The Short Fuse - Arsenal vs. West Bromwich Albion: Arsenal Winit me, Jeffhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/51365/tsf-fav.png2012-12-09T11:27:33-05:00http://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/rss/stream/35071572012-12-09T11:27:33-05:002012-12-09T11:27:33-05:00Arsenal vs. West Brom: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly
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<figcaption>MAGIC | Clive Mason</figcaption>
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<p>*whistlewhistlewhistle* wahhhh wahhhhh wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....</p> <p>Arsenal beat <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/west-bromwich-albion">West Bromwich Albion</a> yesterday by a final of 2 - 0. What was cool, what sucked, and what was downright grease-trap-food-poisoning?</p>
<h4>The Good</h4>
<p><b><span>Jack Wilshere</span>.</b> Key passes, dribbles, getting in people's faces, pressing...what <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal's</a> midfield in their 4-2-3-1 is meant to do.</p>
<p><b><span>Mikel Arteta's</span> penalties.</b> They weren't terrible! I like hard as hell penalties into the corner, but these went in and weren't saved, which is good enough for me.</p>
<p><b><span>Thomas Vermaelen</span> and <span>Per Mertesacker's</span> shackling of <span>Shane Long</span> and <span>Romelu Lukaku</span>.</b> Hardly put a foot wrong all day; Lukaku scares the hell out of me, but Vermaelen must know a thing or two from Belgium training sessions, because he wasn't bossed around by Lukaku at all. Per, for his part, made key interceptions and no-nonsense clearances, and along with a good save from <span>Wojciech Szczesny</span>, the clean sheet was in the bag.</p>
<h4>The Bad</h4>
<p><b>Gervinho's decision making. </b>He dribbled into dead ends when he needed to pass or recirculate, and when he did try to cross one time, it was from an impossible angle. He's trying to do too much right now, and whether it's because he's being instructed to try to beat people off the dribble or something else, it's not working at the moment. He at least got to the byline a few times, but the cutbacks didn't work out.</p>
<p><b>Three shots on target. And two of them were PKs.</b> Not yet good enough, although the rest of the attacking play was much better.</p>
<h4>The Ugly</h4>
<p><b>Gervinho's finishing.</b> Man has a forehead the size of the pitch, and he still glances headers "DIV/0" feet wide of the post. It seems geometrically impossible, and yet, there it is.</p>
<p><b><span>Lukas Podolski's</span> "finish" from three yards.</b> Whoopsie!</p>
<p><b><span>Santi Cazorla's</span> dive. </b>Not good. Not even bad. Just ugly. Not nice to see one of your team's players do that kind of thing.</p>
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https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/2012/12/9/3746718/arsenal-west-bromwich-albion-good-bad-ugly-premier-leagueTed Harwood2012-12-09T10:45:08-05:002012-12-09T10:45:08-05:00Wenger to examine the Cazorla incident
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<figcaption>Clive Mason</figcaption>
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<p>Arsene Wenger is on the case about yesterday's first penalty.</p> <p>So, by now, everyone's pretty well aware that <span>Santi Cazorla</span> won <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal's</a> first penalty yesterday after diving despite zero contact from <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/west-bromwich-albion">West Bromwich Albion</a> defender <span>Steven Reid's</span> attempted tackle. Well, manager <span>Arsene Wenger</span> has vowed to speak to Cazorla about it after he gets a chance to take a look at the evidence:</p>
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<p>"I am sorry if it was not a penalty, but I have spoken to Santi and he said he was touched, lost his balance. Has he made a bit more of it? I don't know," Wenger said. "When he [a player] is touched, he goes down, the referee can give or not give the penalty."<br><br>Asked if he would speak to Cazorla if he felt there had not been contact, he added: "Of course. I will look at it, don't worry."</p>
<p align="right">-- Source: <a target="_blank" href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1256943/arsene-wenger-apologises-for-santi-cazorla-dive?cc=5901">ESPN Soccernet</a></p>
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<p>Television replays showed that there was no contact at all from Reid and suggested that from referee <span>Mike Jones</span>' angle, it would have been hard to see that fact. Whether Cazorla felt that contact was going to come and lost his balance as a result is infinitely debatable. Hopefully, though, Wenger will have a word with Cazorla, who, of course, has set up goals in previous games this year after playing on despite being hacked down on his way into the penalty area.</p>
https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/2012/12/9/3746660/arsenal-santi-cazorla-west-bromwich-albion-penalty-claim-wengerTed Harwood2012-12-08T13:31:36-05:002012-12-08T13:31:36-05:00Jack Wilshere, Man Of The Match
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<figcaption>No, Jack. Thank YOU. | Mike Hewitt</figcaption>
