Walcott Tore Them To Shreds - Sign Him Up!

Match Review: Arsenal 4 West Brom 1 - Premier League 24.05.15

Arsenal wrapped up the Premier League season in style with a scintillating first half demolition of West Brom. After a run of three games without a win and three home games without scoring, the Gunners finally found their mojo ahead of next week’s cup final. Not only did it secure third spot, but it gives us a much needed confidence boost, while our Wembley opponents Villa were beaten by relegated Burnley at home.

Interestingly, Wenger opted to field Ospina instead of the expected cup final keeper Szczesny. Gibbs continued at left-back, while Gabriel got a chance to show what he can offer us ahead of his first full season next year. Ramsey dropped to the bench and was joined there by Giroud, who had his place up front pinched by Theo Walcott.

Walcott has had limited success as our lone striker, often struggling against much bigger and stronger centre backs. However, on this occasion, he tore the opposition defence to shreds. West Brom couldn’t handle his movement, whilst also trying to track Alexis and just four minutes in, he drifted off the back of Olsson, received the ball from Cazorla and lashed a stunning strike into the top far corner. Not only was it really intelligent off the ball movement, but the finish was absolutely sensational from the angle he was at, thundering in off the underside of the bar.

Just ten minutes later and he was on hand again to double the lead. Initially it was Wilshere and Özil, who worked the ball well between the two of them. Wilshere’s return ball to Özil was slightly too heavy, but Dawson was weak in the challenge and the ball fell to Walcott eight yards out. Theo showed great feet to nip the ball away from a defender and then poked the ball into the corner. A lovely poacher’s goal.

Only three minutes passed before the game was pretty much over and West Brom were left reeling. The third goal came from a corner, whipped in by Özil and headed away by West Brom, but only as far as Alexis who smashed a shot against Lescott. The rebound fell to Gabriel who managed to touch the ball back towards Wilshere and incredibly, he smashed it first time into the top corner from 20 yards. A stunning hit, one of a number screamers we’ve scored this season and certainly one of the best I’ve seen at the Emirates.

We weren’t done there though. We gave West Brom a torrid time, cutting them open on more than one occasion and after a number of close calls, we bagged number four. It was a beautifully worked goal too, with Wilshere playing a one-two with Alexis and then poking across to Cazorla on the edge of the six-yard box. The Spaniard scuffed his shot slightly, but it worked out perfectly for Walcott to sneak in at the back post and prod home for a Hat-trick. Theo’s movement and speed troubled the West Brom defence and maybe that has given Wenger a new option for games against very tight, compact defences.

The second half was a little bit of a let down after the thrills of the first. There wasn’t the same zip to our play and West Brom even got one back when Ospina got nowhere near a corner and allowed McAuley to head home. Really the game meandered to its close, bar some late drama when Ramsey hit the woodwork with two thunderbolt efforts. We blitzed West Brom in the first half and from there, the game was over. A sweet way to end the season, especially inflicting such a heavy defeat on Tony Pulis, who looked like he’d raided the local Sports Direct before the game.

Third place is a pretty respectable season I feel. Most were predicting another scrap for fourth and that we’d struggle to hold off Liverpool, Sp*rs and United. We’ve done that and more and finishing one point off City is a pretty decent achievement given that they’re supposedly in their own league with Chelsea. Really our slow start to the campaign limited what we could achieve and our eleven game unbeaten run propelled us up the table right when we needed it.

Certainly we’ve all seen that this team has a huge amount of potential, but we can’t afford the injury crisis that we endured this season next time around. For me, keeping our best players fit is more important than who we sign in the transfer window. Injuries are what have held us back for so long, but towards the back end of the season we seem to have had better luck. Maybe Shad Forsythe is starting to have an impact, but whatever the reason, staying injury free will be the most important part of any title challenge we manage to mount next season. But before that, we have one final game to round off the 14/15 campaign. Wembley awaits, let’s do it again!

Teams

Arsenal (4-2-3-1)
Ospina, Bellerin (Y), Mertesacker, Gabriel, Gibbs, Coquelin (Ramsey 69’), Cazorla, Wilshere (Chamberlain 77’), Özil, Alexis, Walcott (Giroud 69’)
Subs
Szczesny, Koscielny, Giroud, Chamberlain, Ramsey, Flamini, Monreal

West Brom (4-5-1)
Myhill, Lescott, Dawson, McAuley, Olsson (Anichebe 51’), Yacob (Baird 60’), Fletcher, McManaman (Gardener 54’), Morrison, Brunt, Berahino
Subs
Baird, Gardner, Ideye, Anichebe, Gamboa, Palmer, Roberts

Player Ratings

Ospina - 5/10 - Cost us one goal and nearly cost us another at the end
Bellerin - 7/10 - A good final showing in his breakthrough season
Mertesacker - 7/10 - Solid
Gabriel - 7/10 - Solid as well, plays in a similar way to Koscielny
Gibbs - 7/10 - Played well and will be looking to take back his spot next year
Coquelin - 7/10 - Untroubled and also played an outrageous long range pass to Walcott
Cazorla - 7/10 - Much better today, looked leggy in the week but not today
Wilshere - 8/10 - Scored an absolute belter and his all round game looks very sharp
Özil - 7/10 - Did his job quietly and efficiently, a subtly wonderful player
Alexis - 7/10 - Still searching to find the form of earlier in the season, but still very good
Walcott - 9/10 - A wonderful first half hat-trick, great timing too… *cough* contract/cup final
Subs
Ramsey - 7/10 - Very unlucky not to score with two great efforts
Giroud - 6/10 - Fairly anonymous
Chamberlain - N/A - Not on long but a great option to have next week and next season

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