Fireman Sam fails to rescue Baggies

WEST BROM are dropping down a level after this defeat — and maybe Arsenal have found theirs. Mikel Arteta’s men aren’t up to much when it matters against the top sides — like last Thursday against Villarreal — but put them in with the lame and the broken... There were times here when they were good. Not brilliant, just decent. ‘We needed that win,’ said Arteta. ‘It has been a while since we won at home. We scored three fantastic goals and we had some great spells in the game.’ So how come they made a battle of a sure thing in this game, before eventually sealing the victory that ended Sam Allardyce’s record of never being relegated from this division? The Baggies were long gone at 2-0 in the first half, following goals from Emile Smith Rowe and Nicolas Pepe. Kieran Tierney came on as a sub after 63 minutes, but four minutes later the visitors got it back to 2-1 through Matheus Pereira. They then exerted 15 minutes of pressure and a few chances before Willian slapped in a late free-kick. Arsenal’s strikes originated from opposing flanks. The first came from the left and a move involving Willian and Bukayo Saka, who crossed for Smith Rowe to bury a volley. The second was a thing of beauty from Pepe. He was heading towards the goal-line down the right when he checked inwards and on to his left foot. The shuffle bought a little space from Conor Townsend, but nothing that followed could be pinned on the West Brom player. The speed of the shot, the angle from which it was delivered, was superb. It was all very comfortable until Pereira made it 2-1 with a low hit from the edge of the area. Darnell Furlong messed up a free header for a potential equaliser, and with it West Brom stepped up the intensity only for Willian to spoil it all with a fine free-kick. Refusing to talk about whether he would stay for a crack at the Championship, Allardyce said: ‘It is a disappointing night, but we have to take it on the chin. ‘It is not as painful for me as it is for the club or players. I wanted it for the club and players more than me, but it hasn’t happened. Everyone has to accept it and recover quickly.’