04 May 2014

ARSENAL 1 WEST BROM 0: Gunners Struggle To Win With Giroud's Header

Olivier Giroud's first-half header helped Arsenal stroll to an easy but dreadfully dull victory over West Brom in a game which epitomised an end of season fixture.

The Gunners already had Champions League football guaranteed following Everton’s 3-2 loss to Manchester City on Saturday, while West Brom were practically, if not mathematically, safe from relegation.
And it all made for an awful game with both sides playing at a canter and offering little to get the pulses racing at a quiet Emirates Stadium.

There was some cheer prior to the match to see Abou Diaby named on the substitutes bench after 13 months out injured, however, the Frenchman did not get on the field.


Bar a few wild early shots, barely anything of note happened until Olivier Giroud popped up with the opener, holding off Craig Dawson’s feeble marking to head in Santi Cazorla’s corner on 14 minutes.

The Baggies' best chance of the game was technically not even an opportunity as the linesman's flag spared Saido Berahino’s blushes, the England under-21 forward hammering over what should have been a tap-in.

Arsene Wenger's side looked the more dangerous and Cazorla almost doubled their tally only for Ben Foster to smartly tip his shot round the post.

The game's highlight was not actually from the match itself but rather in the stands as Newcastle's on-loan striker Loic Remy was spotted, adding fuel to the fire that he will move to the Emirates this summer from parent club QPR.

Both Ozil and Lukas Podolski had further chances to score, the record signing stabbing wide, while his compatriot hit the post with a deflected strike that bounced comically into a grateful Foster's arms.

With time ticking away, the final few mildly interesting points included Berahino hilariously tumbling to the ground when he chased a ball down and Giroud and Graham Dorrans engaging in some utterly pointless forehead-to-forehead squaring up.

Finally, the full-time whistle came, bringing relief to everybody who had to watch the game. Arsenal did the traditional lap of honour in their last home league game of the season but their focus is undoubtedly on the FA Cup final against Hull.

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