by Nicholas Nikolov

Created on: September 25, 2010

In last week’s Carling Cup match between West Bromwich Albion and Manchester City as the Baggies showed their resiliency with a come-from-behind 2-1 win.

West Brom’s self-encouragement carried them through to a shocking win over Arsenal to come away with a spectacular 3-2 victory at the Emirates. Beating Arsenal for the first time on home soil since the Baggies did so in 1983 – a 27-year long winless streak against the London juggernauts.

The first half was uneventful, to say the least. It was clustered, cagey and goal-scoring attempts by either side were lacking the proper finishing. However, it was in the second interval where the match became lively.

Manager Roberto di Matteo’s side came out storming on the attack – immediately on the restart – deservingly getting the go-ahead goal from the much heralded striker Peter Odemwingie, 29, who not only is playing in his first season in English top-flight soccer, but the Frenchman netted his third goal of his campaign.

Quickly sliding from the penalty spot and tapping in a lovely pinpoint square ball by teammate midfielder Jerome Thomas, 29, from the byline.

Exactly a minute later, West Brom was on the attack again. From centre field, midfielder Chris Brunt, 26, provided the overlapping defender Gonzalo Jara, 25, with a magnificent back-heel pass whereby nutmegging his marker. The Chilean had plenty of time and space to run toward the Arsenal goal and from just inside the box unleashed a laserbeam of shot into the back of the net.

On 73 minutes, West Brom’s third goal gave them the well-earned and surprising scoreline of 3-0. However, it was all the more sweeter for ex-Arsenal man Thomas, who played provider on his team’s first goal – this time around he was the finisher roofing the perfect cross-goal pass by Brunt into the gaping Arsenal net.

A definite costly mistake by both the Gunners 33-year-old goalkeeper Manuel Almunia to come off his line to play the pass instead of the shot as was the defence to just allow the Englishman to walk right in.

Right after the third goal, striker Samir Nasri, 23, had his first attempt clatter off the crossbar. Precisely a minute later, would have another chance and this time would capitalize. Precisely a minute later, was just inside the box – cuts inside his marker – as his low-driven strike rolls past the opposing keeper. 

Midfielder Andrey Arshavin, 29, brilliantly draws few of the West Brom defenders to come to him from just inside the box – with a delicate diagonal ball - allowing just enough time for the Frenchman to creep in as he drives into the back of the net with fierce convention.

And with that Nasri doubles the scoresheet with five minutes remaining in injury time, thus providing a definite lifeline.

Next week West Brom will be hosting Bolton Wanderers as Arsenal will be away to Partizan mid-week in Belgrade.

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