Welcome relief for Arsenal after Welbeck goal floors West Brom
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ARSENAL, gaining welcome relief amid its worst start to a season for 32 years, was left toasting Danny Welbeck yesterday after the England striker’s goal earned it a 1-0 English Premier League victory at West Bromwich Albion.
On the back of two consecutive league defeats, it had looked for an hour as if Arsenal might succumb to an all too familiar lack of reward for its domination until a brilliant run and cross from Santi Cazorla allowed Welbeck to head home.
It was the former Manchester United forward’s third Premier League goal for the Gunners since his move from Old Trafford.
The goal was just reward for Arsenal’s superiority but it had to endure nervous moments, particularly when Saido Berahino, selected by West Brom despite revelations surrounding his arrest for alleged drink-driving, headed against the bar with 10 minutes remaining.
Following Arsenal’s victory over Borussia Dortmund which secured its place in the Champions League knockout stages, the upturn in fortunes lifted the Londoners, playing in the day’s early fixture, temporarily at least, back into the top four on 20 points.
That still left them 12 points adrift of leader Chelsea, which was at Sunderland in the day’s late fixture.
Welbeck had missed the Dortmund win due to hamstring and knee problems, but he was back at The Hawthorns to net his sixth goal for Arsenal, ending a run of six club matches without a goal and giving the Gunners only their fifth league win of the season.
After another week of injury woe left Arsene Wenger without Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta and Wojciech Szczesny, the Gunners’ boss could have been forgiven for cursing his luck when Nacho Monreal limped off in the first half.
But Welbeck forced a good save from Ben Foster, and Olivier Giroud, making his first start since suffering a broken leg in August, almost punished a careless attempt to clear by Foster moments later.
Welbeck put Arsenal in front on the hour when he met Cazorla’s cross with a powerful close-range header that Foster could only help into the net.
Other notable fixtures later see Liverpool, without captain Steven Gerrard in the starting XI, hosting Stoke City and United taking on Hull at Old Trafford.
Gerrard was dropped to the bench for the clash against Stoke on the 16th anniversary of his Reds debut.
Gerrard had played the full 90 minutes against Crystal Palace and Ludogorets Razgrad already this week and Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers decided to rest the veteran midfielder on a milestone day which saw him featured on the front of the matchday program at Anfield.
The 34-year-old, who has been well below top form for much of the season, was replaced by Philippe Coutinho, with left-back Jose Enrique taking the place of Javier Manquillo from the side which drew 2-2 away to Ludogorets in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Rodgers had already risked irking Gerrard earlier this season when he left him on the bench for a glamour Champions League tie at Real Madrid.
“We have lots of game in a short period of days so we’ve just made a few changes to freshen up the team,” Rodgers said. “Steven Gerrard has been a fantastic player and still is, but at this stage of his career he can’t play every game.”
Meanwhile, David Moyes admitted he was “very happy” after overseeing his maiden victory as Real Sociedad coach before criticizing the referee for what the Scot suggested was excessive zeal.
Mexico forward Carlos Vela netted a hat-trick in a 3-0 home win for the Basque club against Elche on Friday which lifted it to 12th on 13 points from as many matches.
“I’m smiling because we’ve won and I’m very happy but I want more,” Moyes, whose side was held to a 0-0 draw at Deportivo la Coruna in his first game in charge last weekend, said.
“I thought there were some small signs of a little bit of improvement, which was good,” added the former United and Everton manager.
Friday’s game at the Anoeta was refereed by Spaniard Carlos Velasco Carballo, who came under fire at this year’s World Cup in Brazil for his performance in the host’s 2-1 win over Colombia in the quarterfinals.
“I thought his tolerance level was too low,” Moyes said.
“I think this is a game of men and it is also a physical contact sport.
“So I thought his tolerance level was very low. I thought the referee against Deportivo was very good but I thought tonight, with three bookings I think in 27 minutes, it was too easy to book players, too easy.”
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