The Gunners were high on confidence following their excellent European performance against Olympiakos, while Remi Garde’s Aston Villa are still struggling for points.
It took the visitors 8 minutes to open the scoring as Theo Walcott’s was brought down by Alan Hutton and although the decision to award a penalty was rebuffed initially, Kevin Friend pointed to the spot after a consultation with his assistant.
Olivier Giroud stepped up to coolly slotted it home, sending Brad Guzan the wrong way, to make it 1-0. The Gunners doubled their advantage with a classic sucker punch, after Ramsey stole the ball from a Villa player, in the 38th. Giroud passed it to Ozil, who sent it wide on the left towards Theo Walcott, who slipped in an inch perfect pass to Mesut Ozil, quite unselfishly played it square to Aaron Ramsey, and the Welshman made no mistake in front of an empty goal. Home supporters started leaving the stadium before the first-half whistle and made no return after the second-half began, a sign of the growing frustration at Villa Park. The hosts, created a few chances after the interval but there was a lack of conviction and quality, as Arsenal protected their lead to go top of the table with a superior goal difference, while Villa are rock bottom and certain relegation candidates with 6 points out of 16 games.
Liverpool came into the game following a defeat at the hands of Newcastle in the Premier League and a goalless draw against FC Sion in the Europa League, as Jurgen Klopp and his men were hoping to bounce back against a resolute West Brom outfit. The Reds opened the scoring in the 21st minute, when Philippe Coutinho’s curling ball into the box was knocked down by Adam Lallana into the path of the returning captain Jordan Henderson, who made a daunting run into the box and smashed it in to give Liverpool the lead.
The Baggies, however, were back in the game in the 30th minute, when Chris Brunt delivered a cross from a corner, which was completely misjudged by Simon Mignolet, who couldn’t get anything behind it and Rondon, took advantage of the mistake as he laid it off to right-back Craig Dawson, who finished from close range. There was a moment of controversy as Craig Gardner’s inch perfect delivery into the box from a free-kick was met by Jonas Olsson and converted and the flag wasn’t raised for offside by the assistant. The Baggies thought they had scored with only seconds to go for half-time but the decision was overruled after Craig Pawson consulted the assistant referee.
Tony Pulis’ side did though take the lead in the second half, when Chris Brunt’s vicious cross into the near post was cleverly met by Jonas Olsson, yet again, as his headed effort went passed the stupefied Mignolet. Dejan Lovren, had to be stretchered off in the 79th minute, after a coming-together with Gardner, which resulted in a nasty knee injury and Klopp brought Divock Origi on to replace the defender.
Liverpool did get an equalizer in the sixth minute of stoppage time, as Divock Origi chose to stay on his feet after a foul by Dawson, and took a shot from long range which deflected off Gareth McAuley, leaving Boaz Myhill wrong-footed, as he helplessly watched the ball go into the back of the net. Anfield went into a state of hysteria after the goal and although the hosts failed to find a winner, Klopp rallied his troops and thanked the fans in the Kop, despite only winning a point.
Newcastle United, after beating Liverpool last week, came from a goal behind to win at Tottenham. Eric Dier rose highest to give his side the lead in the 39th minute, before substitute Aleksandar Mitrovic equalized in the 74th minute. In stoppage time, another substitute, Ayoze Perez gave the visitors the lead, to condemn Tottenham to their first league defeat since matchday one.
Real Madrid failed reduce the gap at the top, after Roberto Soldado’s early goal for Villareal was all it took against an incredibly profligate Real Madrid side, as Rafa Benitez’s men are now five points behind leaders Barcelona following this loss.
