCE! Another chance for the away side as Barry heads down towards Rodriguez inside the Arsenal box, but the forward pokes wide! How on earth have West Brom not scored?!
45+2 minHALF-TIME: Arsenal 1-0 West Brom
8.46pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Arsenal leading West Brom 1-0 courtesy of a header from Lacazette. West Brom are extremely fortunate to be behind, however, with the Baggies having a whole host of opportunities throughout a very open first period here.
8.51pmSTATISTICS! Arsenal have dominated the possession with 67%, while they have had five attempts - two of which were on target. West Brom, meanwhile, hit the target with two of their six attempts in the first period. Two yellow cards to report - Evans in the 35th minute, and Sanchez in the 44th.
8.56pmBENCH WATCH! The away side have a lot of attacking options on their bench tonight, with the likes of Brunt, McClean, Morrison, Phillips and Rondon all capable of causing Arsenal problems. The Gunners, meanwhile, have options in the shape of Giroud, Ozil, Walcott and a certain Jack Wilshere.
46 minRESTART! West Brom resume the action here...
47 min... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise. However, I suspect that both managers will have alterations in mind as the second period gathers pace here.
48 minIt has been a pretty sloppy start to the second half from Arsenal, who continue to concede possession in the middle of the park. The home side really need to tighten up their passing here.
50 minBellerin delivers a super cross into the West Brom box, but there are no takers as the Baggies survive a dangerous moment. No real chances to report in the early stages of the second period.
50 minBOOKING! Dawson (West Brom) is booked for a foul on Sanchez.
51 minCHANCE! Super chance for the home side as Elneny finds Lacazette inside the Baggies box, but the striker's effort is deflected just over the crossbar! Great block from Gibbs!
53 minBit of pressure from Arsenal in the last few moments as the away side are forced to drop deep. Mustafi looks to beat Foster with a clever flick at the near post, but Foster is on hand to claim.
55 minJust a reminder that West Brom have the likes of Rondon and Philipps on their bench tonight, and it would not be a surprise to see at least one of those in the final 20 minutes or so. As long as the score remains 1-0, the visitors will always have a chance. A second for Arsenal would be massive.
56 minBOOKING! Krychowiak (West Brom) is booked for a late challenge on Elneny.
58 minLittle over 30 minutes of football remaining at the Emirates, and the score is still 1-0 Arsenal. We have not seen too much from the Baggies in the second period, but the threat is there.
60 minStill no movement on either bench, but we are approaching the stage of the match where both managers will be considering alterations. There is plenty of talent on both benches tonight.
62 minSanchez holds off the threat of Gibbs before delivering a pass into Ramsey, but the midfielder cannot release a meaningful shot, and West Brom can build from the back once again.
63 minWEST BROM SUB! Morrison replaces Livermore for the away side.
64 minWEST BROM SUB! Rondon replaces Robson-Kanu for the visitors.
66 minGood defending from Gibbs as the Baggies defender blocks a cross from Bellerin, who had broken into a wide position. Better from Arsenal as they start to up the tempo in the final third.
66 minPENALTY ARSENAL!
67 minArsenal have a penalty as Nyom bundles Ramsey to the deck inside the penalty box!
67 minBOOKING! Nyom (West Brom) picks up a booking for that barge.
67 minGOAL! Arsenal 2-0 West Brom (Lacazette, pen)
68 minLacazette finds the bottom corner to send Arsenal 2-0 ahead on home soil.
70 minCHANCE! Lacazette breaks into the West Brom box after a super pass from Sanchez, but the Frenchman fires wide of the post. Could have been his hat-trick there.
73 minBit of pressure from West Brom as they force a couple of corners in quick succession, but Arsenal manage to clear the danger. Little over 15 minutes of football remaining at the Emirates tonight.
75 minWEST BROM SUB! Philipps replaces Nyom for the away side.
78 minPhilipps has been very bright for the visitors since entering the field, with the winger enjoying plenty of the ball. West Brom need a goal in the next five minutes if they are to force a grandstand finish, but Arsenal are also threatening to score a goal as we head for the final 10 minutes here.
80 minArsenal want Dawson sent off after a late challenge on Sanchez, but the referee does not produce a second yellow. It was risky from the defender, although he did get some of the ball.
82 minScrappy from the visitors over the last few minutes, who appear to have given up. Bellerin strikes one from distance as Arsenal look for a third, and his effort is deflected just over the crossbar.
83 minARSENAL SUB! Giroud replaces Lacazette for the home side.
83 minARSENAL SUB! Sanchez is replaced by Ozil.
85 minLittle over five minutes of normal time remaining, and Arsenal appear to have the points in the bag. In truth, the home side's second of the night killed off any hopes that the visitors might have had.
87 minCHANCE! Xhaka fires over after a smart pass from Giroud.
90 minSAVE! Foster keeps out a strike from Ramsey after Giroud had found the Welshman.
90+1 minWe are into the first of three additional minutes at the end of the 90.
90+3 minARSENAL SUB! Maitland-Niles replaces Ramsey for Arsenal.
90+4 minFULL-TIME: Arsenal 2-0 West Brom
9.51pmSo there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Arsenal running out 2-0 winners on home soil courtesy of a double from Lacazette. The Gunners have moved into seventh position in the Premier League table, and stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions to five matches. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for our live coverage once again. Until next time!