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<p>We celebrate three points and recognize Jack Wilshere as the man of the match.</p> <p>The easy, lazy cynic in me says "Hey let's make Cazorla MOTM because drawing a penalty kickstarted the game for Arsenal", but even I can't reward that kind of blatant diving and I'm slightly embarrassed by the whole thing. So instead, TSF will give the MOTM award to the very deserving Jack Wilshere.</p>
<p>Yes. he missed a decent chance in the first half. But did you see his passing? I hate overly florid prose, but in this case it's sort of warranted - Wilshere orchestrated the midfield today. His passes were laser-sharp and really insightful; the fact that the receivers of those passes didn't do more with them is hardly Wilshere's fault, but had they done better this could easily have been a 5-0 or a 6-0 result. Wilshere was that effective.</p>
<p>He was tireless, he was efficient, he worked his ass off, and he's the Man Of The Match for this weekend. Congratulations, Jack, and congratulations Arsenal on picking up three badly needed points.</p>
https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/2012/12/8/3743910/jack-wilshere-arsenal-west-bromwich-man-of-the-matchpdb2012-12-08T12:06:50-05:002012-12-08T12:06:50-05:00Arsenal 2 - 0 West Bromwich Albion: Match Report
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<img alt="Unreal good today." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nLXqdD7LN6-BERnKW-jVZ5GKeOE=/0x0:3486x2324/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/4633455/157968612.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Unreal good today. | Clive Mason</figcaption>
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<p>Arsenal defeat West Bromwich Albion to move up to sixth in the League.</p> <p>1 - 0 <span>Mikel Arteta</span> pk 26'<br>2 - 0 Mikel Arteta pk 64'</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a> took all three points today at the Emirates Stadium to move up to sixth place in the Premier League as they pushed aside a loagy West Brom with a little help from referee <span>Mike Jones</span>. Make no mistake, though, Arsenal just about controlled this match from wire to wire, and if one is the sort that thinks teams "deserve" things, well, Arsenal deserved the three points today.<br><br><span>Bacary Sagna</span> was the surprise inclusion for the Arsenal at right back, having been ruled out as recently as yesterday. Both sides felt each other out in the early going, but Arsenal won a corner on 4 minutes. Giroud bothered <span>Boaz Myhill</span> on the ball put back in, and the clearance only came as far as Gervinho, who put his volley wide of the far post. <span>Liam Ridgewell</span> took a knock as he slid in at the far post trying to keep it out.<br><br>Goran Popov would have to replace him on 6 minutes.<br><br>Arsenal took control for the next few minutes, <span>Santi Cazorla</span> putting a shot well wide from 20 yards on 11 minutes. They continued to put pressure on WBA right through 18 minutes, winning a succession of corners, Cazorla volleying over from a furious <span>Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain</span> cross. <br><br>WBA had their first opportunity on 23 minutes, <span>Shane Long</span> holding the ball up wide, moving it in to Yussef Mulumbu and then <span>Chris Brunt</span>, whose shot was wide.<br><br>Arsenal came back the other direction, Gervinho finding the byline, but his cutback was wayward. Arsenal came on the attack again, and Santi Cazorla appeared to have been hacked down in the box by <span>Steven Reid</span>... <br><br>the penalty was given. There was no contact, though. It was a dive. Nonetheless, the penalty was given, harshly, and Mikel Arteta stepped up to slot it home.<br><br>1 - 0 to the Arsenal, 26 minutes.<br><br>The Gunners weren't letting up; sustained pressing meant they were winning the ball back far more than they have been in recent matches. 37 minutes on, Gervinho escaped to the byline on the left, waited and waited, finally putting in a low cross that Wilshere put just wide, sliding in at the last moment. Gervinho put a shot on target on 41 minutes that Boaz Myhill turned wide. <br><br>Halftime arrived.<br><br>The second half started with WBA pressing much harder than they had in the first. Things got a little touchy on 53 minutes, <span>Olivier Giroud</span> falling over <span>Martin Olsson</span>, who immediately got up in the Frenchman's grill. Gervinho headed, poorly and wide, on 56 minutes. Chris Brunt was booked for dissent two minutes later. Gervinho whiffed a shot from four yards out on 61 minutes, before WBA won a free kick and then a corner. <span>Romelu Lukaku</span>, who terrifies me, came on for <span>Peter Odemwingie</span>. <br><br>Arsenal came back on the attack again, and 63 minutes in, Ox took the ball off of Popov, strode into the box, and was brought down by Brunt. <br><br>Penalty. Arteta stepped up, no mistake.<br><br>2 - 0 Arsenal, 64 minutes.<br><br>Arsenal continued to more or less boss the play into the final quarter of the match. 78 minutes in, Oxlade-Chamberlain came off, <span>Francis Coquelin</span> replacing him. Cazorla would move out wide. A minute later, Arteta flashed a free kick wide. 81 minutes on, Gervinho came off for <span>Tomas Rosicky</span>. <br><br>WBA won a free kick for a Rosicky handball on 87 minutes, but Lukaku headed his chance wide. <br><br>Cazorla got a well-deserved break when he came off for <span>Lukas Podolski</span> on 88 minutes. Podolski really should've scored three minutes later from about three yards out, but somehow he put it over the bar. <br><br>The match would draw to a close two minutes later, Arsenal taking all three points and moving up to sixth place. Next up: the Carling Cup, away to the north and Bradford.</p>
