West Brom 0 Arsenal 4 - Report

The Baggies ended 2020 by slumping to a 5-0 defeat to Leeds at The Hawthorns.

And that misery continued into 2021 with Arsenal also securing a convincing victory in the West Midlands.

A brace from Alexandre Lacazette as well as goals from Kieran Tiernay and Bukayo Saka did the damage as Mikel Arteta’s side cruised to a 4-0 win.

The result means Albion have conceded 13 goals in their first four matches under new head coach Sam Allardyce - with 12 of those coming at home.

It also means they have conceded a whopping 28 times this season - with the Baggies needing to drastically improve at both ends of the pitch if there are to have any chance of surviving in the Premier League.

Report

Having been left furious with his side’s display against Leeds, Allardyce opted to make changes to both his team and system for the visit of Arteta’s men.

Having previously played a 4-5-1 formation in his first three games in charge, the boss switched to a 3-5-1-1.

It saw Branislav Ivanovic come back into the side at the heart of the defense alongside Semi Ajayi and Dara O’Shea.

Darnell Furlong was deployed at right wing-back with Grady Diangana on the left and Romaine Sawyers, Matt Phillips and Conor Gallagher in central midfield.

Up front, Callum Robinson was the central striker with Matheus Pereira - starting for the first time under Allardyce - operating just behind.

Arsenal lined up in a 4-2-3-1 system that saw Granit Xhaka sit in a holding midfield role alongside Dani Ceballos.

Emile Smith Rowe was in the number 10 role just behind lone striker Alexandre Lacazette. Bukayo Saka and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang were the widemen.

The Baggies have been notorious for starting games slowly this season.

And keen to capitalise on that, Arsenal created two half-chances to open the scoring inside the opening 10 minutes.

After an Aubameyang cross was headed away by Ivanovic, the ball fell for Hector Bellerin who hit a low drive from 18-yards which Sam Johnstone blocked with his leg.

Then just moments later, Saka darted past O’Shea and into the box before his shot was again comfortably stopped by the keeper.

That bright start, though, was just a sign of things to come with Arsenal dominating the possession and consistently knocking on the door as the clock ticked towards the 20 minute mark.

In a rare break, Albion showed they had an attacking threat when a lovely chipped pass from Pereira found Phillips in the box.

He then hit a powerful strike at goal which Bernd Leno beat away.

But that was perhaps a wake-up call Arsenal needed as they then went on to motor through the gears.

Arteta’s men opening the scoring in the 23rd minute through an outstanding goal from Tierney.

After collecting a raking ball forward, the full-back knocked the ball past Furlong and charged past him down the line.

But he then cut inside the defender - beating him for a second time - before then entering the box and curling home an unstoppable strike from around 12-yards.

Just five minutes later the visitors had doubled their advantage with another excellent goal that effectively saw them walk the ball into the net.

A flowing move ended with Lacazette finding Smith-Rowe who then sent in the most tantilisng of crosses which - just yards out - Saka simply tapped home.

Albion tried to rally with Ajayi heading a corner narrowly wide.

But just before half-time, Arsenal came close to grabbing a third when Lacazette raced past Ivanovic in the box.

From a tight angle, the Frenchman then saw a powerful drive well blocked by Johnstone.

Allardyce made a change at the interval with Charlie Austin replacing Diangana.

And with minutes Albion had the ball in the net only for the goal to be chalked off for offside.

O’Shea - now playing at left-back in a 4-5-1 formation - played a fantastic ball forward which Pereira collected before entering the box and smashing a strike against the post.

The ball then fell for Robinson who smashed it home only for the linesman to put his flag up late with Pereira having initially been offside.

Despite, Albion have a bit of a flurry, Arsenal wrapped up the points once and for all on the hour mark.

After the Baggies lost possession, Saka drifted past O’Shea before sending in a cross which Ajayi smashed against his own post.

Smith-Rowe then saw a shot blocked by Johnstone but the ball again fell kindly for an Arsenal man with Lacazette making no mistake from 10-yards.

Four minutes later it was 4-0 with Lacazette grabbing his second when he tapped in a dangerous Tierney cross from close range.

From that point, Arsenal had chances to grab a fifth with Aubameyang entering the box only to see a low drive saved by Johnstone.

The Gabon international then turned a miss-hit Willian shot over the bar.

Albion almost grabbed a consolation late on when substitute Rekeem Harper hit a smart low drive which Leno did well to parry away.

But overall, the closing stages were nothing but a procession with Arsenal dominating the ball and cruising to a comfortable win.

Teams

Albion (3-5-2): Johnstone, Ajayi, Ivanovic (Bartley 66), O’Shea, Furlong, Sawyers, Gallagher, Phillips (Harper 81), Diangana (Austin 46), Pereira, Robinson.

Subs not used: Button, Gibbs, Peltier, Krovinovic, Grosicki, Diaby.

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Leno, Bellerin (Maitland-Niles 53), Holding, Mari, Tierney, Ceballos, Xhaka, Saka (Willian 71), Smith Rowe (Willock 77), Aubameyang, Lacazette.

Subs not used: Runarrson, Luiz, Elneny, Pepe, Martinelli, Nketiah.