Arsenal Relegates West Brom After 3-1 Victory
Arsenal sent West Brom down after a 3-1 victory with goals from Emile Smith Rowe, Nicolas Pepe and Willian as Sam Allardyce suffered relegation from the Premier League for the first time in his career at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was under pressure after a poor season and called on his players to show character and desire after its Europa League exit by Spanish side Villarreal in midweek. Meanwhile, West Brom were looking to avoid being relegated from the Premier League with an unlikely victory at he Emirates.
The Gunners were playing for pride and took the lead when the excellent Bukayo Saka, playing at left-back, crossed for Emile Smith Rowe to volley home in the 29th minute.
Arsenal continued to press and weren’t planning on stopping there.
The Gunners doubled its advantage in the 35th minute when Nicolas Pepe cut inside from the right flank and curled a stunning effort past West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone.
Arsenal had chances to further extend the lead before half-time with defender Gabriel Magalhaes heading wide and Saka’s low shot blocked by Johnson. However, the score remained 2-0 at half-time.
Allardyce sent his players out early from the interval but the gunners continued we’re they left off with Pepe, Gabriel Martinelli and Smith Rowe missed chances to extend the lead.
However, West Brom pulled a goal back in superb style when Matheus Pereira broke forward from inside his own half and, with Arsenal defenders backing off him, fired a diagonal shot into the corner
Arsenal were rocked by the goal and struggled to regain control as West Brom sensed an opportunity to draw level. It looked like they might in the 73rd minute when Darnell Furlong met a Matt Phillips cross, only to head wide.
The hosts struggled to regain control, despite Mikel Arteta sending on Kieran Tierney, Alexandre Lacazette and Thomas Partey, but Willian eventually made the result safe when he found the top corner with a brilliant free-kick
It was the Brazilian’s first goal for Arsenal after 37 games as the match finished 3-1 to the gunners.
Arsenal’s first home win in two months was not entirely convincing, but it provided some relief after a dismal week. West Brom, meanwhile, return to the Championship after a single season in the top flight.
✅ Three points#ARSWBA
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 9, 2021
“We needed that win. It has been a while since we won at home,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said after the match. “We scored three fantastic goals and we had some great spells in the game. They scored out of nothing and then they throw everything at you.”
“They know the situation they are in and we struggled to play that kind of game. When we conceded the goal we did look nervy. Europe is a completely different game, different context. There were things we could have done much better.”
“We will try to win every match now and see where we finish. The only thing we can do is win our games,” he added.
Match day 35 Premier League results
Leicester City 2-4 Newcastle United
Leeds United 3-1 Tottenham Hotspur
Sheffield United 0-2 Crystal Palace
Manchester City 1-2 Chelsea
Liverpool 2-0 Southampton
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2-1 Brighton & Hove Albion
Aston Villa 1-3 Manchester United
West Ham 0-1 Everton
Arsenal 3-1 West Bromwich Albion
Chidi Nwoke.
