Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was left fuming at his side’s shoddy showing after West Bromwich Albion ended the Gunners’ six-game unbeaten run with a 2-1 victory at The Hawthorns on Saturday.
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By Nick Mashiter Arsene Wenger labelled Arsenal’s defeat to West Brom a “nightmare” as they missed the chance to go top.
“It is a reality that in two games, against Bayern, we took three points (but) we have created our own problems before that”, Wenger said.
“You can talk to him and he is so disappointed and it is hard to blame Cazorla for that”.
Prior to yesterday’s clash with West Brom, Arsenal were already missing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (hamstring), Danny Welbeck (knee), Tomas Rosicky (knee), Aaron Ramsey (hamstring), Theo Walcott (calf) and Jack Wilshere (ankle).
With those injuries in mind, Wenger may be forced to rush Wales midfielder Ramsey back into the team after his hamstring problem.
The visitors dominated possession in the first half, but were unable to create any clear opportunities until taking the lead on 28 minutes, when Olivier Giroud headed past Boaz Myhill from a well-struck Mesut Ozil free kick.
Pulis said afterwards: “The lads deserve it for the effort and commitment, but we’ve played better and done better and not got the results”.
But James Morrison volleyed past Petr Cech to level from Chris Brunt’s free-kick in the 35th minute before sub Arteta diverted James McClean’s cross into his own net. ‘You can not say at the back we have no experience.
Arsenal’s advantage lasted just five minutes, however, as they were undone by a set-piece at the other end.
Asked why his men seem to stumble against the likes of West Brom and Stoke, Wenger said: “It is right and I don’t deny that”.
Since returning from a loan spell at Charlton less than a year ago Coquelin has established himself as one of the league’s superior anchormen, providing Arsenal with a defensive solidity that they rarely showed with Arteta and Flamini in the side. I really do think that.
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Yet Ademi claimed he was innocent while his coach Zoran Mamic told the club’s website: “To punish a player for four years after he and the experts proved that he took a contaminated supplement is senseless”.
