NOT BAD FOR STARTERS
Let’s start by saying that the Baggies season isn’t going to be decided on how they do against the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool. But if they can take something from those games then they’ll be doing well.
NEW SEASON..FIVE MINS IN...ONE NIL DOWN!
Although they didn’t take any points from this, they can take lots of heart from the way they played after going a goal down, especially in the second half.
Once the game got underway it was clear for all to see that this was going to be a very long afternoon. Arsenal were living up to their reputation. They were slick and effective, especially down their left where Nasri and Clichy were having a field day.
It was from there the goal came. Clichy got to the bi line and pulled it back fro Nasri to slot home from close range. The Baggies defence couldn’t get close. 1-0.
So there you are on the opening day of the season, one nil down to Arsenal at the Emirates with 85 minutes still to play. I must admit I feared the worst I’m sure I wasn’t alone.
BUT...with a little help from lady luck Tony Mowbray’s men survived to half time just one behind and still in it.
Marek Cech wasn’t at the races and Carl Hoefkens was struggling, the Baggies midfield weren’t close enough to the likes of Eboue and Denilson. Things had to change or surely the Baggies luck would run out.
Mowbray resisted the temptation to make changes but clearly sent his players out with more purpose in the second half.
Now there wasn’t so much space for the Arsenal midfield and all of a sudden Ishmael Miller looked a threat on the break. Now it was more of a contest. Arsenal were still posing goal threats of their own but now they had a Baggies side that were showing more nouse and battle.
Miller could have scored on another day; Almunia saved his effort and watched as Djourou cleared Paul Robinsons follow up off the line. Still 1-0.
The introductions of MacDonald and Bednar also provided reasons to be cheerful as they also made nuisances of themselves. But in the end Arsenal held on to the lead and the points.
The bookies weren’t proved wrong and the pundits too were no doubts gloating in self satisfaction.
But for West Bromwich Albion games like this can provide pointers to what’s ahead. They were not stuffed out of sight, nor were they totally outclassed. As the game wore on they got to grips with it and began to ask one or two questions of their own.
There’s still areas of concern, the right side of midfield and the right back position too on this evidence but there’s time to fix that - lets hope there’s money to fix it too!!
But all in all I was encouraged by this. A whole lot more than I thought I was going to be after five minutes!!
Arsenal will no doubts be chasing the Champions League and Premiership title, for the Baggies it’s the Games against Stoke, Hull, Bolton, Middlesborough, West Ham and even Everton next week that are far more crucial.
But, despite the result, this wasn't bad at all.
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