The Gunners’ solitary defeat away to the Baggies in the Premier League came in October 2005 – they lost 2-1.
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Cazorla wasted a great chance to snatch a point in the 84th minute when Arsenal were awarded a penalty after Brunt was deemed to have bundled over Sanchez in the area.
“It was a very bad afternoon for us”, The Guardian quote Wenger as saying.
“I agree it was three points lost”, confessed the Frenchman.
“It’s a shame because we started the game well, we went 1-0 up and then after they scored [twice] before half time it became more hard for us”. We were maybe a bit too sure of ourselves and 35 minutes we are 1-0 up – 45 we are 2-1 down.
Defender Jonas Olsson said: “I felt me and Chris Brunt were slightly early but it would have been very harsh to get it retaken”. We were lacking concentration during the set-piece for 1-1.
“The difference between the teams has narrowed and that today it’s more how close you can be to your best that will decide the result than the team you play against”. With a number of important games, well nearly every game is important, coming up for the Gunners, just how can Wenger cope with yet another significant injury?
Wenger refused to blame Cazorla for his missed penalty, which came amid confusion, as it initially appeared as though referee Mark Clattenburg had ordered a retake for encroachment. “I believe West Brom did fight with 100 per cent commitment as well and you have to give them credit for that”. I don’t know how severe that is.
Tony Pulis’ side added a second goal five minutes later, as a James McClean cross struck Mikel Arteta, whose touch was enough to divert the ball into the Arsenal goal.
The Arsenal boss, whose side have also been thrashed at Bayern Munich and drawn with Spurs this month, reflected: “It is a hard moment for us”. Arsenal need a home victory over the Croats, and an Olympiakos defeat at Bayern Munich, to retain any hope of progressing and Wenger does not expect any of his injured players back to provide a timely boost.
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‘I thought when we had the penalty that we would still have a chance to search for the third goal but it was one of those games where it was not going our way.