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https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/2012/12/8/3743640/arsenal-2-0-west-bromwich-albion-premier-league-match-reportTed Harwood2012-12-08T09:29:53-05:002012-12-08T09:29:53-05:00Arsenal vs. West Bromwich Albion: match thread
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<figcaption>Paul Thomas</figcaption>
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<p>Come comment on all the action!</p> <p align="center"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal</a> vs. West Brom<br>Saturday, December 8, 2012, 3PM London/10 AM ET/7AM PT<br>Emirates Stadium, Islington, London, England, UK<br>Form: ARS WDDLL | WBA WWLLL<br>TV: Fox Soccer</p>
<p align="left">Aresnal take on West Brom this morning/afternoon, with both sides in kind of a crummy run of form. For Arsenal, Gervinho and the Ox will flank <span>Olivier Giroud</span> up front, while the standard midfield three slot in behind them (hope they got some rest!). For WBA, <span>Romelu Lukaku</span> starts on the bench, where he terrifies me significantly less. Here are the lineups:</p>
<p align="left"><b>Arsenal</b>: Szczesny, Sagna, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Arteta, Wilshere, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gervinho, Giroud.</p>
<p align="left"><b>Subs:</b> Martinez, Jenkinson, Squillaci, Coquelin, Ramsey, Rosicky, Podolski.</p>
<p align="left"><b>WBA:</b> Myhill, Reid, Olsson, Riddgewell, McAuley, Brunt, Mulumbu, Gera, Morrison, Odemwingie, Long.</p>
<p align="left"><b>Subs:</b> Daniels, Popov, Rosenberg, Dorrans, Lukaku, Tamas, Fortune.</p>
<p align="left">Feel free to comment on all the action below; remember, no links to illegal streams, please always use the subject line, and above all else, be kind to one another.</p>
<p align="left"><b>COME ON YOU REDS</b></p>
https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/2012/12/8/3743118/arsenal-west-bromwich-albion-match-thread-2012-premier-leagueTed Harwood2012-12-07T11:37:07-05:002012-12-07T11:37:07-05:00Arsenal v. West Brom: Match Preview
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<figcaption>WE NEED YOU | Clive Rose</figcaption>
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<p>Now that the Champions League is done for the calendar year, Arsenal can focus on league place and points, starting with a visit from West Brom this weekend.</p> <p align="center">Arsenal vs. West Brom<br>Saturday, December 8, 2012, 3PM London/10 AM ET/7AM PT<br>Emirates Stadium, Islington, London, England, UK<br>Form: ARS DWDDL | SWN WWLLL<br>TV: Fox Soccer<br></p>
<p align="left">After a week in which Arsenal's youth emulated their elders and surrendered a 1-0 lead on the way to a loss, the big boys take the pitch again for a Premier League matchup against, and this is why I never pay attention to the tables this early, fifth-placed West Brom. WBA are currently five points above Arsenal, having scored the same number of goals (24) and conceded three more (19 to 16).</p>
<p>They have, however, lost two in a row to drop out of the top four, and Arsenal will hope that a fresh, rested Cazorla/Arteta-driven midfield will continue WBA's slide and kickstart Arsenal's December, which badly needs kickstarting. After a bright start, West Brom seem to be reverting to fairly mediocre form; their 1-0 loss to Stoke last week was, according to the WBA website, "A game that had 0-0 written all over it" until Stoke Stoked in a goal in the 75th minute to snatch all three points.</p>
<p>That game saw WBA field a side that was rather different than the one Arsenal will face tomorrow, with Romelu Lukaku, Peter Odemwinge, and Liam Ridgewell all being rested. They are expected to be starting tomorrow, as West Brom come to the Emirates with a full, healthy squad to choose from; only keeper Ben Foster is unavailable. The Baggies typically play a 4-2-3-1, with Shane Long typically up front; they play fairly quickly, they're direct, and....yep, they play like Arsenal.</p>
<p>Arsenal, meanwhile, are fairly banged up. No Kos, no Podolski, no Walcott, and Sagna faces a late fitness test on his foot. I hope he studied. The Arteta/Cazorla duo will be back, of course, after getting a much needed week's rest; I certainly hope they didn't do what I do when I have a week off, because heading to the bar at 4PM and then getting Mexican food after isn't exactly what a top-flight athlete should be doing.</p>
<p>It's safe to say that confidence is not at an all-time high 'round N5 these days; this will be a tricky fixture for Arsenal, but it's also the type of fixture Arsenal must win if they want to be taken seriously for the rest of 2012-13. This is a fixture Arsenal are capable of winning on paper; unfortunately, games aren't played on paper, they're played on grass. I'm out of pithy motivational slogans; I just want to see Arsenal play well and win. It's been a while.</p>
<p><b>POSSIBLE STARTING LINEUP:</b> Szczesny; Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Wilshere, Arteta; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Giroud; Gervinho.</p>
https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/2012/12/7/3739858/arsenal-west-bromwich-albion-previewpdb